Active Choice Intervention About Physical Activity for Physically Inactive Adults

Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc

Status: Completed

Conditions: Physical Activity

Treatments: Behavioral: Guideline + information (GI); Behavioral: Guideline + Active Choice + action&coping planning (GA+); Behavioral: Guideline (G); Behavioral: Guideline + Active Choice (GA)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04973813

2020.142

Details and patient eligibility

About

This web-based experimental study aims to ascertain whether promoting an active (i.e. conscious and autonomous) choice process about physical activity results in better behavioural outcomes (e.g. physical activity) and psychological outcomes (e.g. physical activity intention) compared to promoting a passive choice process in physically inactive adults.

Full description

In this web-based experimental study, the investigators will use a pre-test post-test four-arm parallel design to compare the effect of promoting an active choice process versus a passive choice process about physical activity on behavioural outcomes (e.g. physical activity behaviour, perceived increase in physical activity) and psychological outcomes (e.g. physical activity intention, commitment) among physically inactive adults.

Participants will be randomized to one of four groups. Participants in group GA+ will be encouraged to make a very active choice by weighing advantages and disadvantages of physical activity, considering personal values, identifying barriers and engaging in action and coping planning. The intervention for group GA is similar, but lacks the action and coping planning exercises. In the other two groups, a passive choice process will be promoted by only providing information: Group G will read the national physical activity guideline and group GI will read the guideline and information about possible advantages and disadvantages and barriers to physical activity. Behavioural and psychological outcomes will be assessed at the first measurement and follow-up measurement. Regression analyses will be performed to examine intergroup differences. In addition, sensitivity analyses and a process evaluation will be performed.

Enrollment: 564 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Low levels of physical activity (i.e. physically active for at least 30 minutes on <5 days a week and engaging in <150 minutes of physical activity in total throughout an average week)

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnancy
• Wheelchair user
• Not being able to walk a minimum of 100 meters

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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564 participants in 4 patient groups

Guideline + Active Choice + action&coping planning (GA+)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants received a web-based intervention consisting of information (including the national physical activity guideline) and several assignments. Assignments included: completing a decision balance sheet; indicating the importance of personal values and the time, effort and energy spent on these personal values; action planning; identifying barriers to physical activity; coping planning.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Guideline + Active Choice + action&coping planning (GA+)

Guideline + Active Choice (GA)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants received a web-based intervention consisting of information (including the national physical activity guideline) and several assignments. Assignments included: completing a decision balance sheet; indicating the importance of personal values and the time, effort and energy spent on these personal values; identifying barriers to physical activity.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Guideline + Active Choice (GA)

Guideline + Information (GI)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants received the national physical activity guideline, and information about pros and cons of physical activity, and possible barriers to physical activity.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Guideline + information (GI)

Guideline (G)

Other group

Description:

Comparison arm. Participants received the national physical activity guideline.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Guideline (G)