scholarly journals Feasibility of a Persuasive mHealth Behavioural Change Intervention in Promoting Physical Activity in the Workplace (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
MD Sanaul Haque ◽  
Maarit Kangas ◽  
Timo Jämsä
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Office Setting ◽  
Paper Diary ◽  
Game Elements ◽  
And Control ◽  
Experimental Group

BACKGROUND Employees in the office setting are more likely to remain physically inactive. Physical inactivity has become one of the major barriers to overcoming the risk of anxiety, depression, coronary heart disease, certain cancers, and type 2 diabetes. Currently, there is a gap in mobile health (mHealth) applications (apps) for workers to promote physical activity (PA) in the workplace. Studies on behaviour change theories have concluded that health applications generally lack the use of theoretical constructs. OBJECTIVE The objective was to study the feasibility of a persuasive application aimed at encouraging PA among employees and to understand the motivational aspects behind the implementation of mHealth apps among office workers. METHODS A four-week study with a mixed-method (quantitative and qualitative) design was conducted with office-based employees in four countries: (1) Oulu, Finland; (2) Carlow, Ireland; (3) London, United Kingdom; and (4) Dhaka, Bangladesh. Out of 22O invited participants (experimental group N=115, and control group N=105), the original study population of 84 participants (experimental group N=56, and control group N=28) consisted of working-age volunteers working in an office setting. Participants used two different interventions: the experimental group used an mHealth app for PA motivation, and the control group used a paper diary. The purpose was to motivate employees to engage in healthier behaviour regarding the promotion of PA in the workplace. A user-centered design (UCD) process was followed to design, develop, and evaluate the mHealth app, incorporating self-determination theory (SDT) and using game elements. The paper diary had no specific theory-driven approach, design technique, or game elements. RESULTS The compliance for the app usage remained relatively low, 27 participants (N=20 experimental; N=7 control group) completed the study. The results of the participants supported the original hypothesis that the mHealth app helped to increase physical activity in comparison to paper diary (P=0.033), i.e., promoting daily walking in the workplace. The mHealth app supported two of the basic SDT psychological needs – autonomy (P=0.004) and competence (P=0.014) – but not the needs of relatedness (P=0.535). CONCLUSIONS The SDT-based mHealth application resulted in motivating employees to increase their physical activity in the workplace. However, the compliance of the app usage remained low. Future research should further develop the app based on the user feedback and test it in a larger sample.

Investigating the Effect of Positive, Intermediate and Negative Enabling and Training Factors Affecting Physical Activity in Pregnant Women

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leila Kianfard ◽  
Farkhonde Amin SHokravi ◽  
Sakineh Rakhshanderou ◽  
Shamsaddin Niknami
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Enabling Factors ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
E Learning ◽  
And Control ◽  
Experimental Group

Abstract BackgroundPhysical activity during pregnancy period is one of the issues with priority during pregnancy period. Researches show that women reduce their physical activity during this period and are unaware of the benefits on the health of the mother and embryology. Although researchers regarding physical activity during pregnancy have prepared many guidelines; it is not however clear why pregnant women do not perform physical activity and the effectiveness factors that facilitate the desired behavior. MethodsThe research population included all pregnant women aged 18 to 40 years with gestational age of 12-38 weeks referring to the healthcare centers in District 5 of Tehran Municipality, from 22 districts of the city who had eliminated their physical activity during pregnancy. Questionnaires of physical activity assessment questionnaire after educational intervention in pregnant women (PPAQ) and a questionnaire designed based on the results of the needs assessment and the dimensions of the PEN-3 model were used for assessment. This study is a Research Clinical Trial (RCT). Due to the nature, a quasi-experimental research design (pre-test, post-test) with the control group was used in this research. ResultsBased on the obtained results, the intervention based on E-learning has a significant effect of enabling factors to increase physical activity in pregnant women in the experimental group. In addition, the intervention based on E-learning has a significant effect on the training factors in order to increase physical activity in pregnant women in the experimental group. ConclusionBased on the research results, it can be said that there is a statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the scores obtained from training factors in the pretest and the experimental group. Furthermore, it can be said that there is a statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the scores obtained from the enabling factors in the pre-test and the experimental group.

