Physical Activity can be successfully increased through a 12-week digital health intervention: the ACCELERATION Program

Mini-Oral Presentation C2.8

Authors

  • Keven Joyal-Desmarais Montreal Behavioral Medicine Centre; Concordia University
  • Simon Bacon Montreal Behavioral Medicine Centre; Concordia University
  • Wanda Firth Nova Scotia Health Authority
  • Nicholas Giacomantonio Dalhousie University
  • Jennifer M. Jones University of Toronto; Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
  • Jessica Nooyen University Health Network – Toronto Rehabilitation Institute
  • Paul Oh University Health Network; Toronto Rehabilitation Institute
  • Geneviève Szczepanik Montreal Behavioral Medicine Centre
  • Darren E. R. Warburton University of British Columbia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.761

Keywords:

Physical Activity, Behaviour Change, eHealth, Intervention

Abstract

Background: Over 2/3 of global deaths result from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like heart disease and cancer. Modifiable behaviours (e.g., physical activity, diet) play a large role in NCDs and changing them is crucial for NCD prevention. ACCELERATION is a 12-week eHealth program that improves behaviours in people at risk for NCDs (e.g., through coaching/goal-setting). Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of the ACCELERATION program at improving physical activity levels. Methods: 696 patients enrolled in the ACCELERATION program. We assessed their physical activity levels at baseline (T1), after program completion (12-weeks; T2), and at a 6-month follow-up (T3). Each time, we assessed weekly number of minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Mixed effects models (controlling for sex, province, age, and ethnicity) were used to evaluate change in MVPA over time. Results: Mean levels of MVPA at each time point were as follow: T1=112.7; T2=189.8; T3=192.7. Additionally, the following percentage of participants met Canadian guidelines to engage in 150 minutes or more of weekly MVPA: T1=31.2%; T2=53.9%; T3=55.0%. Mixed effects models indicate a significant average increase of 76.4 (95% CI: 58.8 to 93.9) minutes of MVPA from baseline (T1) to program-completion (T2). Changes in MVPA were maintained in the long term, with a non-significant and negligeable change between T2 and T3. Conclusions: Participants in the 12-week ACCELERATION program successfully and substantially increased their minutes of MVPA by an average of 76.4 minutes, and this increase was maintained over time. Funding: The ACCELERATION program was funded by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC). 

Published

2021-09-30

How to Cite

Joyal-Desmarais, K., Bacon, S., Firth, W., Giacomantonio, N., Jones, J., Nooyen, J., Oh, P., Szczepanik, G., & Warburton, D. (2021). Physical Activity can be successfully increased through a 12-week digital health intervention: the ACCELERATION Program: Mini-Oral Presentation C2.8. The Health & Fitness Journal of Canada, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.761

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