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Abstract

Purpose.

To evaluate the effects of a 12-week e-mail intervention promoting physical activity and nutrition, and to describe participant use and satisfaction feedback.

Design.

A longitudinal, randomized trial.

Setting.

Five large workplaces in Alberta, Canada.

Participants.

One thousand forty-three participants completed all three assessments, and 1263 participants in the experimental group provided use and satisfaction feedback after receiving the 12-week intervention.

Intervention.

Paired physical activity and nutrition messages were e-mailed weekly to the experimental group. The control group received all messages in bulk (i.e., within a single e-mail message) at the conclusion of the intervention.

Measures.

Self-report measures of knowledge, cognitions, and behaviors related to physical activity and nutrition were used. Satisfaction with e-mail messages was assessed at Time 2.

Analysis.

Planned contrasts compared the experimental group measures at Time 3 with those reported at Time 2 and with control group measures reported at Time 3. Control group measures at Time 3 were also compared with control group measures at Time 2.

Results.

The small intervention effects previously reported between Time 1 and Time 2 were maintained at Time 3. Providing the e-mail messages in bulk also had a significant positive effect on many of the physical activity and nutrition variables.

Conclusions.

E-mail offers a promising medium for promoting health-enhancing knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Additional research is needed to determine optimal message dose and content.

Keywords

Physical Activity Workplace E-mail Interventions Manuscript format: research Research purpose: intervention testing Study design: randomized trial Outcome measures: cognitive and behavioral Setting: workplace Health focus: physical activity and nutrition Strategy: education Target population age: adults Target population circumstances: employees

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References

Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute. How many Canadians are not active enough, 2002. Available at: http://www.cflri.ca/eng/provincial_data/pam2002/canada.php. Accessed March 13, 2008.

Statistics Canada. Canadian internet use survey. Available at: http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060815/d060815b.htm. Accessed October 14, 2008.

Statistics Canada. Household internet use survey. Available at: http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/56M0002GIE2004001.pdf. Accessed October 14, 2008.

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, Evaluation of an internet-based physical activity intervention: A preliminary investigation. Ann Behav Med. 2003;25:92–99.

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. Using sequential e-mail messages to promote health behaviors: Evidence of feasibility and reach in a worksite sample. J Med Internet Res. 2006;8:e3.

Six-Month Follow-up and Participant Use and Satisfaction of an Electronic Mail Intervention Promoting Physical Activity and Nutrition

Abstract

Purpose.

Design.

Setting.

Participants.

Intervention.

Measures.

Analysis.

Results.

Conclusions.

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References