Michel Walthouwer*, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands Anke Oenema, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands Lilian Lechner, Open University, Netherlands Hein De Vries*, Maastricht University, Netherlands Track: Research Presentation Topic: Public (e-)health, population health technologies, surveillance Presentation Type: Poster presentation Submission Type: Single Presentation Last modified: 2013-09-25

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Background: Web-based computer-tailored interventions are a promising technique to deliver health information, but they are characterized by a decreased use over time. This results in non-optimal exposure to the intervention content, which may limit their efficacy. Ensuring that these interventions are attractive and give participants a sense of relatedness may increase program use. Interventions with more visual elements, such as video-delivered messages, may for example be more attractive than text-driven interventions, especially for individuals with a low educational level.
Objective: The aim of this study is to examine whether a video-driven web-based computer-tailored obesity prevention intervention has a higher level of program use than a text-driven intervention. Demographic determinants of intervention use will be identified as well, including whether these demographics differ as participants complete more sessions.
Methods: Both interventions have exactly the same content and provide computer-tailored feedback and planning tools for weight management, dietary intake, and physical activity via the internet. They only differ in the format in which the information is delivered. One intervention is fully text-based, while the other intervention provides the core messages by means of videos. Both interventions were developed using the Intervention Mapping protocol and consist of six sessions in which different determinants and processes derived from the I-Change Model and self-regulation theories are targeted. Participants are being recruited via occupational health services, companies, and media advertisements. To participate, individuals have to be at least 18 years old and have a job. Server registration data will be used to assess how often participants visit the different intervention sessions. Demographic characteristics of the participants will be derived from the baseline measurement. After the intervention period, a multiple linear regression analysis will be performed to identify determinants of intervention use.
Results: The intervention is currently being used by 1,527 participants. Not all participants are using the intervention for a sufficient period of time in order to be able to have reached all the intervention sessions. Thus far, 995 participants have accessed session one (65.2%), 768 session two (50.3%), 440 session three (28.8%), 228 session four (14.9%), 128 session five (8.4%), and 68 session six (4.3%).
Conclusions: This study will provide insight into whether video-driven web-based computer-tailored interventions have the potential to improve intervention use as well as which people are more likely than others to complete the whole program. The results of this study can be used to improve the use of future web-based computer-tailored interventions.