Abstract
BackgroundRecent technological advances provide an alternative yet underutilised opportunity for promoting physical activity in youth. The primary aim of the Raising Awareness of Physical Activity (RAW-PA) Study is to examine the short- and longer-term impact of a wearable activity monitor combined with digital behaviour change resources on adolescents’ daily physical activity levels.Methods/DesignRAW-PA is a 12 week, multicomponent physical activity intervention that utilises a popular activity tracker (Fitbit® Flex) and supporting digital materials that will be delivered online via social media. The resources target key behaviour change techniques. The intervention structure and components have been informed by participatory research principles. RAW-PA will be evaluated using a cluster randomised controlled trial design with schools as the unit of randomisation. Twelve schools located in Melbourne, Australia, will allocated to either the intervention or wait-list control group. The target sample size is 300 Year 8 adolescents (aged 13–14 years). Participants’ moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity will be the primary outcome. Survey measures will be completed. Process factors (e.g. feasibility, acceptability/appeal, fidelity) will also be collected.DiscussionTo our knowledge, this study will provide some of the first evidence concerning the effect of wearable activity trackers and digital behaviour change resources on adolescents’ physical activity levels. This study will provide insights into the use of such technologies for physical activity promotion, which may have a significant impact on health education, promotion, practice and policy.Trial registrationAustralian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry No: ACTRN12616000899448. Date of registration: July 7, 2016.
Highlights
Recent technological advances provide an alternative yet underutilised opportunity for promoting physical activity in youth
There is a need for further research to examine non-curriculum based, lower resource intensive approaches for promoting physical activity levels in adolescents living in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas
This paper provides a rationale and description of the Raising Awareness of Physical Activity (RAW-PA) Study protocol; an innovative physical activity intervention that combines wearable activity trackers with online digital behaviour change resources for inactive adolescents attending schools in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas
Summary
Recent technological advances provide an alternative yet underutilised opportunity for promoting physical activity in youth. There is a lack of intervention studies that have targeted the promotion of activity levels of adolescents living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods [14] Of those conducted, a number targeted a single sex [15,16,17,18] and most have used multicomponent approaches delivered through school-based settings [15, 16, 19,20,21]. A number targeted a single sex [15,16,17,18] and most have used multicomponent approaches delivered through school-based settings [15, 16, 19,20,21] Such interventions can be resource-intensive, costly and are usually conducted in class, which can be difficult to implement due to an already crowded curriculum. There is a need for further research to examine non-curriculum based, lower resource intensive approaches for promoting physical activity levels in adolescents living in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas
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