title: Using interactive Internet technology to promote physical activity in Latinas: Rationale, design, and baseline findings of Pasos Hacia La Salud.
abstract: Internet-based interventions show promise as an effective channel for promoting physical activity. However, a paucity of research has been conducted among underserved groups despite recent increases in Internet access and physical activity-related health disparities in these communities. Thus, the current randomized controlled trial will test the efficacy of an individually tailored, Internet-based physical activity intervention for Latinas. This program was culturally and linguistically adapted for the target population through extensive formative research. Two hundred eighteen sedentary Latinas were randomly assigned to the Tailored Physical Activity Internet Intervention or the Wellness Contact Control Internet Group. The Physical Activity Internet Intervention, based on Social Cognitive Theory and the Transtheoretical Model, utilizes a website with features including self-monitoring, goal setting, discussion forum, links to online resources, individually tailored and motivation-matched physical activity feedback reports, and exercise tip sheets. Participants receive regular emails over the first 6months with a tapered dose during the second 6months (maintenance phase) to alert them to new content on the website. The main outcome is differences in minutes/week of moderate to vigorous physical activity at six months as measured by the 7-Day Physical Activity Recall and accelerometer data. High reach, low cost, culturally relevant Internet-based interventions that encourage physical activity among Latinas could help reduce health disparities and thus have a substantial positive impact on public health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, CA, United States. Electronic address: bmarcus@ucsd.edu.
authors.forename: Bess H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, CA, United States. Electronic address: sjhartman@ucsd.edu.
authors.forename: Sheri J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hartman
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Behavior, School of Public Health at University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, United States. Electronic address: dpekmezi@uab.edu.
authors.forename: Dori
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pekmezi
authors.affiliation: Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States; The Miriam Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University, Providence, RI, United States. Electronic address: sdunsiger@lifespan.org.
authors.forename: Shira I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Dunsiger
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, CA, United States. Electronic address: slinke@ucsd.edu.
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Linke
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, CA, United States. Electronic address: bemarquez@ucsd.edu.
authors.forename: Becky
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marquez
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Center for Health Interventions and Prevention, University of Connecticut, United States; Institute for Community Health Promotion, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States. Electronic address: kim_gans@brown.edu.
authors.forename: Kim M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Gans
authors.affiliation: Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States; The Miriam Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University, Providence, RI, United States. Electronic address: bbock@lifespan.org.
authors.forename: Beth C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Bock
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, CA, United States. Electronic address: blarsen@ucsd.edu.
authors.forename: Britta A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, CA, United States. Electronic address: crojas@ucsd.edu.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rojas
keywords: Internet-based intervention; Latinas; Physical activity intervention