title: Acceptability of mobile health interventions to reduce inactivity-related health risk in central Pennsylvania adults.
abstract: Insufficient physical activity and excessive sedentary behavior elevate health risk. Mobile applications (apps) provide one mode for delivering interventions to modify these behaviors and reduce health risk. The purpose of this study was to characterize the need for and acceptability of health behavior interventions among rural adults and evaluate the interest in and the value of app-based interventions in this population. Central Pennsylvania adults with smartphones (N = 258) completed a brief web survey in October-November 2012. Most adults report one or both inactivity-related behavioral risk factors, would use a free app to modify those risk behaviors, and would pay a small amount for that app. Low-cost, efficacious apps to increase physical activity or reduce sedentary behavior should be promoted in public health practice. User experience should be at the forefront of this process to increase value and minimize burden in the service of long-term engagement, behavior change, and health risk reduction.
authors: Department of Kinesiology, The Pennsylvania State University, 266 Rec Hall, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
authors: Chih-Hsiang
authors: CH
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Kinesiology, The Pennsylvania State University, 266 Rec Hall, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
authors: Jaclyn P
authors: JP
authors: Maher
authors: Department of Kinesiology, The Pennsylvania State University, 266 Rec Hall, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 680 N. Lake Shore Dr., Suite 1400, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors: David E
authors: DE
authors: Conroy
keywords: Exercise; Physical inactivity; Rural health; Sedentary behavior; Smartphone; mHealth