The purpose of this study was (i) to develop a brief counseling letter intervention aiming to reduce sedentary time and to increase physical activity during leisure time among adults aged 42 to 64 years and (ii) to provide information on the feasibility.
The study aimed to assess the feasibility of a brief counseling letter intervention to increase physical activity and to reduce sedentary time in leisure time. Following the Intervention Mapping Protocol we developed the counseling letter intervention. The intervention is based on the Health Action Process Approach, comprising 3 tailored letters based on separate assessments, delivered over 6 month. All participants consented (i) to participate in an examination at the university hospital including standardized measurements of blood pressure, waist and hip circumference, body height and weight as well as blood sample taking, (ii) to fill in a paper-pencil questionnaire, and (iii) to wear an accelerometer for 7 days at baseline and at 12-month follow-up. A general population sample of cardiovascular healthy adults was randomly allocated to a control and an intervention group. At 5 time points (baseline, 3-month, 6-month, 7-month, and 12-month follow-up) participants of both study groups completed standardized questionnaires.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
176
The intervention is based on the Health Action Process Approach. The first letter provides information on knowledge regarding sedentary time and physical activity as well as intervenes on self-efficacy depending on the mindset of participants (non-intender, intender, actor). The second letter focuses on benefits and barriers of physical activity as well as the role of social support for physical activity. In case of actional stage, the third letter intervenes on self-efficacy again and suggests action and coping planning. Otherwise, the letter includes ipsative feedback according to the second letter.
Adherence: Drop-out rates in control and intervention group
Measures: Analyses of drop-out rates (%) in control and intervention group
Time frame: up to 12 month
Feasibility: Comprehensibility on intervention material via paper-pencil-assessment
Measures: questions regarding the comprehensibility on intervention material (via paper-pencil-assessment)
Time frame: 12 month
physical activity by self-report
Measures: paper-pencil-assessment (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long version, IPAQ-L)
Time frame: Change from Baseline Physical Activity at 12 months
physical activity by accelerometry
Measures: objective measurement of physical activity by accelerometry
Time frame: Change from Baseline Physical Activity at 12 months
sedentary time by self-report
Measures: paper-pencil-assessment (last 7-d sedentary behavior questionnaire, SIT-Q-7d)
Time frame: Change from Baseline Sedentary Time at 12 months
sedentary time by accelerometry
Measures: objective measurement of physical activity by accelerometry
Time frame: Change from Baseline Sedentary Time at 12 months
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