Development of Participant-Informed Text Messages to Promote Physical Activity Among African American Women Attending College: A Qualitative Mixed-Methods Inquiry.
The purpose of this study was to develop a participant-informed technology-based physical activity (PA) promotion tool for young overweight and obese African American (AA) women. A mixed-method 3-phase study protocol design was used to develop text messages to promote PA in AA women attending the University of Alabama at Birmingham during the Spring of 2013. Nominal focus groups and a 2-week pilot were used to generate and test participant-developed messages. Participants ( n = 14) had a mean age of 19.79 years ( SD = 1.4) and mean body mass index of 35.9 ( SD = 5.926). Focus group data identified key themes associated with the use of text messages to promote PA including message frequency, length, tone, and time of day. Participants preferred text messages that were brief, specific, and time sensitive. Results showed that text messaging was a feasible and acceptable strategy to promote PA in overweight and obese AA women in a university setting.
1 Physicians' Primary Care, Fort Myers, FL, USA.
Jasmine M
JM
Reese
2 Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
Rodney P
RP
Joseph
3 University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA.
Andrea
A
Cherrington
3 University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA.
Jeroan
J
Allison
3 University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA.
Young-Il
YI
Kim
3 University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA.
Bonnie
B
Spear
3 University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA.
Gwendolyn
G
Childs
3 University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA.
Tina
T
Simpson
3 University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA.
Nefertiti H
NH
Durant
D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D050177:Overweight / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D060145:Text Messaging / Q000639:trends*; D014495:Universities / Q000458:organization & administration; D055815:Young Adult
adolescents; focus group analysis; women’s health