Increasing walking among older people: A test of behaviour change techniques using factorial randomised N-of-1 trials

Objective: Evaluations of techniques to promote physical activity usually adopt a randomised controlled trial (RCT). Such designs inform how a technique performs on average but cannot be used for treatment of individuals. Our objective was to conduct the first N-of-1 RCTs of behaviour change techniq...

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Main Authors: Nyman, S., Goodwin, K., Kwasnicka, Dominika, Callaway, A.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Routledge 2016
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/41917
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author Nyman, S.
Goodwin, K.
Kwasnicka, Dominika
Callaway, A.
author_facet Nyman, S.
Goodwin, K.
Kwasnicka, Dominika
Callaway, A.
author_sort Nyman, S.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Objective: Evaluations of techniques to promote physical activity usually adopt a randomised controlled trial (RCT). Such designs inform how a technique performs on average but cannot be used for treatment of individuals. Our objective was to conduct the first N-of-1 RCTs of behaviour change techniques with older people and test the effectiveness of the techniques for increasing walking within individuals. Design: Eight adults aged 60–87 were randomised to a 2 (goal-setting vs. active control) × 2 (self-monitoring vs. active control) factorial RCT over 62 days. The time series data were analysed for each single case using linear regressions. Main outcome measures: Walking was objectively measured using pedometers. Results: Compared to control days, goal-setting increased walking in 4 out of 8 individuals and self-monitoring increased walking in 7 out of 8 individuals. While the probability for self-monitoring to be effective in 7 out of 8 participants was beyond chance (p = .03), no intervention effect was significant for individual participants. Two participants had a significant but small linear decrease in walking over time. Conclusion: We demonstrate the utility of N-of-1 trials for advancing scientific enquiry of behaviour change and in practice for increasing older people’s physical activity.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-419172017-09-13T14:17:04Z Increasing walking among older people: A test of behaviour change techniques using factorial randomised N-of-1 trials Nyman, S. Goodwin, K. Kwasnicka, Dominika Callaway, A. Objective: Evaluations of techniques to promote physical activity usually adopt a randomised controlled trial (RCT). Such designs inform how a technique performs on average but cannot be used for treatment of individuals. Our objective was to conduct the first N-of-1 RCTs of behaviour change techniques with older people and test the effectiveness of the techniques for increasing walking within individuals. Design: Eight adults aged 60–87 were randomised to a 2 (goal-setting vs. active control) × 2 (self-monitoring vs. active control) factorial RCT over 62 days. The time series data were analysed for each single case using linear regressions. Main outcome measures: Walking was objectively measured using pedometers. Results: Compared to control days, goal-setting increased walking in 4 out of 8 individuals and self-monitoring increased walking in 7 out of 8 individuals. While the probability for self-monitoring to be effective in 7 out of 8 participants was beyond chance (p = .03), no intervention effect was significant for individual participants. Two participants had a significant but small linear decrease in walking over time. Conclusion: We demonstrate the utility of N-of-1 trials for advancing scientific enquiry of behaviour change and in practice for increasing older people’s physical activity. 2016 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/41917 10.1080/08870446.2015.1088014 Routledge fulltext
spellingShingle Nyman, S.
Goodwin, K.
Kwasnicka, Dominika
Callaway, A.
Increasing walking among older people: A test of behaviour change techniques using factorial randomised N-of-1 trials
title Increasing walking among older people: A test of behaviour change techniques using factorial randomised N-of-1 trials
title_full Increasing walking among older people: A test of behaviour change techniques using factorial randomised N-of-1 trials
title_fullStr Increasing walking among older people: A test of behaviour change techniques using factorial randomised N-of-1 trials
title_full_unstemmed Increasing walking among older people: A test of behaviour change techniques using factorial randomised N-of-1 trials
title_short Increasing walking among older people: A test of behaviour change techniques using factorial randomised N-of-1 trials
title_sort increasing walking among older people: a test of behaviour change techniques using factorial randomised n-of-1 trials
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/41917