Active Choice Intervention About Physical Activity for Physically Inactive Adults

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

Detailed Description
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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.

Official Title
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Effects of an Active Choice Intervention on Physical Activity Intentions and Behaviour Among Physically Inactive Adults: A Four-Arm Web-Based Experiment

Conditions
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Physical Activity

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Guideline + Active Choice + action&coping planning (GA+)
* Behavioral: Guideline + Active Choice (GA)
* Behavioral: Guideline + information (GI)
* Behavioral: Guideline (G)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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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

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Guideline + Active Choice + action&coping planning (GA+)<br>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. | Behavioral: Guideline + Active Choice + action&coping planning (GA+)<br>* Web-based intervention consisting of information and assignments, including: 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<br>|
| Experimental: Guideline + Active Choice (GA)<br>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. | Behavioral: Guideline + Active Choice (GA)<br>* Web-based intervention consisting of information and several assignments, including: 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.<br>|
| Experimental: Guideline + Information (GI)<br>Participants received the national physical activity guideline, and information about pros and cons of physical activity, and possible barriers to physical activity. | Behavioral: Guideline + information (GI)<br>* Web-based information about the national physical activity guideline, pros and cons of physical activity, and possible barriers to physical activity.<br>|
| Other: Guideline (G)<br>Comparison arm. Participants received the national physical activity guideline. | Behavioral: Guideline (G)<br>* Web-based information about the national physical activity guideline.<br>* Other names: Comparison arm;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Intention | Intention to become more physically active (yes/no), assessed by a questionnaire | Directly after the intervention (Day 0) | 
| Physical activity | Physical activity levels (MET minutes per week), assessed by the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) | Change from baseline at approximately 18 days | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sitting time | Sitting time (minutes per day), assessed by the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) | Change from baseline at approximately 18 days | 
| Perceived change in physical activity compared to baseline | Questionnaire item: Participants' self-perceived change in physical between baseline and follow-up. Dichotomous outcome (change/no change). | Change from baseline at approximately 18 days | 
| Intention strength | Questionnaire item: scale 0 (no strong intention) - 10 (very strong intention). a higher score indicates higher intention strength. | Change from day 0, at approximately 18 days | 
| Active choice | Degree to which an active choice is made; a composite score of 9 items on a scale of 1 (totally not agree) - 5 (totally agree); a higher score indicates a more active choice. | Directly after the intervention (Day 0) | 
| Autonomous choice | Degree to which an autonomous choice is made; 2 items on a scale of 1 - 10. For the first item, a higher score indicates a more autonomous choice, whereas for the second item, a higher score indicates a less autonomous choice. | Directly after the intervention (Day 0) | 
| Commitment | Commitment to become more physically active; 1 item on a scale of 0 (no commitment) - 10 (high commitment). A higher score indicates higher commitment. | Directly after the intervention (Day 0) | 
| Commitment | Commitment to become more physically active; 1 item on a scale of 0 (no commitment) - 10 (high commitment). A higher score indicates higher commitment. | Change from day 0, at approximately 18 days follow-up | 
| Self-efficacy | Self-efficacy to become more physically active; 2 items on a scale of 1 (no self-efficacy) - 10 (high self-efficacy). A higher score indicates more self-efficacy. | Directly after the intervention (Day 0) | 
| Self-efficacy | Self-efficacy to become more physically active; 2 items on a scale of 1 (no self-efficacy) - 10 (high self-efficacy). A higher score indicates more self-efficacy. | Change from day 0, at approximately 18 days follow-up | 
| Satisfaction about one's plan | Degree of satisfaction with one's plan to become or not become more physically active on a scale of 1 (no satisfaction) to 10 (high satisfaction). | Directly after the intervention (Day 0) | 
| Alignment of choice with personal values | Extent to which one's plan to become/ not become more physically active corresponds with what one considers important; 1 item on a scale of 1 (no alignment) - 10 (high alignment) | Directly after the intervention (Day 0) | 
| Perceived advantages and disadvantages of physical activity | Open-ended questions about the perceived advantages and disadvantages of one's current physical activity behavior, and of increasing physical activity. | During intervention (Day 0) | 
| Value of health | Importance of the value 'health', on a scale of 1 (not important at all) to 10 (very important), and the time, effort and energy spent on health on a scale of 1 (no time, effort and energy) to 10 (very much time, effort and energy) | During intervention (Day 0) | 
| Values influencing physical activity | The extent to which the following values impact one's physical activity levels on a scale of 1 (no influence) to 10 (high influence): responsibility, achievement, pleasure, family, friendships, balance. | During intervention (Day 0) | 
| Plans to change physical activity | Open-ended questions about the preferred kind of physical activity, frequency, location, days and start date. | During intervention (Day 0) | 
| Perceived barriers to physical activity | Open-ended question asking about perceived barriers to physical activity | During intervention (Day 0) | 
| Plans to cope with perceived barriers | Open-ended questions about the ways one could cope with each perceived barriers | During intervention (Day 0) | 
| Factors supporting physical activity | Question about the factors that supported or would support physical activity. Multiple choice question. | Follow-up; approximately 18 days after the intervention (day 0) | 
| Barriers to physical activity | Question about the barriers that hindered physical activity in the past two weeks. Multiple choice question. | Follow-up; approximately 18 days after the intervention (day 0) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Physical activity intervention, Active choice, Decision making, Web-based