title: A comparison of Internet and print-based physical activity interventions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical activity interventions tailored to individual characteristics and delivered via print produce greater increases in activity compared with nontailored interventions and controls. Using the Internet to deliver a tailored physical activity intervention offers an alternative to print that might be available to larger populations at a lower cost.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (N=249 adults; mean [SD] age, 44.5 [9.3] years; and mean [SD] body mass index [calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared], 29.4 [6.1]) were randomized to 1 of 3 physical activity interventions: (1) motivationally tailored Internet (tailored Internet, n=81), (2) motivationally tailored print (tailored print, n=86); and (3) 6 researcher-selected Web sites available to the public (standard Internet, n=82). Participants in the tailored Internet and tailored print arms received the same tailored intervention content. Participants were assessed at baseline and at 6 and 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 6 months, participants in the tailored print arm reported a median of 112.5 minutes of physical activity per week, those in the tailored Internet arm reported 120.0 minutes, and those in the standard Internet arm reported 90.0 minutes (P=.15). At 12 months, the physical activity minutes per week were 90.0, 90.0, and 80.0 for those in the tailored print, tailored Internet, and standard Internet arms, respectively (P=.74). Results indicated no significant differences between the 3 arms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of tailored Internet, tailored print, and standard Internet as part of a behavior change program increased physical activity behavior similarly. Because the use of the Internet was not different from the print-based intervention, this may be an opportunity to reach more sedentary adults in a more cost-effective way.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00200317.
authors.affiliation: The Miriam Hospital and Brown Medical School, Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, Providence, RI 02903, USA. bmarcus@lifespan.org
authors.forename: Bess H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.forename: Beth A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Shira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dunsiger
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jakicic
authors.forename: Jessica A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Whiteley
authors.forename: Anna E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Napolitano
authors.forename: Beth C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Bock
authors.forename: Deborah F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Tate
authors.forename: Christopher N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Sciamanna
authors.forename: Alfred F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Parisi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003146:Communications Media; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D011327:Printing; D013997:Time Factors