Aspects of Program Engagement in an Online Physical Activity Intervention and Baseline Predictors of Engagement

Abstract

Purpose: Participant engagement in an online physical activity (PA) intervention is described and baseline factors related to engagement are identified.

Design: Longitudinal Study Within Randomized Controlled Trial.

Setting: Online/Internet.

Sample: Primary care patients (21-70 years).

Intervention: ActiveGOALS was a 3-month, self-directed online PA intervention (15 total lessons, remote coaching support, and a body-worn step-counter).

Measures: Engagement was measured across six outcomes related to lesson completion (total number and time to complete), coach contact, and behavior tracking (PA, sedentary). Self-reported baseline factors were examined from seven domains (confidence, environment, health, health care, demographic, lifestyle, and quality of life).

Analysis: General linear and nonlinear mixed models were used to examine relationships between baseline factors and engagement outcomes within and across all domains.

Results: Seventy-nine participants were included in the sample (77.2% female; 74.7% white non-Hispanic). Program engagement was high (58.2% completed all lessons; PA was tracked ≥3 times/week for 11.3 ± 4.0 weeks on average). Average time between completed lessons (days) was longer than expected and participants only contacted their coach about 1 of every 3 weeks. Individual predictors related to health, health care, demographics, lifestyle, and quality of life were significantly related to engagement.

Conclusion: Examining multiple aspects of engagement and a large number of potential predictors of engagement is likely needed to determine facilitators and barriers for high engagement in multi-faceted online intervention programs.

Keywords: digital-intervention; online-based health intervention; physical activity; primary care.