title: Using Web 2.0 applications to promote health-related physical activity: findings from the WALK 2.0 randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Web 2.0 internet technology has great potential in promoting physical activity. This trial investigated the effectiveness of a Web 2.0-based intervention on physical activity behaviour, and the impact on website usage and engagement.
  
  
  METHODS
  504 (328 women, 126 men) insufficiently active adult participants were randomly allocated to one of two web-based interventions or a paper-based Logbook group. The Web 1.0 group participated in the existing 10 000 Steps programme, while the Web 2.0 group participated in a Web 2.0-enabled physical activity intervention including user-to-user interaction through social networking capabilities. ActiGraph GT3X activity monitors were used to assess physical activity at four points across the intervention (0, 3, 12 and 18 months), and usage and engagement were assessed continuously through website usage statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment groups differed significantly in trajectories of minutes/day of physical activity (p=0.0198), through a greater change at 3 months for Web 2.0 than Web 1.0 (7.3 min/day, 95% CI 2.4 to 12.3). In the Web 2.0 group, physical activity increased at 3 (mean change 6.8 min/day, 95% CI 3.9 to 9.6) and 12 months (3.8 min/day, 95% CI 0.5 to 7.0), but not 18 months. The Logbook group also increased physical activity at 3 (4.8 min/day, 95% CI 1.8 to 7.7) and 12 months (4.9 min/day, 95% CI 0.7 to 9.1), but not 18 months. The Web 1.0 group increased physical activity at 12 months only (4.9 min/day, 95% CI 0.5 to 9.3). The Web 2.0 group demonstrated higher levels of website engagement (p=0.3964).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In comparison to a Web 1.0 intervention, a more interactive Web 2.0 intervention, as well as the paper-based Logbook intervention, improved physical activity in the short term, but that effect reduced over time, despite higher levels of engagement of the Web 2.0 group.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ACTRN12611000157976.
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Gregory S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Kolt
authors.affiliation: Department of Food, Nutrition, Dietetics and Health, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA.
authors.forename: Richard R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Rosenkranz
authors.affiliation: School of Human Health and Social Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Corneel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vandelanotte
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Exercise Science, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Cristina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Caperchione
authors.affiliation: School of Health Science, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Maeder
authors.affiliation: School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Rhys
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tague
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Trevor N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Savage
authors.affiliation: School of Human Health and Social Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Itallie Anetta
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Van
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: W Kerry
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Mummery
authors.affiliation: Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oldmeadow
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Public Health, Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Mitch J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Duncan
mesh_terms: D056044:Actigraphy; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020377:Self Efficacy; D061108:Social Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Accelerometer; Physical activity; Randomised controlled trial