Two-year follow-up of sequential and simultaneous interactive computer-tailored interventions for increasing physical activity and decreasing fat intake.
BACKGROUND
Limited evidence exists on long-term efficacy of interactive computer-tailored interventions for increasing physical activity and decreasing fat intake, and even more so when they are implemented simultaneously or sequentially.


OBJECTIVE
This study aims to examine long-term efficacy of interactive computer-tailored physical activity and fat intake interventions, and evaluate their efficacy in a simultaneous or sequential implementation over 2 years.


METHODS
Participants (392) were randomly assigned to a simultaneous group receiving both interventions at baseline; a sequential group first receiving the physical activity intervention and 3 months later the fat intake intervention; and a sequential group first receiving the fat intake intervention and 3 months later the physical activity intervention.


RESULTS
Strong time effects were seen for total physical activity (F = 38.7, p < .001) and fat intake (F = 103.9, p < .001), indicating that intervention effects remained over 2 years for those participants that were still available for the 2-year follow-up. At 2-year follow-up the interventions resulted in a 10% and a 27% increase of participants that met public health recommendations for physical activity and fat intake, respectively. Overall the interventions were more effective for participants not meeting the public health recommendations at baseline. The sequential intervention mode was overall slightly more effective than the simultaneous mode in maintaining intervention effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Both interventions showed efficacy in maintaining long-term health behavior changes. More research is needed on sequential and simultaneous intervening modes.
Vandelanotte
Corneel
C
University of Queensland, School of Population Health, Cancer Prevention Research Centre, Public Health Building, Herston Road, Herston QLD 4006 Australia. C.Vandelanotte@uq.edu.au
De Bourdeaudhuij
Ilse
I
Brug
Johannes
J
D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted / Q000523:psychology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005103:Expert Systems; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome