Internet Technologies to Increase Exercise Behavior

描述（由申请人提供）：多达75%的美国人不参加有规律的体育活动，25%的人完全不运动。不运动的人患心血管疾病的风险几乎是不运动人群的两倍，与收缩压升高、吸烟和血清胆固醇升高相关的风险相当。为了在人群水平上对体育活动流行率产生影响，研究必须集中在临床疗效试验和大规模传播研究之间的界面。在这个界面上的研究必须将已证实的干预措施与有可能惠及大量久坐不动的美国人的新创新措施进行比较。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): As many as 75 percent of Americans do not engage in regular physical activity and 25 percent are completely inactive. The risk of cardiovascular disease is almost doubled among people who are physically inactive, comparable to the risk associated with increased systolic blood pressure, cigarette smoking, and elevated serum cholesterol. To make an impact on physical activity prevalence at the population level, research must focus at the interface between clinical efficacy trials and large-scale dissemination studies. Studies at this interface must compare proven interventions with new innovations that have the potential to reach large numbers of sedentary Americans. The objective of this study is to determine the differential effect of intervention delivery channel (Tailored Internet versus Tailored Print) on physical activity adoption and maintenance in previously sedentary adults. To our knowledge, no studies have examined the efficacy of a Tailored Internet-based physical activity intervention. Thus, we will conduct a randomized controlled clinical trial comparing three groups, 1) Internet-based motivationally-tailored individualized feedback (Tailored Internet); 2) print-based motivationally-tailored individualized feedback which has previously shown to be efficacious (Tailored Print); and 3) websites currently available to the public (Standard Internet comparison group). Two hundred and forty healthy, sedentary women and men ages 18-65 will be randomly assigned to one of the three groups. The Tailored Internet and Tailored Print arms will be matched on frequency and content of contact. Data will be collected at baseline, 6, and 12 months using well-established physical activity and physical performance measures, as well as a comprehensive set of psychosocial questionnaires. Our primary hypothesis is that individuals randomized to the Tailored Internet arm will exhibit significantly higher levels of physical activity participation at 6 and 12 months than individuals in the Tailored Print arm due to the enhanced capabilities of the Internet (e.g., immediacy of feedback and enhanced graphics). And, in addition, subjects randomized to the Tailored Internet or Tailored Print conditions will exhibit significantly higher levels of physical activity participation at 6 and 12 months than those in the Standard Internet comparison condition. Other questions of interest will include an examination of potential moderators and mediators of the intervention-physical activity relationship. This study will contribute important information regarding the relative efficacy of Internet and print-based interventions, each of which can be utilized for widespread public health dissemination.