A Study on the Benefits of Participation in an Electronic Tracking Physical Activity Program and Motivational Interviewing During a Three-Month Period

Abstract Background The purpose of the study was to investigate if participation in a three-month electronic tracking outdoor physical activity and a motivational interviewing (MI) intervention led to positive behavioural, psychological, and physiological outcomes. Method Based on a two-group pre-post experimental design, 12 women and 6 men were randomly assign to an experimental (mean age = 51.9 years) and an control group (mean age = 48.9 years) based on the inclusion criteria: (a) having a primarily sedentary job, (b) limited exercise activity in the past year and (c) employed within the Halmstad Municipal Council. Physical activity data were collected continuously by wrist-worn activity sensors, and pre-post data were collected on the GHQ-12, the BREQ-2, body mass, body fat mass and total body muscle. Measures of cardiovascular fitness (time to exhaustion) were also taken pre to post. The experimental group was supported through individual MI coaching sessions and individual resistance-training programs specifically designed for use in an outdoor gym. Magnitude based inferences (MBI) were calculated based on the disposition of the confidence limits for the mean differences to the smallest worthwhile changes. Results MBI analysis of baseline measures showed differences in body fat between the groups. The experimental group had a small and beneficial increase in in physical activity behaviour (steps). Moreover, the control group had a medium decrease in identified regulation, but the experimental group maintained the same level at the post-measure. Conclusion Participation in the outdoor physical activity and MI intervention resulted in a small increase in in physical activity behaviour (steps) as well as a maintained level of identified regulation in the experimental group. The latter result may be related to a possible combined effect of MI and continuous feedback from the activity tracker. Although there are many questions that remain unanswered, the public health implications of using fitness technology to promote behaviour change seem worthwhile to study. Potential implications for future studies are provided.