mHealth text messaging for physical activity promotion in college students: a formative participatory approach.
OBJECTIVE
To develop mobile-based physical activity promotion text messages, understand users' preferences, and assess feasibility and acceptability in a college student sample.


METHODS
Five focus groups (N = 33) were conducted using a participatory approach. An Audience Response System was adopted for data collection to ensure confidentiality and for directing the discussion foci. A framework analysis of transcribed focus group discussions was conducted. Atlas. ti qualitative analysis software was used to manage the data.


RESULTS
Participants were uniformly enthusiastic about a text message-based intervention to encourage regular physical activity. They also preferred positive, supportive personally tailored messages. Participants placed a high value on messages related to establishing and monitoring realistic and achievable goals.


CONCLUSIONS
mHealth text messaging was well received. The results support the feasibility and acceptance of such an intervention.
Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA. yanf@uwm.edu.
Alice F
AF
Yan
College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Patricia
P
Stevens
Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo-The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA.
Youfa
Y
Wang
Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Lance
L
Weinhardt
Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD, USA.
Cheryl L
CL
Holt
Department of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Carrie
C
O'Connor
Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Tiffany
T
Feller
Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Hui
H
Xie
University Recreation, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Sara
S
Luelloff
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*; D060145:Text Messaging; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult