The impact of an m-Health financial incentives program on the physical activity and diet of Australian truck drivers
Abstract Background Chronic diseases are high in truck drivers and have been linked to work routines that promote inactivity and poor diets. This feasibility study examined the extent to which an m-Health financial incentives program facilitated physical activity and healthy dietary choices in Austr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-017-4380-y |
| _version_ | 1828531870641422336 |
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| author | Nicholas D. Gilson Toby G Pavey Olivia RL Wright Corneel Vandelanotte Mitch J Duncan Sjaan Gomersall Stewart G. Trost Wendy J. Brown |
| author_facet | Nicholas D. Gilson Toby G Pavey Olivia RL Wright Corneel Vandelanotte Mitch J Duncan Sjaan Gomersall Stewart G. Trost Wendy J. Brown |
| author_sort | Nicholas D. Gilson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Chronic diseases are high in truck drivers and have been linked to work routines that promote inactivity and poor diets. This feasibility study examined the extent to which an m-Health financial incentives program facilitated physical activity and healthy dietary choices in Australian truck drivers. Methods Nineteen men (mean [SD] age = 47.5 [9.8] years; BMI = 31.2 [4.6] kg/m2) completed the 20-week program, and used an activity tracker and smartphone application (Jawbone UP™) to regulate small positive changes in occupational physical activity, and fruit, vegetable, saturated fat and processed/refined sugar food/beverage choices. Measures (baseline, end-program, 2-months follow-up; April–December 2014) were accelerometer-determined proportions of work time spent physically active, and a workday dietary questionnaire. Statistical (repeated measures ANOVA) and thematic (interviews) analyses assessed program impact. Results Non-significant increases in the mean proportions of work time spent physically active were found at end-program and follow-up (+1%; 7 mins/day). Fruit (p = 0.023) and vegetable (p = 0.024) consumption significantly increased by one serve/day at end-program. Non-significant improvements in saturated fat (5%) and processed/refined sugar (1%) food/beverage choices were found at end-program and follow-up. Overall, 65% (n = 11) of drivers demonstrated positive changes in physical activity, and at least one dietary choice (e.g. saturated fat) at follow-up. Drivers found the financial incentives component of the program to be a less effective facilitator of change than the activity tracker and smartphone application, although this technology was easier to use for monitoring of physical activity than healthy dietary choices. Conclusions Not all drivers benefitted from the program. However, positive changes for different health behaviours were observed in the majority of participants. Outcomes from this feasibility study inform future intervention development for studies with larger samples. Trial registration ANZCTR12616001513404 . Registered November 2nd, 2016 (retrospectively registered). |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T22:44:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8120f06249324350a27d21c924570eb6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T22:44:41Z |
| publishDate | 2017-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-8120f06249324350a27d21c924570eb62022-12-22T00:47:40ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582017-05-0117111110.1186/s12889-017-4380-yThe impact of an m-Health financial incentives program on the physical activity and diet of Australian truck driversNicholas D. Gilson0Toby G Pavey1Olivia RL Wright2Corneel Vandelanotte3Mitch J Duncan4Sjaan Gomersall5Stewart G. Trost6Wendy J. Brown7The University of Queensland, School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, St Lucia CampusSchool of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Queensland University of TechnologyThe University of Queensland, School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, St Lucia CampusCentral Queensland University, School for Health, Medical and Social ScienceSchool of Medicine and Public Health, Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of NewcastleThe University of Queensland, School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, St Lucia CampusSchool of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Queensland University of TechnologyThe University of Queensland, School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, St Lucia CampusAbstract Background Chronic diseases are high in truck drivers and have been linked to work routines that promote inactivity and poor diets. This feasibility study examined the extent to which an m-Health financial incentives program facilitated physical activity and healthy dietary choices in Australian truck drivers. Methods Nineteen men (mean [SD] age = 47.5 [9.8] years; BMI = 31.2 [4.6] kg/m2) completed the 20-week program, and used an activity tracker and smartphone application (Jawbone UP™) to regulate small positive changes in occupational physical activity, and fruit, vegetable, saturated fat and processed/refined sugar food/beverage choices. Measures (baseline, end-program, 2-months follow-up; April–December 2014) were accelerometer-determined proportions of work time spent physically active, and a workday dietary questionnaire. Statistical (repeated measures ANOVA) and thematic (interviews) analyses assessed program impact. Results Non-significant increases in the mean proportions of work time spent physically active were found at end-program and follow-up (+1%; 7 mins/day). Fruit (p = 0.023) and vegetable (p = 0.024) consumption significantly increased by one serve/day at end-program. Non-significant improvements in saturated fat (5%) and processed/refined sugar (1%) food/beverage choices were found at end-program and follow-up. Overall, 65% (n = 11) of drivers demonstrated positive changes in physical activity, and at least one dietary choice (e.g. saturated fat) at follow-up. Drivers found the financial incentives component of the program to be a less effective facilitator of change than the activity tracker and smartphone application, although this technology was easier to use for monitoring of physical activity than healthy dietary choices. Conclusions Not all drivers benefitted from the program. However, positive changes for different health behaviours were observed in the majority of participants. Outcomes from this feasibility study inform future intervention development for studies with larger samples. Trial registration ANZCTR12616001513404 . Registered November 2nd, 2016 (retrospectively registered).http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-017-4380-yPhysical activityDietSmall changesm-Health interventionFinancial incentivesTruck drivers |
| spellingShingle | Nicholas D. Gilson Toby G Pavey Olivia RL Wright Corneel Vandelanotte Mitch J Duncan Sjaan Gomersall Stewart G. Trost Wendy J. Brown The impact of an m-Health financial incentives program on the physical activity and diet of Australian truck drivers BMC Public Health Physical activity Diet Small changes m-Health intervention Financial incentives Truck drivers |
| title | The impact of an m-Health financial incentives program on the physical activity and diet of Australian truck drivers |
| title_full | The impact of an m-Health financial incentives program on the physical activity and diet of Australian truck drivers |
| title_fullStr | The impact of an m-Health financial incentives program on the physical activity and diet of Australian truck drivers |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of an m-Health financial incentives program on the physical activity and diet of Australian truck drivers |
| title_short | The impact of an m-Health financial incentives program on the physical activity and diet of Australian truck drivers |
| title_sort | impact of an m health financial incentives program on the physical activity and diet of australian truck drivers |
| topic | Physical activity Diet Small changes m-Health intervention Financial incentives Truck drivers |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-017-4380-y |
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