Using internet and mobile phone technology to deliver an automated physical activity program: randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
The Internet has potential as a medium for health behavior change programs, but no controlled studies have yet evaluated the impact of a fully automated physical activity intervention over several months with real-time objective feedback from a monitor.


OBJECTIVE
The aim was to evaluate the impact of a physical activity program based on the Internet and mobile phone technology provided to individuals for 9 weeks.


METHODS
A single-center, randomized, stratified controlled trial was conducted from September to December 2005 in Bedfordshire, United Kingdom, with 77 healthy adults whose mean age was 40.4 years (SD = 7.6) and mean body mass index was 26.3 (SD = 3.4). Participants were randomized to a test group that had access to an Internet and mobile phone-based physical activity program (n = 47) or to a control group (n = 30) that received no support. The test group received tailored solutions for perceived barriers, a schedule to plan weekly exercise sessions with mobile phone and email reminders, a message board to share their experiences with others, and feedback on their level of physical activity. Both groups were issued a wrist-worn accelerometer to monitor their level of physical activity; only the test group received real-time feedback via the Internet. The main outcome measures were accelerometer data and self-report of physical activity.


RESULTS
At the end of the study period, the test group reported a significantly greater increase over baseline than did the control group for perceived control (P < .001) and intention/expectation to exercise (P < .001). Intent-to-treat analyses of both the accelerometer data (P = .02) and leisure time self-report data (P = .03) found a higher level of moderate physical activity in the test group. The average increase (over the control group) in accelerometer-measured moderate physical activity was 2 h 18 min per week. The test group also lost more percent body fat than the control group (test group: -2.18, SD = 0.59; control group: -0.17, SD = 0.81; P = .04).


CONCLUSIONS
A fully automated Internet and mobile phone-based motivation and action support system can significantly increase and maintain the level of physical activity in healthy adults.
Hurling
Robert
R
Unilever Corporate Research, Colworth, Bedford, United Kingdom. bob.hurling@unilever.com
Catt
Michael
M
Boni
Marco De
MD
Fairley
Bruce William
BW
Hurst
Tina
T
Murray
Peter
P
Richardson
Alannah
A
Sodhi
Jaspreet Singh
JS
D000328:Adult; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009043:Motor Activity; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D006113:United Kingdom