BACKGROUND: Several recent physical activity intervention trials have reported physical activity improvements in control group participants. Explanations have been proposed, but not systematically investigated. METHODS: A systematic review of physical activity intervention trials was conducted to investigate the frequency of meaningful improvements in physical activity among control group participants (increase of ≥60 minutes [4 MET·hours] of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week, or a 10% increase in the proportion of participants meeting physical activity recommendations), and possible explanatory factors. Explanatory factors include aspects of behavioral measurement, participant characteristics, and control group treatment. RESULTS: Eight (28%) of 29 studies reviewed reported meaningful improvements in control group physical activity, most of which were of similar magnitude to improvements observed in the intervention group. A number of factors were related to meaningful control group improvements in physical activity, including the number of assessments, mode of measurement administration, screening to exclude active participants, and preexisting health status. CONCLUSIONS: Control group improvement in physical activity intervention trials is not uncommon and may be associated with behavioral measurement and participant characteristics. Associations observed in this review should be evaluated empirically in future research. Such studies may inform minimal contact approaches to physical activity promotion.
BACKGROUND: Several recent physical activity intervention trials have reported physical activity improvements in control group participants. Explanations have been proposed, but not systematically investigated. METHODS: A systematic review of physical activity intervention trials was conducted to investigate the frequency of meaningful improvements in physical activity among control group participants (increase of ≥60 minutes [4 MET·hours] of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week, or a 10% increase in the proportion of participants meeting physical activity recommendations), and possible explanatory factors. Explanatory factors include aspects of behavioral measurement, participant characteristics, and control group treatment. RESULTS: Eight (28%) of 29 studies reviewed reported meaningful improvements in control group physical activity, most of which were of similar magnitude to improvements observed in the intervention group. A number of factors were related to meaningful control group improvements in physical activity, including the number of assessments, mode of measurement administration, screening to exclude active participants, and preexisting health status. CONCLUSIONS: Control group improvement in physical activity intervention trials is not uncommon and may be associated with behavioral measurement and participant characteristics. Associations observed in this review should be evaluated empirically in future research. Such studies may inform minimal contact approaches to physical activity promotion.
Authors: Anne-Marie B Basaran; John L Christensen; Lynn Carol Miller; Paul Robert Appleby; Stephen J Read Journal: Psychol Addict Behav Date: 2019-05-09
Authors: Charlotte N Steins Bisschop; Kerry S Courneya; Miranda J Velthuis; Evelyn M Monninkhof; Lee W Jones; Christine Friedenreich; Elsken van der Wall; Petra H M Peeters; Anne M May Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-03-27 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Carol Byrd-Bredbenner; FanFan Wu; Kim Spaccarotella; Virginia Quick; Jennifer Martin-Biggers; Yingting Zhang Journal: Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act Date: 2017-07-11 Impact factor: 6.457
Authors: Kristin Wick; Claudia S Leeger-Aschmann; Nico D Monn; Thomas Radtke; Laura V Ott; Cornelia E Rebholz; Sergio Cruz; Natalie Gerber; Einat A Schmutz; Jardena J Puder; Simone Munsch; Tanja H Kakebeeke; Oskar G Jenni; Urs Granacher; Susi Kriemler Journal: Sports Med Date: 2017-10 Impact factor: 11.136
Authors: Marina Arkkukangas; Susanna Tuvemo Johnson; Karin Hellström; Anne Söderlund; Staffan Eriksson; Ann-Christin Johansson Journal: Prev Med Rep Date: 2015-02-03