Systematic Development of the YouRAction program, a computer-tailored physical activity promotion intervention for Dutch adolescents, targeting personal motivations and environmental opportunities.

Richard G Prins,Pepijn Van Empelen,Marielle A Beenackers,Anke Oenema,Johannes Brug

doi:10.1186/1471-2458-10-474

Richard G Prins, Pepijn Van Empelen + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-10-474

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Abstract

BackgroundIncreasing physical activity (PA) among adolescents is an important health promotion goal. PA has numerous positive health effects, but the majority of Dutch adolescents do not meet PA requirements. The present paper describes the systematic development of a theory-based computer-tailored intervention, YouRAction, which targets individual and environmental factors determining PA among adolescents.DesignThe intervention development was guided by the Intervention Mapping protocol, in order to define clear program objectives, theoretical methods and practical strategies, ensure systematic program planning and pilot-testing, and anticipate on implementation and evaluation. Two versions of YouRAction were developed: one that targets individual determinants and an extended version that also provides feedback on opportunities to be active in the neighbourhood. Key determinants that were targeted included: knowledge and awareness, attitudes, self-efficacy and subjective norms. The extended version also addressed perceived availability of neighbourhood PA facilities. Both versions aimed to increase levels of moderate-to-vigorous PA among adolescents. The intervention structure was based on self-regulation theory, comprising of five steps in the process of successful goal pursuit. Monitoring of PA behaviour and behavioural and normative feedback were used to increase awareness of PA behaviour; motivation was enhanced by targeting self-efficacy and attitudes, by means of various interactive strategies, such as web movies; the perceived environment was targeted by visualizing opportunities to be active in an interactive geographical map of the home environment; in the goal setting phase, the adolescents were guided in setting a goal and developing an action plan to achieve this goal; in the phase of active goal pursuit adolescents try to achieve their goal and in the evaluation phase the achievements are evaluated. Based on the results of the evaluation adolescents could revise their goal or choose another behaviour to focus on. The intervention is delivered in a classroom setting in three lessons. YouRAction will be evaluated in a cluster-randomized trial, with classes as unit of randomization. Evaluation will focus on PA outcomes, cognitive mediators/moderators and process measures.DiscussionThe planned development of YouRAction resulted in two computer-tailored interventions aimed at the promotion of PA in a Dutch secondary school setting.Trial registrationNTR1923

Highlights

Increasing physical activity (PA) among adolescents is an important health promotion goal
The planned development of YouRAction resulted in two computer-tailored interventions aimed at the promotion of PA in a Dutch secondary school setting
In the first part of this paper we describe the results of the systematic development of the intervention following the intervention mapping (IM) protocol for goal directed, theory and evidence based development of interventions

Summary

Introduction

Increasing physical activity (PA) among adolescents is an important health promotion goal. The most recent Dutch PA recommendations are that adolescents should engage in moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) for at least one hour per day to promote cardiovascular and general health, and to engage at least twice a week in vigorous PA to help enhance and maintain physical fitness, including flexibility, muscular strength and bone health [5]. In the Netherlands approximately one quarter of the adolescents comply with the MVPA norm [6]. These figures demonstrate that there is a need for physical activity promotion interventions for adolescents and that large numbers of adolescents need to be reached with such interventions. Since there are not many PA promotion interventions available that meet these requirements, we developed a new and innovative e-health promotion intervention

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