Motive8!: feasibility of a text messaging intervention to promote physical activity in knee osteoarthritis

Blake, Holly; Roberts, Anna L.; Batt, Mark E.; Moses, Jonathan P.

Abstract

Aim: To develop and test the feasibility of using a SMS text messaging intervention to promote physical activity in patients with knee OA.

Methods: 27 people (6 male, 21 female; aged 25-81 years) with knee osteoarthritis received 4 text messages per week, for 6 weeks. Telephone surveys were conducted at baseline and 6 weeks to measure physical activity levels and beliefs, including self-efficacy for exercise, barriers and benefits of exercise, social support and pain. Participants completed physical activity diaries. Process evaluation included participant perceptions of the intervention and 'real-time' data on intervention fidelity (automated collection of delivery and response data) and participant engagement (text response).

Results: 648 messages were sent, 100% were accurately delivered. From baseline to 6 weeks, physical activity, self-efficacy for exercise, perceived benefits of exercise and social support significantly increased; reductions were observed in barriers to exercise and pain. Participants engaged with the intervention; 100% read the messages, 89% responded to texts requesting replies, 64% completed physical activity diaries with low attenuation (1.8% drop) by six weeks. Participants perceived messaging to be enjoyable (96%), personally relevant (85%), of appropriate frequency (100%) and duration (88%). Mobile phones, email and web were perceived to be most acceptable for health promotion compared with other forms of technology.

Conclusions: People with knee osteoarthritis can engage meaningfully with an interactive mobile phone messaging intervention over a six-week period. Health communications promoting physical activity demonstrate potential for behaviour change and positive implications for perceptions of exercise and pain; this needs to be tested in a randomised trial. Data collected in 'real-time' can be used for process evaluation to demonstrate participant engagement and intervention fidelity.

Citation

Blake, H., Roberts, A. L., Batt, M. E., & Moses, J. P. (2015). Motive8!: feasibility of a text messaging intervention to promote physical activity in knee osteoarthritis

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 26, 2015
• Publication Date: Nov 28, 2015
• Deposit Date: Nov 2, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 2, 2016
• Journal: International Journal of Sports and Exercise Medicine
• Electronic ISSN: 2469-5718
• Publisher: ClinMed International Library
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 1
• Issue: 5
• Keywords: Mobile phone, Health communication, Text messaging, Physical activity, Knee osteoarthritis
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/765347
• Publisher URL: http://clinmedjournals.org/articles/ijsem/international-journal-of-sports-and-exercise-medicine-ijsem-1-027.php?jid=ijsem
• Contract Date: Nov 2, 2016