Acceptability and feasibility of a computer-tailored physical activity intervention using stages of change: project FAITH.

Abstract

This study investigated the feasibility and acceptability of a new computer-tailored intervention promoting physical activity in a general population, and explored if there are differences in the reported feasibility and acceptability between stages of change, gender, age groups, education levels and familiarity with computer use. The computer-tailored intervention program consists of questionnaires concerning demographics, physical activity and psychosocial determinants, leading to a 'physical activity advice' and an 'action plan'. This feedback was constructed taking the stages of change into account, at content level as well as in the way participants were approached. One hundred and ninety-two participants, between 25 and 55 years of age, ran through the tailored materials, and completed an acceptability and feasibility questionnaire afterwards. This questionnaire contained feasibility and acceptability questions about all the intervention aspects: intervention questions, physical activity advice, action plan and computer use. High acceptability and feasibility scores were found for all intervention parts. Only a few significant differences in acceptability and feasibility scores between stages of change, gender, age groups, education levels and familiarity with computer use were found. These results suggest that this computer-tailored intervention is an acceptable and feasible tool for promoting physical activity for respondents having different stages of change, ages, gender, education levels and computer use.