Reducing Sedentary Behaviour in University Students Using Text Messages

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
The primary purpose of the current study was to determine whether a text message intervention would increase break frequency and length of break from sitting, time spent standing, and time spent in light and moderate intensity physical activity in university students

Detailed Description
-----------------
Sedentary behaviour (SB) has been linked to many health problems (e.g., type 2 diabetes, heart disease). Interventions aimed at office workers, overweight and obese individuals have proven successful in reducing SB; however, no studies have examined university students.Text message-based interventions have succeeded to aid in smoking cessation and increase both physical activity and healthy eating, but have not been shown to reduce SB. Eighty-two university students were randomized into intervention (SB related text messages) or control (text messages unrelated to SB) groups. Participants received daily text messages and reported various SBs (i.e., breaks from sitting, standing, light and moderate intensity physical activity) at four time points (baseline, 2, 4 and 6 weeks).

Official Title
-----------------
Reducing Sedentary Behaviour In University Students Using A Text Message-Based Intervention

Conditions
-----------------
Sedentary Lifestyle

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Behavioral: text messages related to sedentary behaviour


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: be able to read and write English own a cell phone with unlimited incoming text messages be a student at Western University Exclusion Criteria: be under 18 or over 64

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 64 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Intervention<br>text messages related to sedentary behaviour | Behavioral: text messages related to sedentary behaviour<br>* texts sent twice daily encouraging reduced sedentary behaviour<br>|
| No Intervention: Control<br>text messages unrelated to sedentary behaviour. | |

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in length of break from sitting in minutes |  | baseline, 2, 4, and 6 weeks | 
| Change in frequency of break from sitting in minutes |  | baseline, 2, 4, and 6 weeks | 
| Change in minutes spent standing |  | baseline, 2, 4, and 6 weeks | 
| Change in minutes spent in light intensity physical activity |  | baseline, 2, 4, and 6 weeks | 
| Change in minutes spent in moderate intensity physical activity |  | baseline, 2, 4, and 6 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in self-efficacy for sedentary behaviour measured by percentage of confidence | purpose-built self-efficacy questionnaire used to rate how confident one feels in reducing sedentary behaviour | baseline, 2, 4, and 6 weeks |