scholarly journals Effect of Games Including Physical Activity on Digital Game Addiction of 11-14 Age Group Middle-School Students

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (11) ◽  
pp. 243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zekihan Hazar ◽  
Muhsin Hazar
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Test Scores ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Digital Game ◽  
School Students ◽  
Game Addiction ◽  
Post Test ◽  
And Control ◽  
Experimental Group

In this study, it was investigated that effect of games including physical activity on digital game addiction of 11-14 age group middle-school students. Along with the determination of digital game addiction, conducting applied experimental study is important regarding showing results of application with theoretical knowledge towards solving problem. Within this framework, it was thought that “games including physical activity” will be important tool for decreasing the level of digital game addiction. Experimental Design method was used in the study in which was adopted Quantitative Research model. When 11-14 age group students who addicted digital games consisted of the population of the study, the sample of the study consisted of 29 girls and 51 boys who have studied. In the study, personal information form and digital game addiction scale that was developed by the researcher were used as measurement tools. During data collection period, by accepting applied pre-test to students as criterion sample process, students who have high addiction level (total scale score is 49 and above) were detected and control (n = 40) and experimental (n = 40) groups were created with unbiased assignment method. After the 12-weeks period “games including physical activity” training, the data which was collected from the control and experimental groups by taking post-test data was evaluated with SPSS 20 packaged software. It was found that there was a significant difference between pre-test and post-test of both sub-dimensions and total addiction scores and post-test scores were lower than pre-test scores. It was shown that post-test addiction scores were significantly higher than pre-test addiction scores in control group. When investigating post-test addiction scores of control and experiment groups, it was shown that addiction level of experimental group significantly decrease comparing control group. It was determined that pre-test/post-test scores of experimental group students did not show significant differences in terms of gender, age, education level of mothers, education level of fathers, number of siblings. It was also found that pre-test/post-test addiction scores of experimental and control groups showed significant differences regarding playing digital game duration. When playing digital game duration decreased in experimental group, playing game duration increased in control group. Therefore, it was concluded that addiction levels of students who are digital game addict decreased because of interesting games including physical activity. As a result; physical moving games and sports can be said to be an important tool in dealing with digital game addiction. It can also be said that an important way to protect children from such addictions is to do sports.

scholarly journals Psychological Effects of Motivational Aquatic Resistance Interval Training and Nutritional Education in Older Women

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1665
Author(s):  
Alejandro Martínez-Rodríguez ◽  
Bernardo José Cuestas-Calero ◽  
José Manuel García-De Frutos ◽  
Pablo Jorge Marcos-Pardo
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Intrinsic Motivation ◽  
Autonomy Support ◽  
Interval Training ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Basic Psychological Needs ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
And Control

Several studies have demonstrated the positive effects of physical exercise programs on physical and mental health throughout life. It is necessary to know the factors that contribute to the well-being of older adults in order to achieve healthy aging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between well-being perception and the use of autonomy supportive coaching behaviours across a motivational aquatic resistance interval training program. Thirty-four women over 65 years of age from the province of Alicante, Spain, participated, and were randomly assigned to: motivational aquatic resistance interval training group (MART; age: 69.6 ± 5.01 years, height: 1.62 ± 7.88 m, weight: 75.3 ± 12.8 kg) and control group (CG; age: 67.7 ± 3.60 years, height: 1.54 ± 5.47 m, weight: 66.9 ± 10.2 kg). The MART program was conducted for 14 weeks, with three training sessions/week. The CG did not perform any physical activity during the study. Perception of autonomy support was assessed through the Autonomy-Supportive Coaching Questionnaire (ASCQ), Psychological needs by the Basic Psychological Needs in Exercise Scale (BPNES), Intrinsic motivation to exercise was assessed through Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) and Perception of Physical Activity by the International physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ). In MART, compared to CG, significant differences were observed in BPNS, IMI and IPAQ questionnaires used, except in the ASCQ. The differences were significant in all three cases in BPNS (p < 0.05 in autonomy and competence and p = 0.001 in relationship with others), obtaining better scores after intervention than previously. As for the IMI scale, significant differences were also obtained in both subscales. The level of physical activity also improved significantly, with higher scores on the IPAQ after the intervention than before (p < 0.001). In conclusion, when practitioners perceive greater well-being, satisfaction of their basic psychological needs, greater self-selection, volition, and autonomy instead of pressure, demand and control, the result is better behaviour with greater psychological well-being, adherence and consequent health benefits.

scholarly journals Awareness of Lifestyle and Colorectal Cancer Risk: Findings from the BeWEL Study

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie S. Anderson ◽  
Stephen Caswell ◽  
Maureen Macleod ◽  
Angela M. Craigie ◽  
Martine Stead ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Knowledge Score ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Diet And Physical Activity ◽  
And Control

It is estimated that 47% of colorectal cancers (CRC) could be prevented by appropriate lifestyles. This study aimed to identify awareness of the causes of CRC in patients who had been diagnosed with a colorectal adenoma through the Scottish Bowel Screening Programme and subsequently enrolled in an intervention trial (using diet and physical activity education and behavioural change techniques) (BeWEL). At baseline and 12-month follow-up, participants answered an open-ended question on factors influencing CRC development. Of the 329 participants at baseline, 40 (12%) reported that they did not know any risk factors and 36 (11%) failed to identify specific factors related to diet and activity. From a potential knowledge score of 1 to 6, the mean score was 1.5 (SD 1.1, range 0 to 5) with no difference between intervention and control groups. At follow-up, the intervention group had a significantly greater knowledge score and better weight loss, diet, and physical activity measures than the control group. Awareness of relevant lifestyle factors for CRC remains low in people at increased risk of the disease. Opportunities within routine NHS screening to aid the capability (including knowledge of risk factors) of individuals to make behavioural changes to reduce CRC risk deserve exploration.

Effects of Adult Learner Participation in Course Planning on Achievement and Satisfaction

1983 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 147-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Rosenblum ◽  
Gordon G. Darkenwald
Keyword(s):  
Support Service ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Control Group Design ◽  
Learner Participation ◽  
Course Planning ◽  
Post Test ◽  
And Control ◽  
Experimental Group

A cardinal principle of adult education is that adults should participate in planning their own learning activities. The benefits of such participation have not, however, been documented through controlled experimental inquiry. The present study tested the hypotheses that participation in course planning would result in higher achievement and satisfaction. A post-test only control group design was employed with replication. The subjects of the initial experiment were 28 nursing supervisors randomly assigned to experimental and control conditions. The experimental group participated in planning their course in supervision. The control group completed the course as planned by the experimental group. The experiment was then replicated with 26 support service supervisors. The results were nearly identical for both experiments. No differences were found between the experimental and control groups in either achievement or satisfaction. One explanation for the findings is that control group subjects reaped the benefits of a “good course” planned by co-workers with similar needs. Nonetheless, direct participation in itself was found to have no effects, thereby raising important questions for future research.

scholarly journals Personal and Social Responsibility Programme Effects, Prosocial Behaviours, and Physical Activity Levels in Adolescents and Their Families

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 3184
Author(s):  
Juana García-García ◽  
David Manzano-Sánchez ◽  
Noelia Belando-Pedreño ◽  
Alfonso Valero-Valenzuela
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Intervention Programme ◽  
Physical Activity Levels ◽  
Personal And Social Responsibility ◽  
Prosocial Behaviours ◽  
And Control ◽  
Experimental Group

The aim of this study was to analyse a personal and social responsibility programme in students and their family’s perceptions relative to responsibility, prosocial behaviours, empathy, violence perception and physical activity levels. A sample consisting of 57 physical education students between 11 and 14 years old (mean (M) = 11.93; standard deviation (SD) = 0.73) that included 32 of their parents (M = 49.31; SD = 6.39) was distributed into experimental and control groups. The main results indicate that there were initial significant differences in favour of the control group for personal and social responsibility compared to the experimental group and they disappeared at the end of the treatment. There was an increase in antisocial behaviours for the control group at the end of the treatment. The experimental group also enhanced the values in violence perception for both students and families as compared to the control group. These results seem contradictory, which may be due in part to a short-time intervention programme and a low number of participants in the sample. More studies will clarify the improvements this kind of programme can bring to the variables studied.

scholarly journals Opinions of the Physical Education Teachers about the Effect of Peer Education and Physical Activity Cards’ Usage on the Student Skills

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 172
Author(s):  
Mustafa Karadağ ◽  
Yüksel Savucu ◽  
Resul Ağırtaş ◽  
Gülbin Eskiyecek
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Peer Education ◽  
Skill Learning ◽  
Physical Education Teachers ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
And Control ◽  
Experimental Group

The purpose of this study was to determine the opinions of the physical education teachers about the effect of peer education and physical activity cards&rsquo; usage on the student skills. Physical education teachers used a questionnaire to follow the students through observation. One-hundred-twenty secondary school students in 2015-2016 semester in Elazığ participated to the study. The students in the sample group were divided into two 30-person groups and control group and experimental group were constituted. The formed groups were taught lessons by means of Physicak Activity Cards for 4 weeks. At the end of the four-week course period, opinions about peer education were obtained through individual and focus group interviews with the experimental and control group students. In addition, &ldquo;Skill Learning Observation Forms&rdquo; prepared by researchers and experts were also applied. In the analysis of the data, for qualitative dimension, descriptive analysis, for quantitative data, percentage, frequency, for repetitive measurements, t test and one-way variance analysis were used. The SPSS 22 package program was used for the analysis of the quantitative data. The quantitative data were explained through tabulation. Again, the data obtained from observation forms were presented in the form of tables with their frequency and percentage values. Themes were obtained by coding the qualitative data. When the influence of the physical activity cards on the students&rsquo; attitudes toward the class is considered, a significant difference was attained in the common effect of the experimental group. According to this result, the education received by the students in the experimental and control groups led to a significant difference in favor of the last-test at the pre- and post-program attitude levels. However, it was determined that being in different groups did not lead to a significant difference in students&rsquo; attitude scores. When we examined the student opinions about the cards, the most of the students expressed the opinions that teaching lessons through cards created difference in the classes and increased their participation in the class. It was also enhanced their exercise skills and self-confidence. They did not have difficulty while applying the cards, they led them to act in coordination, and they rendered the class more enjoyable.

scholarly journals Perceptual Factors (Awareness, Attitude) and Positive, Indeterminate and Negative Nurturing Factors Affecting Physical Activity of Pregnant Women Visiting Health-care Centers in Tehran: Examination and Analyses

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leila Kianfard ◽  
Farkhonde Amin SHokravi ◽  
Sakineh Rakhshanderou ◽  
Shamsaddin Niknami
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
E Learning ◽  
And Control ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Perceptual Factors

Abstract Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of perceptual factors (awareness, attitude) and positive, intermediate and negative nurturing factors on the physical activity of pregnant women visiting health centers in Tehran. Methods: The present research was an applied study in which a quasi-experimental research design (pre-test-post-test) with a control group was employed. The Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) and a questionnaire designed based on the results of needs assessment and dimensions of the PEN-3 model were used for this study. This study is a randomized control trial (RCT). Results: The results indicated that the intervention based on E-learning has a statistically significant effect on perceptual factors (awareness, attitude) in increasing physical activity of pregnant women in the experimental group. Furthermore, the e-learning-based intervention has a significant effect on increasing physical activity of pregnant women in the experimental group compared to the control group.Conclusion: Based on the research results, it can be said that there is a statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the scores obtained from perceptual factors (awareness, attitude) in the pre-test and the experimental group. Furthermore, it can be said that there is a statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the scores obtained from perceptual factors (awareness, attitude) in the pre-test and the experimental group.

