Computerized Health Education to Promote Physical Activity

Computerized Physical Activity Promotion in Primary Care

This study will test the efficacy of providing primary care physicians and their patients with computer-tailored information, based on patients' responses to survey questions. The health education messages are designed to encourage patients to become physically active and to encourage physicians to counsel their patients about exercise.

The main objective of this study is to determine, via a 6-month randomized controlled study, the efficacy of providing tailored physical activity computer reports to patients and physicians. The primary outcome is minutes of physical activity measured by the 7-Day Physical Activity Recall interview at 6 months. The intervention group completed physical activity surveys at baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months. Based on their responses, participants received four feedback reports at each time point. The reports aimed to motivate participants to increase physical activity, personalized to participants' needs; they also included an activity prescription. The control group received identical procedures, except that they received general reports on preventive screening based on their responses to preventive screening questions.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ability to speak and read English
• Current patient of a physician participating in this study (if selecting a new physician, may deliberately select one that is involved in the study, in order to participate)
• Ability to complete all written surveys
• Accessible for follow-up telephone surveys
• Ability to undergo exercise testing

Exclusion Criteria:

• Currently participating in another research study
• Planning to move out of the Philadelphia area
• Unable to walk without pain
• Pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the year following study entry
• Excessive drinking
• Coronary heart disease
• Congestive heart failure
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Cerebrovascular disease
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Arrhythmia
• Recurrent seizures
• Dizziness
• Balance problems
• Psychoses