Internet-delivered behavioral intervention to increase physical activity in persons with multiple sclerosis: sustainability and secondary outcomes.
Physical activity is associated with many benefits, but persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) are less physically active than the general population. There is a critical need for research on methods of increasing and sustaining the physical activity levels of this population. This randomized controlled trial examined the efficacy of an Internet-delivered and theory-based behavioral intervention that was supplemented with video coaching for increasing and sustaining physical activity over time in persons with MS. Physically inactive, ambulatory persons with MS (N = 45) were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 22) or control (n = 23) conditions and completed a battery of questionnaires before, after, and three months after a 12-week intervention period. Data analyses were conducted in PASW 18.0. Partial eta squared ([Formula: see text]) effect size indicated that there was a large, statistically significant condition-by-time interaction on physical activity ([Formula: see text]). Cohen's d effect sizes indicated that the intervention group had a large increase in physical activity after the 12-week trial (d = .98) that was sustained over a three-month follow-up (d = .79). The current study supports the efficacy of a behavioral intervention for increasing and sustaining physical activity in a sample of persons with MS.
Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
Deirdre
D
Dlugonski
Robert W
RW
Motl
David C
DC
Mohr
Brian M
BM
Sandroff
D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000628:therapy*; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome