Abstract
BackgroundThis follow-up study investigated the year-round effects of a four-week randomized controlled trial using different types of feedback on employees’ physical activity, including a need-supportive coach intervention.MethodsParticipants (n = 227) were randomly assigned to a Minimal Intervention Group (MIG; no feedback), a Pedometer Group (PG; feedback on daily steps only), a Display Group (DG; feedback on daily steps, on daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [MVPA] and on total energy expenditure [EE]), or a Coaching Group (CoachG; same as DG with need supportive coaching). Daily physical activity level (PAL; Metabolic Equivalent of Task [MET]), number of daily steps, daily minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), active daily EE (EE > 3 METs) and total daily EE were measured at five time points: before the start of the 4-week intervention, one week after the intervention, and 3, 6, and 12 months after the intervention.ResultsFor minutes of MVPA, MIG showed higher mean change scores compared with the DG. For steps and daily minutes of MVPA, significantly lower mean change scores emerged for MIG compared with the PG. Participants of the CoachG showed significantly higher change scores in PAL, steps, minutes of MVPA, active EE, total EE compared with the MIG. As hypothesized, participants of the CoachG had significantly higher mean change scores in PAL and total EE compared with groups that only received feedback. However, no significant differences were found for steps, minutes of MVPA and active EE between CoachG and PG.ConclusionsReceiving additional need-supportive coaching resulted in a higher PAL and active EE compared with measurement (display) feedback only. These findings suggest to combine feedback on physical activity with personal coaching in order to facilitate long-term behavioral change. When it comes to increasing steps, minutes of MVPA or active EE, a pedometer constitutes a sufficient tool.Trial registrationClinical Trails.gov NCT01432327. Date registered: 12 September 2011.
Highlights
This follow-up study investigated the year-round effects of a four-week randomized controlled trial using different types of feedback on employees’ physical activity, including a need-supportive coach intervention
The Display Group (DG) had a significantly higher daily physical activity level (PAL) compared with the Pedometer Group (PG) (0.08 ± 0.03 Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET), p < 0.05), which translates into an increased EE of 117 kcal per day for an individual with a body weight of 60 kg
Our study indicates that having the lowcost pedometer is of great value when it comes to increasing daily steps, minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and active daily EE
Summary
This follow-up study investigated the year-round effects of a four-week randomized controlled trial using different types of feedback on employees’ physical activity, including a need-supportive coach intervention. Despite the irrefutable evidence, a majority of the adult population worldwide does not reach recommended levels of PA [2, 3] Different guidelines exist such as the 30 min of moderate to vigorous activity per day [4] or the. In order to design interventions to promote changes in health behaviors, more and more studies have been inspired by the Self-Determination Theory [11] One construct from this theory, need support, has been shown to be especially promising in promoting long-term adherence to a physically active lifestyle [12]. This type of coaching should include support for three basic needs: autonomy (i. e. making your own choices), competence (i.e. to feel effective and confident in your own abilities and actions) and relatedness (i.e. to feel a sense of meaningful and mutual connectedness with others) [11]
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