JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Insufficient physical activity and excess weight increase illness risk for women.

Objective:

This study explored participants’ perspectives of the acceptability and usability of a theory-driven, email-delivered intervention coupled with a wearable activity monitor designed to promote physical activity in women who were insufficiently active and overweight or obese.

Methods:

In this three-arm parallel group randomized controlled trial (unblinded), participants allocated to the main intervention arm received an automated intervention consisting of: six weekly emails informed by self-determination theory, a Polar A300 activity monitor (with access to the Polar website and companion smartphone application), and a copy of the Canadian physical activity guidelines for adults. Post-intervention, participants completed an acceptability survey online containing open- and closed-ended questions. Descriptive and content analyses were performed for responses to closed- and open-ended questions, respectively.

Results:

Data from 14 women (age=18-63 years, mean body mass index=31.3±5.8 kg/m2) who received the main intervention and completed the post-intervention survey were analyzed. Open-ended responses indicated most were satisfied with the intervention and appreciated that emails prompted self-reflection, kept them on track and accountable, provided informational support, and were non-pressuring. Further, they suggested the monitor was “enjoyable” and “helpful;” quantitative data corroborated this as 71.4% said the monitor was “very valuable/absolutely valuable,” 71.7% would “very probably/definitely” still use one, and 85.7% wore it ≥5 days/week for ≥8 hours/day and checked it “occasionally/frequently/very frequently.” Potential threats to acceptability included: “long” and “text-heavy” emails, lack of personal contact, and cumbersome non-aesthetic monitors.

Conclusions:

This self-determination theory-driven, email-delivered intervention may be an acceptable low-contact approach to promote physical activity in women who are overweight or obese and insufficiently active, although improvements are warranted and studies ascertaining its effectiveness are needed. Clinical Trial: This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT03601663, Date: July 26, 2018; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03601663).