Evaluating the Feasibility, Acceptability, and Effects of Deposit Contracts With and Without Daily Feedback to Promote Physical Activity.

Abstract

Despite interest in financial incentive programs, evidence regarding the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of deposit contracts (ie,use of participants' own money as a financial reward) for increasing physical activity (PA) is limited. Furthermore, evidence regarding the use of feedback within incentive programs is limited. To evaluate: (1)the feasibility and acceptability of deposit contracts for increasing objectively measured PA and (2)the effects of deposit contracts with or without ongoing feedback on PA. Participants (n = 24) were exposed to 3 conditions (1)self-monitoring, (2)incentive, and (3)incentive with feedback in an ABACABAC design, with the order of incentive conditions counterbalanced across participants. Effect sizes suggest that individuals had a modest increase in PA during the incentive conditions compared with self-monitoring. Presentation order moderated results, such that individuals exposed to incentives with feedback first performed more poorly across both incentive conditions. In addition, individuals often cited the deposit contract as a reason for not enrolling, and those who did participate reported inadequate acceptability of the incentives and feedback. Results suggest that while deposit contracts may engender modest increases in PA, this type of incentive may not be feasible or acceptable for promoting PA.