Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool St., Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2023 Aug 16;20(1):98. doi: 10.1186/s12966-023-01500-7.
Public transport users tend to accumulate more physical activity than non-users; however, whether physical activity is increased by financially incentivising public transport use is unknown. The trips4health study aimed to determine the impact of an incentive-based public transport intervention on physical activity.
A single-blinded randomised control trial of a 16-week incentive-based intervention involved Australian adults who were infrequent bus users (≥ 18 years; used bus ≤ 2 times/week) split equally into intervention and control groups. The intervention group were sent weekly motivational text messages and awarded smartcard bus credit when targets were met. The intervention group and control group received physical activity guidelines. Accelerometer-measured steps/day (primary outcome), self-reported transport-related physical activity (walking and cycling for transport) and total physical activity (min/week and MET-min/week) outcomes were assessed at baseline and follow-up.
Due to the COVID pandemic, the trial was abandoned prior to target sample size achievement and completion of all assessments (N = 110). Steps/day declined in both groups, but by less in the intervention group [-557.9 steps (-7.9%) vs.-1018.3 steps/week (-13.8%)]. In the intervention group, transport-related physical activity increased [80.0 min/week (133.3%); 264.0 MET-min/week (133.3%)] while total physical activity levels saw little change [35.0 min/week (5.5%); 25.5 MET-min/week (1.0%)]. Control group transport-related physical activity decreased [-20.0 min/week (-27.6%); -41.3 MET-min/week (-17.3%)], but total physical activity increased [260.0 min/week (54.5%); 734.3 MET-min/week (37.4%)].
This study found evidence that financial incentive-based intervention to increase public transport use is effective in increasing transport-related physical activity These results warrant future examination of physical activity incentives programs in a fully powered study with longer-term follow-up.
This trial was registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry August 14th, 2019: ACTRN12619001136190; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=377914&isReview=true.
公共交通使用者往往比非使用者积累更多的体力活动；然而，通过经济激励公共交通使用是否能增加体力活动尚不清楚。trips4health 研究旨在确定基于激励的公共交通干预对体力活动的影响。
一项 16 周激励性干预的单盲随机对照试验涉及澳大利亚成年人，他们是不常乘坐公共汽车的乘客（≥18 岁；每周乘坐公共汽车≤2 次），平均分为干预组和对照组。干预组每周收到激励性短信，并在达到目标时获得智能卡公共汽车信用。干预组和对照组都收到了体育活动指南。使用加速度计测量的每日步数（主要结果）、自我报告的与交通相关的体力活动（步行和骑车出行）和总体力活动（每周分钟和每周代谢当量分钟）在基线和随访时进行评估。
由于 COVID 大流行，该试验在达到目标样本量并完成所有评估之前（N=110）就被放弃了。两组的每日步数都有所下降，但干预组下降幅度较小[-557.9 步（-7.9%）vs.-1018.3 步/周（-13.8%）]。在干预组中，与交通相关的体力活动增加[80.0 分钟/周（133.3%）；264.0 MET-分钟/周（133.3%）]，而总体力活动水平变化不大[35.0 分钟/周（5.5%）；25.5 MET-分钟/周（1.0%）]。对照组与交通相关的体力活动减少[-20.0 分钟/周（-27.6%）；-41.3 MET-分钟/周（-17.3%）]，但总体力活动增加[260.0 分钟/周（54.5%）；734.3 MET-分钟/周（37.4%）]。
本研究发现，增加公共交通使用的经济激励性干预措施可有效增加与交通相关的体力活动，这一结果证明了在一项具有更长随访时间的全面动力研究中，有必要进一步研究体力活动激励计划。
该试验于 2019 年 8 月 14 日在澳大利亚和新西兰临床试验注册中心注册：ACTRN12619001136190；https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=377914&isReview=true。
