Suzanne Suggs1, Holly Blake2, Marco Bardus3, Scott Lloyd4. 1. Assistant Professor of Social Marketing, Head of BeCHANGE Research Group, Institute for Public Communication, Università della Svizzera italiana, Switzerland suggs@suggs.info. 2. Lecturer in Behavioural Sciences, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Physiotherapy, University of Nottingham Medical School, UK. 3. Post-doctoral Research Fellow, BeCHANGE Research Group, Institute for Public Communication, Università della Svizzera italiana, Switzerland. 4. Health Improvement Specialist, Public Health Directorate, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To test the effects of adding text messages to weekly email communications on recipients' total physical activity (leisure-time; workplace; domestic and garden; and active transportation) in employees of universities and colleges in the UK. METHODS: A randomised trial with two study groups (email only or email plus text messaging for 12 weeks) was implemented at five workplaces. Data were collected at baseline, immediately after, and four weeks after the intervention. Intervention effects on physical activity were evaluated using latent growth modelling. RESULTS:Total physical activity decreased over time in both groups but the decrease was non-significant. The only significant difference between groups was found for workplace physical activity, with the group receiving emails and text messages having a linear decrease of 2.81 Metabolic Equivalent h/week (β = -0.31, p = 0.035) compared to the email only group. CONCLUSIONS: Sending employees two additional text messages resulted in less physical activity. Further investigation is needed to understand whether text messaging may play a beneficial role in promoting physical activity in workplace settings.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: To test the effects of adding text messages to weekly email communications on recipients' total physical activity (leisure-time; workplace; domestic and garden; and active transportation) in employees of universities and colleges in the UK. METHODS: A randomised trial with two study groups (email only or email plus text messaging for 12 weeks) was implemented at five workplaces. Data were collected at baseline, immediately after, and four weeks after the intervention. Intervention effects on physical activity were evaluated using latent growth modelling. RESULTS: Total physical activity decreased over time in both groups but the decrease was non-significant. The only significant difference between groups was found for workplace physical activity, with the group receiving emails and text messages having a linear decrease of 2.81 Metabolic Equivalent h/week (β = -0.31, p = 0.035) compared to the email only group. CONCLUSIONS: Sending employees two additional text messages resulted in less physical activity. Further investigation is needed to understand whether text messaging may play a beneficial role in promoting physical activity in workplace settings.
Authors: Leanne G Morrison; Charlie Hargood; Veljko Pejovic; Adam W A Geraghty; Scott Lloyd; Natalie Goodman; Danius T Michaelides; Anna Weston; Mirco Musolesi; Mark J Weal; Lucy Yardley Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-01-03 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Timothy NeCamp; Srijan Sen; Elena Frank; Maureen A Walton; Edward L Ionides; Yu Fang; Ambuj Tewari; Zhenke Wu Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2020-03-31 Impact factor: 5.428