Accepted for/Published in: JMIR mHealth and uHealth
Date Submitted: Mar 3, 2020
Date Accepted: Apr 20, 2020
Effectiveness of a 3-month mobile phone based behavior change program on active transportation and physical activity in adults: A randomized controlled trial
ABSTRACT
Background:
Active transportation (AT) i.e., walking and cycling as a mode for transportation, has been associated with decreased morbidity and mortality; however, low-cost and scalable intervention programs are lacking.
Objective:
To determine the effectiveness of a mobile application to promote AT (TRavelVU Plus app) on time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).
Methods:
For this two-arm parallel randomized controlled trial, we recruited a population-based sample of 254 adults from the Stockholm County who were aged 20-65 years and had access to a smartphone. On completion of one-week baseline measures, the 254 participants were randomized to either the control or intervention (1:1 ratio). The intervention group received a 3-month behavior change program to promote AT (TRavelVU Plus app). Participants in the control group were encouraged to continue with their normal travel routines during the study period and had access to the standard TRavelVU app (without a behavior change program) to collect baseline and follow-up data on AT. Assessors of outcomes were blinded to group allocation. Outcomes were objectively measured MVPA at 3 (primary) and 6 months. Secondary outcomes were AT, attitudes towards AT, and health related quality of life at 3 and 6 months.
Results:
No effect on MVPA was observed after 3 months (P=.29), however, at 6 months, the intervention group had a greater improvement in MVPA than the controls (6.05 minutes/day [95 % CI, 0.36 to 11.74], P=.04). A supplementary Bayesian analyses showed that there was a 98 % probability that the intervention had any effect at 6-months, and a 63 % probability that this effect was > 5 min MVPA/day.
Conclusions:
No effect on MVPA immediately after the intervention period (at 3 months) was observed, however, there was a delayed effect on MVPA (6 minutes/day) at 6 months, which corresponds to approximately 30 % of the weekly MVPA recommendation. Together with the Bayesian analyses, our findings suggest that an app promoting AT may have a relevant effect on PA. Clinical Trial: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03086837; 22 March, 2017
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