Developing a Text-Message Enhanced Physical Activity Intervention for Latino Men
Condition: Inactivity
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The aim of this study is to build upon our tailored print intervention by developing new
      text-delivered intervention materials to complement our print-based physical activity (PA)
      intervention. In Phase 1 we will conduct 6 focus groups with Mexican and Mexican American
      (MA) men to determine content, frequency, and types of text messages desired, and to identify
      cultural themes to incorporate into existing and new materials. Themes from the focus groups
      and sample text messages will be presented to a confirmatory focus group panel. Phase 2 will
      be a 6-month pilot randomized controlled trial with Mexican and MA men (N=60) to test the
      text-enhanced, Spanish language, individually tailored PA intervention vs. publicly
      available, Spanish language health education materials, including information on PA, diet,
      and stress management. This will be followed by post-intervention qualitative interviews to
      solicit suggestions for improvements to help further refine the program. The proposed pilot
      will support a future R01 to establish the efficacy of this multi-media, multi-level PA
      intervention for Mexican and MA men.
    

Detailed description: 
      The proposed research addresses serious public health concerns (inactivity, health
      disparities) in a large, rapidly growing population of Mexican American (MA) men who are
      markedly less physically active than men of other ethnicities and suffer from higher
      prevalence of conditions related to sedentary lifestyle. While this population is clearly in
      need of physical activity (PA) interventions, to date none have specifically targeted MA men.
      In fact, the majority of PA interventions for Latinos have exclusively included women and/or
      are designed around female preferences.The proposed study will address the needs and barriers
      to PA in MA men by developing text message-delivered intervention materials based on Social
      Cognitive Theory (SCT) to complement an individually tailored, theory-based print material PA
      intervention for Spanish speaking Mexican and MA men. Text messaging could be a particularly
      effective and appealing channel for increasing PA in this target population as it allows for
      participant interaction, real-time accountability, and immediate feedback, features which MA
      men in the demonstration trial of our print intervention specifically requested. Text-based
      interventions have been shown to improve a number of health behaviors, including PA. A recent
      review of texting interventions found that they were generally well received and effective in
      reducing inactivity, weight, and waist circumference,5 and a meta-analysis found a moderate
      effect size (g = 0.54) for using mobile devices to increase PA. However, few of these trials
      targeted underserved populations, and none specifically targeted Latinos. Cell phone
      ownership is high in Latino adults (86% vs. 84% in non-Latino Whites), and Latinos are
      actually the most likely to use mobile phones for text messaging, with 85% reporting
      regularly sending and receiving texts (compared to 79% of Whites). Thus this is a familiar,
      convenient channel for delivering new intervention materials. Additionally, as Latinos also
      face environmental barriers to PA, in the current proposal we will enhance the individually
      tailored psychosocial print-based materials by developing materials targeting barriers in
      home and work environments. This multi-media, multi-level approach has potential for broad
      reach at relatively low cost, which could help reduce health disparities.
    

Intervention name(s): Text-Enhanced Physical Activity Intervention Arm; Health Education Control Arm; Actigraph GT3X
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral; Device
Intervention description(s): Participants in the Text-Enhanced Physical Activity intervention arm of the study receive a Spanish language, motivationally-tailored, print-based + text-message physical activity intervention that specifically addresses the physical activity barriers and intervention needs/preferences of Mexican and Mexican American men.; Participants will receive a Spanish language, print-based Wellness Contact control intervention addressing relevant health topics other than physical activity.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Physical Activity; Latinos; Mexican American Men; Spanish-Language; Text-Message