Holly Blake1, L Suzanne Suggs2, Emil Coman3, Lucia Aguirre2, Mark E Batt4. 1. 1 School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom. 2. 2 Institute for Public Communication, University of Lugano (USI), Lugano, Switzerland. 3. 3 Ethel Donaghue TRIPP Center, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut. 4. 4 Centre for Sports Medicine, Queen's Medical Centre Campus, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Abstract
PURPOSE:Increase physical activity in health care employees using health messaging, and compare e-mail with mobile phone short-message service (SMS) as delivery channels. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial Setting. U.K. hospital workplace. SUBJECTS:Two hundred ninety-six employees (19-67 years, 53% of study Web site visitors). INTERVENTION: Twelve-week messaging intervention designed to increase physical activity and delivered via SMS (n =147) or e-mail (n =149); content tailored using theory of planned behavior (TPB) and limited to 160 characters. MEASURES: Baseline and 6, 12, and 16 weeks. Online measures included TPB constructs, physical activity behavior on the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, and health-related quality of life on the Short-Form 12. ANALYSIS: General linear models for repeated measures. RESULTS: Increase in duration (mean h/d) of moderate work-related activity and moderate recreational activity from baseline to 16 weeks. Short-lived increase in frequency (d/wk) of vigorous recreational activity from baseline to 6 weeks. Increase in duration and frequency of active travel from baseline to 16 weeks. E-mails generated greater changes than SMS in active travel and moderate activity (work and recreational). CONCLUSION:Minimal physical activity promotion delivered by SMS or e-mail can increase frequency and duration of active travel and duration of moderate intensity physical activity at work and for leisure, which is maintained up to 1 month after messaging ends. Both channels were useful platforms for health communication; e-mails were particularly beneficial with hospital employees.
RCT Entities:
PURPOSE: Increase physical activity in health care employees using health messaging, and compare e-mail with mobile phone short-message service (SMS) as delivery channels. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial Setting. U.K. hospital workplace. SUBJECTS: Two hundred ninety-six employees (19-67 years, 53% of study Web site visitors). INTERVENTION: Twelve-week messaging intervention designed to increase physical activity and delivered via SMS (n =147) or e-mail (n =149); content tailored using theory of planned behavior (TPB) and limited to 160 characters. MEASURES: Baseline and 6, 12, and 16 weeks. Online measures included TPB constructs, physical activity behavior on the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, and health-related quality of life on the Short-Form 12. ANALYSIS: General linear models for repeated measures. RESULTS: Increase in duration (mean h/d) of moderate work-related activity and moderate recreational activity from baseline to 16 weeks. Short-lived increase in frequency (d/wk) of vigorous recreational activity from baseline to 6 weeks. Increase in duration and frequency of active travel from baseline to 16 weeks. E-mails generated greater changes than SMS in active travel and moderate activity (work and recreational). CONCLUSION: Minimal physical activity promotion delivered by SMS or e-mail can increase frequency and duration of active travel and duration of moderate intensity physical activity at work and for leisure, which is maintained up to 1 month after messaging ends. Both channels were useful platforms for health communication; e-mails were particularly beneficial with hospital employees.
Keywords:
E-Mail; Health Communication; Health focus: fitness/physical activity; Manuscript format: research; Mobile Phone; Outcome measure: behavioral; Physical Activity; Prevention Research; Research purpose: intervention testing/program evaluation; Setting: workplace; Strategy: skill building/behavior change; Study design: randomized trial; Target population age: adults; Target population circumstances: n/a; Text Messaging; Workplace
Authors: Holly Blake; Kathryn Watkins; Matthew Middleton; Natalia Stanulewicz Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-12-20 Impact factor: 3.390