Efficacy and Feasibility of the “Girls’ Recreational Activity Support Program Using Information Technology”: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial

Tracey L. Kelty, Philip J. Morgan, David R. Lubans

Faculty of Education and Arts, School of Education, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.

DOI: 10.4236/ape.2012.21002                

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of the Girls Recreational Activity Support Program Using Information Technology (GRASP-IT) intervention. This group randomized controlled trial for older adolescent girls (15 years+) combined face-to-face sessions with the use of a social network website, Facebook. Baseline and follow-up measurements were taken for physical activity (5 day pedometer), height, weight, estimated VO2max (Queen’s College Step Test), self-efficacy and peer social support. A process evaluation was conducted and included questionnaires and focus groups interviews. Although, the intervention group increased physical activity (mean 1878 steps/day) the difference between groups was not significant (p = 0.11, d = 0.8). BMI, fitness, self-efficacy and peer support all improved for the intervention group, however, changes were not statistically significant between groups. Although participants enjoyed the face-to- face component, engagement with the on-line component was low. Future interventions that utilize Facebook as a medium for increasing physical activity for adolescent girls require additional strategies to improve engagement and compliance.

Keywords

Physical Activity; Adolescent Girls; Intervention; Internet

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	ACM SIGCOMM Conference (2008). Unveiling Facebook: A measurement study of social network based applications. URL (last checked 25 October 2011). http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=1452527
[2]	Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A Social cognitive theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
[3]	Biddle, S., Gorley, T., & Stensel, D. (2004). Health-enhancing physical activity and sedentary behavior in children and adolescents. Journal of Sports Sciences, 22, 679-701. doi:10.1080/02640410410001712412
[4]	Biddle, S, & Wang, C. (2003). Motivation and self-perception profiles and links with physical activity in adolescent girls. Journal of Adolescence, 26, 687-701. doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2003.07.003
[5]	Booth, M., Okely, A., Denny-Wilson, E., Hardy, L., Yang, B., & Dobbins, T. (2006). NSW schools physical activity and nutrition survey (SPANS) 2004: Full Report, Sydney.
[6]	Buis, L., Poulton, T., Holleman, R., Sen, A., Resnick, P., Goodrich, D. E., et al. (2009). Evaluating Active U: An internet-mediated physical activity program. BioMedical Central Public Health, 9.
[7]	Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioural sciences. Hillsdale, NJ: Earlbaum Associates.
[8]	Cole, T. J., Bellizzi, M. C., Flegal, K. M., & Dietz, W. H. (2000). Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: International survey. Brittish Medical Journal, 320, 1240-1243. doi:10.1136/bmj.320.7244.1240
[9]	Crutzen, R., De Nooijer, J., Brouwer, W., Oenema, A., Brug, J., & DeVries, N. K. (2009). A conceptual framework for understanding and improving adolescents’ exposure to internet-delivered interventions. Health Promotion International, 24, 277-283. doi:10.1093/heapro/dap018
[10]	Department of Health and Ageing (2004). National physical activity guidelines for Australia. Canberra.
[11]	Department of Health and Ageing (2008). 2007 Australian national children’s nutrition and physical activity survey: Main findings. Canberra.
[12]	Dishman, R. K., Motl, R. W., Sallis, J. F., Dunn, A. L., Birnbaum, A. S., Welk, G. J., et al. (2005). Self-management strategies mediate self-efficacy and physical activity. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 29, 10-18. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2005.03.012
[13]	Dishman, R. K., Motl, R. W., Saunders, R., Felton, G., Ward, D. S., Dowda, M., et al. (2004). Self-efficacy partially mediates the effect of a school-based physical-activity intervention among adolescent girls. Preventive Medicine, 38, 628-636. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2003.12.007
[14]	Eliakim, A., Barstow, T. J., Brasel, J. A., Ajie, H., Lee, W. N. P., Renslo, R., et al. (1996). Effect of exercise training on energy expenditure, muscle volume, and maximal oxygen uptake in female adolescents. The Journal of Pediatrics, 129, 537-543. doi:10.1016/S0022-3476(96)70118-X
[15]	Jamner, M. S., Spruijt-Metz, D., Bassin, S., & Cooper, D. M. (2004). A controlled evaluation of a school-based intervention to promote physical activity among sedentary adolescent females: Project FAB. Journal of Adolescent Health, 34, 279-289.
[16]	Kazeniac, A. (2010). Social networks: Facebook takes over top spot, twitter climbs. URL (last checked 25 October 2011). http://blog.compete.com/2009/02/09facebook-myspace-twitter-social-network/
[17]	Lubans, D. R., Foster, C., & Biddle, S. J. H. (2008). A review of mediators of behavior in interventions to promote physical activity among children and adolescents. Journal of Preventative Medicine, 47, 463-470. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2008.07.011
[18]	Lubans, D. R., Morgan, P. J., Callister, R., & Collins, C. E. (2008). The relationship between pedometer step counts and estimated VO2max as determined by submaximal fitness test in adolescents. Pediatric Exercise Science, 20, 273-284.
[19]	Lubans, D. R., Morgan, P. J., & Tudor-Locke, C. (2009). A systematic review of studies using pedometers to promote physical activity among youth. Preventative Medicine, 48, 307-315. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2009.02.014
[20]	McArdle, W. D., Katch, F. I., Pchar, G. S., Jacobson, L., & Ruck, S. (1972). Reliability and interrelationships between the maximal oxygen uptake, physical work capacity, and step test scores in college women. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 4, 182-186. doi:10.1249/00005768-197200440-00019
[21]	Motl, R. W., Dishman, R. K., Trost, S. G., Saunders, R. P., Dowda, M., & Felton, G. (2000). Factorial validity and invariance of questionnaires measuring social-cognitive determinants of physical activity among adolescent girls. Preventative Medicine, 31, 584-594. doi:10.1006/pmed.2000.0735
[22]	Murphy, N. M., Ni Dhuinn, M., Browne, P. A., & óRathaille, M. M. (2006). Physical activity for bone health in inactive teenage girls: Is a supervised, teacher-led program or self-led program best? Journal of Adolescent Health, 39, 508-514. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2006.01.008
[23]	Nader, P., Bradley, R., Houts, R., Ritchie, S., & O’Brien, M. (2008). Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity from ages 9 to 15 years. Journal of American Medical Association, 300, 295-305. doi:10.1001/jama.300.3.295
[24]	Neumark-Sztainer, D., Story, M., Hannan, P. J., & Rex, J. (2003). New moves: A school-based obesity prevention program for adolescent girls. Preventive Medicine, 37, 41-51. doi:10.1016/S0091-7435(03)00057-4
[25]	New South Wales Government Board of Studies (2010). Complete NSW Board of Studies statistics archive. URL (last checked 25 October 2011). http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au
[26]	Norman, G. J., Zabinski, M. F., Adams, M. A., Rosenberg, D. E., Yaroch, A. L., & Atienza, A. A. (2007). A review of ehealth interventions for physical activity and dietary behavior change. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 33, 336-345. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2007.05.007
[27]	New South Wales Department of Education and Communities (2010). Digital education revolution NSW. URL (last checked 25 October 2011). https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/strat_direction/schools/dernsw/index
[28]	Pate, R., Dowda, M., O’Neill, J., & Ward, D. (2007). Change in physical activity participation among adolescent girls from 8th to 12th grade. Journal of Physical Activity & Health, 4, 3-16.
[29]	President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (2002). The presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA). Washington: US Department of Health and Human Services.
[30]	Prochaska, J. J., Rodgers, M. W., & Sallis, J. F. (2002). Association of parent and peer support with adolescent physical activity. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 73, 206-210.
[31]	Schneider, M., Dunton, G. F., Bassin, S., Graham, D. J., Eliakim, A., & Cooper, D. M. (2007). Impact of a school-based physical activity intervention on fitness and bone in adolescent females. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 4, 17-29.
[32]	Schneider, M., Dunton, G. F., & Cooper, D. M. (2008). Physical activity and physical self-concept among sedentary adolescent females: An intervention study. Psychology of Sport & Exercise, 9, 1-14. doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2007.01.003
[33]	Schofield, G., Schofield, L., Hinckson, E. A., & Mummer, W. K. (2007). Daily step counts and selected coronary heart disease risk factors in adolescent girls. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 12, 148-155. doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2007.10.003
[34]	Stevens, J., Murray, D. M., Catellier, D. J., Hannan, P. J., Lytle, L. A., Elder, J. P., et al. (2005). Design of the Trial of Activity in Adolescent Girls (TAAG). Contemporary Clinical Trials, 26, 223-233. doi:10.1016/j.cct.2004.12.011
[35]	Thelwall, M. (2008). Social networks, gender and friending: An analysis of MySpace member profiles. Journal of American Society for Information Science and Technology, 59, 1320-1330. doi:10.1002/asi.20835
[36]	Tudor-Locke, C., & Bassett Jr., D. R. (2004). How many steps/days are enough: Preliminary pedometer indices for public health. Sports Medicine, 34, 1-8. doi:10.2165/00007256-200434010-00001
[37]	US Department of Health and Human Services (2000). Healthy people 2010: Understanding and improving health. Washington DC: USA Government Printing Office.
[38]	van Sluijs, E. M., McMinn, A. M., & Griffin, S. J. (2007). Effectiveness of interventions to promote physical activity in children and adolescents: Systematic review of controlled trials. British Medical Journal, 335.
[39]	Whitehead, S. H., Biddle, S. J. H., O’Donovan, T. M., & Nevill, M. E. (2006). Social-psychological and physical environmental factors in groups differing by levels of physical activity: A study of Scottish adolescent girls. Pediatric Exercise Science, 18, 226-239.
[40]	WHO (2004). Global strategy on diet, physical activity and health. World Health Organization.
[41]	Zwiren, L. D., Freedson, P. S., Ward, A., Wilke, S., & Rippe, J. M. (1991). Estimation of VO2max: A comparative analysis of five exercise tests. Research Quarterly for Exercise & Sport, 62, 73-78.