title: Rationale, design and baseline characteristics of a randomized controlled trial of a web-based computer-tailored physical activity intervention for adults from Quebec City.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relationship between physical activity and cardiovascular disease (CVD) protection is well documented. Numerous factors (e.g. patient motivation, lack of facilities, physician time constraints) can contribute to poor PA adherence. Web-based computer-tailored interventions offer an innovative way to provide tailored feedback and to empower adults to engage in regular moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA. To describe the rationale, design and content of a web-based computer-tailored PA intervention for Canadian adults enrolled in a randomized controlled trial (RCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  244 men and women aged between 35 and 70 years, without CVD or physical disability, not participating in regular moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA, and familiar with and having access to a computer at home, were recruited from the Quebec City Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study centre. Participants were randomized into two study arms: 1) an experimental group receiving the intervention and 2) a waiting list control group. The fully automated web-based computer-tailored PA intervention consists of seven 10- to 15-min sessions over an 8-week period. The theoretical underpinning of the intervention is based on the I-Change Model. The aim of the intervention was to reach a total of 150 min per week of moderate- to vigorous-intensity aerobic PA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study will provide useful information before engaging in a large RCT to assess the long-term participation and maintenance of PA, the potential impact of regular PA on CVD risk factors and the cost-effectiveness of a web-based computer-tailored intervention.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ISRCTN36353353 registered on 24/07/2014.
authors.affiliation: Département des sciences infirmières, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351, boul. des Forges, P.O. Box 500, Trois-Rivières, Qc, G9A 5H7, Canada. francois.boudreau@uqtr.ca.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boudreau
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Michel Jean Louis
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Walthouwer
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.affiliation: Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec, Qc, Canada.|Département de médecine, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Qc, Canada.
authors.forename: Gilles R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Dagenais
authors.affiliation: Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec, Qc, Canada.
authors.forename: Ginette
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Turbide
authors.affiliation: Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec, Qc, Canada.
authors.forename: Anne-Sophie
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Bourlaud
authors.affiliation: Département des sciences infirmières, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351, boul. des Forges, P.O. Box 500, Trois-Rivières, Qc, G9A 5H7, Canada.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moreau
authors.affiliation: Faculté des sciences infirmières, Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Qc, Canada.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Côté
authors.affiliation: Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec, Qc, Canada.|Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Laval, Québec, Qc, Canada.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Poirier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011792:Quebec; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000458:organization & administration