@Article{info:doi/10.2196/jmir.4005,
author="Solenhill, Madeleine
and Grotta, Alessandra
and Pasquali, Elena
and Bakkman, Linda
and Bellocco, Rino
and Trolle Lagerros, Ylva",
title="The Effect of Tailored Web-Based Feedback and Optional Telephone Coaching on Health Improvements: A Randomized Intervention Among Employees in the Transport Service Industry",
journal="J Med Internet Res",
year="2016",
month="Aug",
day="11",
volume="18",
number="8",
pages="e158",
keywords="diet; exercise; Internet; intervention studies; lifestyle; motivation; occupational health; questionnaires; randomized",
abstract="Background: Lifestyle-related health problems are an important health concern in the transport service industry. Web- and telephone-based interventions could be suitable for this target group requiring tailored approaches. Objective: To evaluate the effect of tailored Web-based health feedback and optional telephone coaching to improve lifestyle factors (body mass index---BMI, dietary intake, physical activity, stress, sleep, tobacco and alcohol consumption, disease history, self-perceived health, and motivation to change health habits), in comparison to no health feedback or telephone coaching. Methods: Overall, 3,876 employees in the Swedish transport services were emailed a Web-based questionnaire. They were randomized into: control group (group A, 498 of 1238 answered, 40.23{\%}), or intervention Web (group B, 482 of 1305 answered, 36.93{\%}), or intervention Web + telephone (group C, 493 of 1333 answered, 36.98{\%}). All groups received an identical questionnaire, only the interventions differed. Group B received tailored Web-based health feedback, and group C received tailored Web-based health feedback + optional telephone coaching if the participants' reported health habits did not meet the national guidelines, or if they expressed motivation to change health habits. The Web-based feedback was fully automated. Telephone coaching was performed by trained health counselors. Nine months later, all participants received a follow-up questionnaire and intervention Web + telephone. Descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, analysis of variance, and generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were used. Results: Overall, 981 of 1473 (66.60{\%}) employees participated at baseline (men: 66.7{\%}, mean age: 44 years, mean BMI: 26.4 kg/m2) and follow-up. No significant differences were found in reported health habits between the 3 groups over time. However, significant changes were found in motivation to change. The intervention groups reported higher motivation to improve dietary habits (144 of 301 participants, 47.8{\%}, and 165 of 324 participants, 50.9{\%}, for groups B and C, respectively) and physical activity habits (181 of 301 participants, 60.1{\%}, and 207 of 324 participants, 63.9{\%}, for B and C, respectively) compared with the control group A (122 of 356 participants, 34.3{\%}, for diet and 177 of 356 participants, 49.7{\%}, for physical activity). At follow-up, the intervention groups had significantly decreased motivation (group B: P<.001 for change in diet; P<.001 for change in physical activity; group C: P=.007 for change in diet; P<.001 for change in physical activity), whereas the control group reported significantly increased motivation to change diet and physical activity (P<.001 for change in diet; P<.001 for change in physical activity). Conclusion: Tailored Web-based health feedback and the offering of optional telephone coaching did not have a positive health effect on employees in the transport services. However, our findings suggest an increased short-term motivation to change health behaviors related to diet and physical activity among those receiving tailored Web-based health feedback. ",
issn="1438-8871",
doi="10.2196/jmir.4005",
url="http://www.jmir.org/2016/8/e158/",
url="https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.4005",
url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27514859"
}