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Effects of text messaging in addition to emails on physical activity among university and college employees in the UK

Suggs, S.; Blake, Holly; Bardus, Marco; Lloyd, Scott

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Authors

S. Suggs

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HOLLY BLAKE holly.blake@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor of Behavioural Medicine

Marco Bardus

Scott Lloyd



Abstract

Objectives

To test the effects of adding text messages to weekly email communications on recipients’ total physical activity (leisure-time; workplace; domestic and garden; and active transportation) in employees of universities and colleges in the UK.

Methods

A randomised trial with two study groups (email only or email plus text messaging for 12 weeks) was implemented at five workplaces. Data were collected at baseline, immediately after, and four weeks after the intervention. Intervention effects on physical activity were evaluated using latent growth modelling.

Results

Total physical activity decreased over time in both groups but the decrease was non-significant. The only significant difference between groups was found for workplace physical activity, with the group receiving emails and text messages having a linear decrease of 2.81 Metabolic Equivalent h/week (β = −0.31, p = 0.035) compared to the email only group.

Conclusions

Sending employees two additional text messages resulted in less physical activity. Further investigation is needed to understand whether text messaging may play a beneficial role in promoting physical activity in workplace settings.

Citation

Suggs, S., Blake, H., Bardus, M., & Lloyd, S. (2013). Effects of text messaging in addition to emails on physical activity among university and college employees in the UK. Journal of Health Services Research and Policy, 18(1 Supp), https://doi.org/10.1177/1355819613478001

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jan 18, 2013
Publication Date Apr 1, 2013
Deposit Date Dec 9, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Journal of Health Services Research & Policy
Print ISSN 1355-8196
Electronic ISSN 1758-1060
Publisher SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 18
Issue 1 Supp
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/1355819613478001
Keywords ehealth, Physical activity, Work health promotion
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/714139
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1355819613478001
Additional Information Copyright © 2013 by SAGE Publications

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