Efficacy of a web-based competitive intervention to promote physical activity

INTERVENTION: There are three conditions: competition; self‐monitoring and control. In the control condition, participants will be asked to try to walk 10,000 steps per day and wear a pedometer. They will also be asked to log‐on to a study web‐site at least once every 7 days to answer a question regarding how much activity they have done while not wearing their pedometer. In the self‐monitoring condition, participants will receive the same instructions as those in the control but they will be asked to log onto a study website at least once every 7 days to record their number of pedometer steps. Participants in this condition will also be able to track changes in their pedometer steps over the course of the study via graphical and tabular feedback. In the competition condition, participants will receive the same instructions and be asked to self‐monitor their pedometer steps and receive the same graphical and tabular feedback. In addition, they will also receive feedback relating to how their pedometer steps compare to other participants in their condition. Their position relative to other participants, in terms of pedometer steps, will be presented in the form of a league table. CONDITION: Physical activity promotion ; Not Applicable PRIMARY OUTCOME: Average number of pedometer steps per day. This will be assessed before (from week 0 to week 1) and after (from week 1 to week 5) the intervention begins. ; ; Our objective measure of steps will be obtained using a Yamax CW‐300 pedometer. SECONDARY OUTCOME: 1. Frequency of visiting the study website.; 2. Self‐reported intention to do at least 10,000 steps per day will be assessed using two items on scales ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree):; I intend to do at least 10,000 steps per day over the next 4 weeks; I will try to do at least 10,000 steps per day over the next 4 weeks; ; We will also assess in relation to doing at least 10,000 steps per day: ; 3. planning, effort and commitment using single items;; 4. perceived behavioural control using two items; ; 5. self‐efficacy using four items; ; 6. goal difficulty, goal importance and goal conflict using single items. ; 7. Type of motivation will be assessed using the BREQ‐2 (Markland & Tobin, 2004; Mullan, Markland & Ingledew, 1997). ; 8. Self‐monitoring using a single item INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Aged 18‐65 2. Live and/or work in Leeds 3. Have access to the internet at home 4. Have sufficient English language skills in order to complete questionnaires