Citation

Ek A, Alexandrou C, Delisle Nyström C, Direito A, Eriksson U, Hammar U, Henriksson P, Maddison R, Trolle Lagerros Y, Löf M. BMC Public Health 2018; 18(1): e880.

Affiliation

Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Group MLÖ, 141 83, Huddinge, Sweden.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC)

DOI

10.1186/s12889-018-5658-4

PMID

30012116

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The global pandemic of physical inactivity represents a considerable public health challenge. Active transportation (i.e., walking or cycling for transport) can contribute to greater total physical activity levels. Mobile phone-based programs can promote behaviour change, but no study has evaluated whether such a program can promote active transportation in adults. This study protocol presents the design and methodology of The Smart City Active Mobile Phone Intervention (SCAMPI), a randomised controlled trial to promote active transportation via a smartphone application (app) with the aim to increase physical activity.

METHODS/DESIGN: A two-arm parallel randomised controlled trial will be conducted in Stockholm County, Sweden. Two hundred fifty adults aged 20-65 years will be randomised to either monitoring of active transport via the TRavelVU app (control), or to a 3-month evidence-based behaviour change program to promote active transport and monitoring of active travel via the TRavelVU Plus app (intervention). The primary outcome is moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA in minutes/day) (ActiGraph wGT3x-BT) measured post intervention. Secondary outcomes include: time spent in active transportation measured via the TRavelVU app, perceptions about active transportation (the Transport and Physical Activity Questionnaire (TPAQ)) and health related quality of life (RAND-36). Assessments are conducted at baseline, after the completed intervention (after 3 months) and 6 months post randomisation.

DISCUSSION: SCAMPI will determine the effectiveness of a smartphone app to promote active transportation and physical activity in an adult population. If effective, the app has potential to be a low-cost intervention that can be delivered at scale. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03086837 ; 22 March, 2017.

Language: en

Keywords

Accelerometer; Active transport; Application; Behaviour change; Physical activity; Smartphone; Walkability; mHealth