scholarly journals HOW CAN WE ENHANCE CREATIVITY IN CHILDHOOD? AN ACTION RESEARCH WITH ITALIAN CHILDREN

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 95
Author(s):  
Maria Elvira De Caroli ◽  
Rossella Falanga ◽  
Orazio Licciardello ◽  
Elisabetta Sagone
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Divergent Thinking ◽  
Change Agents ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Research Model ◽  
Italian Children ◽  
And Control ◽  
Experimental Group

Abstract.Creativity was defined as “the centerpiece of an education that prepares a generation of change agents for doing good” (Sheridan-Rabideau, 2010). In the theoretical framework of the action research model (see Lewin, 1951) this study was aimed to propose a training to enhance creativity in children. According to the William’s model (1966, 1994), creativity is made by the following factors: fluency, flexibility, originality,elaboration and the ability to produce creative titles . Purpose: to explore the effects of a specific training on improvement of creativity factors. Training consisted of three steps (1 hour every one) in which the children, respectively, a) imagined to see objects looking in a Kaleidoscope and wrote a story with imagined objects; b) proposed ways to enhance a simple toy and to make it funny (see Torrance, 1989); c) found similarities between couples of objects. Sample: 36 Italian children (16 boys and 20 girls) aged between 7 and 8 years old, attending second classes of a primary school in Misterbianco (Italy). Participants were divided between experimental group (attending training) and control group (no training). Measures: The Italian version of Test of Divergent Thinking (TCT: Williams, 1994). We used protocol A to analyze levels of creativity before the training and protocol B (perfectly comparable with protocol A) to evaluate creativity after training. Results: Children reached levels of creativity similar to those obtained by children of the same age in our context (De Caroli, 2009). After training, children of the experimental group improved in flexibility (t= -2,872, p=.01), originality (t= -3,831, p=.001), elaboration (t= -6,096, p<.001), and in titles production(t= -3,573, p=.002). No significant changes emerged in the Fluidity. Future research could deepen the effects of this training in children of different ages.Keywords: enhance creativity, primary school, Test of Divergent Thinking.

scholarly journals Perceptual Factors (Awareness, Attitude) and Positive, Indeterminate and Negative Nurturing Factors Affecting Physical Activity of Pregnant Women Visiting Health-care Centers in Tehran: Examination and Analyses

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leila Kianfard ◽  
Farkhonde Amin SHokravi ◽  
Sakineh Rakhshanderou ◽  
Shamsaddin Niknami
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
E Learning ◽  
And Control ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Perceptual Factors

Abstract BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to examine the effect of perceptual factors (awareness, attitude) and positive, intermediate and negative nurturing factors on physical activity of pregnant women visiting health centers in Tehran. MethodsThe present research was an applied study in which a quasi-experimental research design (pre-test-post-test) with a control group was employed. The Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) and a questionnaire designed based on the results of needs assessment and dimensions of the PEN-3 model were used for the purposes of this study. This study is a randomized control trial (RCT). ResultsThe results indicated that the intervention based on E-learning has a statistically significant effect on perceptual factors (awareness, attitude) in increasing physical activity of pregnant women in the experimental group. Furthermore, E-learning-based intervention has a significant effect on increasing physical activity of pregnant women in the experimental group compared to the control group.ConclusionBased on the research results, it can be said that there is a statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the scores obtained from perceptual factors (awareness, attitude) in the pre-test and the experimental group. Furthermore, it is safe to say that there is a statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the scores obtained from physical activity in the pre-test and the experimental group.

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