Internet-based Physical Activity Intervention

The purpose of this study is to determine whether access to a website with personalized feedback on physical activity level and suggestions to increase physical activity results in improvements in self-reported physical activity, anthropometrics and physiological measurements

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Physical Activity
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: website assess

Detailed Description

In a website-based intervention study, the investigators wish to examine if it is possible to increase physical activity among inactive persons. Main objective is to determine if access to a website with personalized feedback on PA level and suggestions to increase PA results in improvements in self reported PA, anthropometrics and applied physiological measurements.

Physical inactive adults (n=12,287) participating in a nationwide health survey and examination (DANHES) were asked to randomly assigned to either intervention (n=6,055) or control group (n=6,232). The intervention group had access to a PA website with personalized advice and suggestions to increase PA. After 3 and 6 months, a follow-up questionnaire was administered by e-mail. The 7-day International Physical Activity Questionnaire was included in the questionnaires to assess four domains of PA in daily-life (work, transportation, domestic, and leisure-time) and sedentary time. Furthermore, at the 3 month follow-up a subgroup of participants (n=1,190) were invited complete anthropometrics and physiological measurements.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 12287
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Denmark
  • Copenhagen, Denmark, 1353
    • National Institute of Public Health
  • Frederiksberg, Denmark, 2000
    • Municipality of Frederiksberg
  • Silkeborg, Denmark, 8600
    • Municipality of Silkeborg
  • Varde, Denmark, 6800
    • Municipality of Varde

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy adults
• Physically inactive in leisure time (assessed by self reported questionnaire)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of serious heart problems or not being able to perform everyday activities
• Highly physically active in leisure time (assessed by self reported questionnaire)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Control group; The control group were not given access to the intervention website and received no additional information.	Behavioral: website assess; The internet intervention group were given assess to the intervention website which included a personal page with tailored physical activity advice and a personal profile together with Recommendations and general training programs.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Self reported physical activity	Physical activity was assessed self reported with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)	after 3 month
Self reported physical activity	Physical activity was assessed self reported with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)	After 6 month

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Body weight	Body weight was measured to the nearest 0.1 kg and percent point with a Segmeantal Body Composition Analyser (type BC-418 MA, Tanita Corp., Tokyo, Japan).	after 3 month
Fat percentage	Fat percentage was measured to the nearest 0.1 kg and percent point with a Segmeantal Body Composition Analyser (type BC-418 MA, Tanita Corp., Tokyo, Japan).	after 3 month
Hip and Waist circumference	Hip and waist circumference was measured with a body tape (Chasmors WM02 Body Tape, Chasmors Ltd.,London, United Kingdom) to the nearest 1.0 cm. Waist circumference was measured midway between the iliac crest and the costal margin following a quiet expiration, and lastly hip circumference was measured at the maximal circumference over the buttocks and below the iliac crest.	after 3 month
blood pressure	Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured by fully automatic clinically validated blood pressure monitors (UA 779, UA-767 Plus 30 or UA 767 PC, A&D Company Ltd, Tokyo, Japan)	3 month
Aerobic fitness	Estimated during a max (watt-max) or a sub-maximal test on a ergometer bike depending on the physical condition of the participant (Ergomedic 828E, Monark Exercise AB, Vansbro, Sweden). One of the following conditions contraindicated participation in the watt-max test: Any heart-related disease, chest pain, hypertension (>160/100 mmHg), heart or lung (pulmonary) medication, pregnancy and muscle, joint or skeletal problems. The sub-max test was contradicted by hypertension (>180/110 mmHg), severe heart-related disease, certain types of heart medication, muscle, joint or skeletal problems.	after 3 month
Arm muscle strength	Arm mucle strength was measured by bending of the arms with a Takei TKK 5402 digital back strength dynamometer (Takei Scientific Instruments Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). The test was performed with maximal exertion.	after 3 month
blood samples	Non-fasting venous blood samples were collected for future analyses of P-cholesterol, P-triglyceride, and haemoglobin A1c and for biobank storage.	After 3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Southern Denmark
• Collaborators: Rigshospitalet, Denmark
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Andreas Wolff Hansen, Msc., National Institute of Public Health

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Hansen AW, Gronbaek M, Helge JW, Severin M, Curtis T, Tolstrup JS. Effect of a Web-based intervention to promote physical activity and improve health among physically inactive adults: a population-based randomized controlled trial. J Med Internet Res. 2012 Oct 30;14(5):e145. doi: 10.2196/jmir.2109.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: May 1, 2008
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 1, 2009
• Study Completion (Actual): May 1, 2009

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 11, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 11, 2011
• First Posted (Estimate): February 14, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): February 14, 2011
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 11, 2011
• Last Verified: May 1, 2008

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: NIPH 1957