Physical Activity and Well-Being Research Group, School of Psychology, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia.
Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Edith Cowan University, Mount Lawley, Perth, WA, 6050, Australia.
BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2021 Jan 21;21(1):23. doi: 10.1186/s12911-021-01391-3.
Physical inactivity is a global health concern. mHealth interventions have become increasingly popular, but to date, principles of effective communication from Self-Determination Theory have not been integrated with behavior change techniques to optimize app effectiveness. We outline the development of the START app, an app combining SDT principles and 17 purposefully chosen BCTs to support inactive office employees to increase their walking during a 16-week randomized controlled trial. We also explored acceptability, engagement with, associations between app usage and behavioral engagement, and perceived impact of the app in supporting behavior change.
Following development, fifty insufficiently physically active employees (M age = 44.21 ± 10.95 years; BMI = 29.02 ± 5.65) were provided access and instructions on use of the app. A mixed methods design was used to examine feasibility of the app, including the User Mobile App Rating Scale, app engagement data, step counts, and individual interviews. Linear mixed modeling and inductive thematic analysis were used to analyze quantitative and qualitative data, respectively.
Walkers rated the app quality favorably (M = 3.68 out of 5). Frequency of entering step counts (i.e., frequency of self-monitoring) on a weekly basis positively predicted weekly step counts measured via Fitbits at both the between-and within-individual levels. App features (entering daily step counts, reminders, and motivational messages) were perceived to assist walkers in fostering goal achievement by building competence and via self-monitoring.
The START app may be a useful component of walking interventions designed to increase walking in the workplace. Apps designed to promote walking behavior may be effective if they target users' competence and integrate BCTs.
This study was part of a pilot larger randomized controlled trial, in which a component of the intervention involved the use of the mobile app. The trial was retrospectively registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12618000807257) on 11 May 2018 https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=375049&isReview=true .
身体活动不足是一个全球性的健康问题。移动健康干预措施越来越受欢迎，但迄今为止，自我决定理论的有效沟通原则尚未与行为改变技术相结合，以优化应用程序的效果。我们概述了 START 应用程序的开发，该应用程序结合了自我决定理论原则和 17 种经过精心挑选的行为改变技术，以支持不活跃的办公室员工在 16 周的随机对照试验中增加步行量。我们还探讨了应用程序的可接受性、参与度、应用程序使用与行为参与之间的关联，以及应用程序在支持行为改变方面的感知效果。
在开发完成后，五十名身体活动不足的员工（平均年龄 44.21±10.95 岁；BMI 29.02±5.65）被提供了访问和使用应用程序的说明。采用混合方法设计来检验应用程序的可行性，包括用户移动应用程序评分量表、应用程序参与数据、步数和个人访谈。线性混合模型和归纳主题分析分别用于分析定量和定性数据。
步行者对应用程序质量评价较高（平均得分为 3.68 分）。每周自我监测（即自我监测频率）的频率在个体间和个体内水平上均正向预测了通过 Fitbit 测量的每周步数。应用程序功能（输入每日步数、提醒和激励信息）被认为通过建立能力和自我监测来帮助步行者实现目标，从而有助于目标的实现。
START 应用程序可能是增加工作场所步行量的步行干预措施的有用组成部分。如果旨在提高步行行为的应用程序针对用户的能力并整合行为改变技术，那么它们可能是有效的。
本研究是一项更大的随机对照试验的一部分，该试验的干预措施包括使用移动应用程序。该试验于 2018 年 5 月 11 日在澳大利亚和新西兰临床试验注册中心（ACTRN12618000807257）进行了回顾性注册。
