Background: Physical activity (PA) is important for management of diabetes, yet practical interventions that achieve sustained behavior
change are rare.
Purpose: The goals of this research were to evaluate the effectiveness of a multifaceted PA intervention for people with type 2 diabetes
that emphasized participant choice in activity selection. Baseline activity patterns were examined to determine whether they
predicted changes in PA at 2 months.
Methods: Three hundred thirty-five participants were recruited from 42 primary care physicians and then randomized to either a computer-assisted,
tailored self-management intervention (N = 174) or health risk appraisal with feedback control (N = 161). Primary outcome
measures included the Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors Questionnaire, diet, and psychosocial assessments
at baseline and 2 months.
Results: For 301 participants who completed the 2-month follow-up, the intervention significantly improved all PA (p < .01) and moderate
PA (metabolic equivalents > 3.0, p < .01) relative to controls. Baseline cluster analyses grouped participant activity patterns
into three categories. At 2 months, cluster assignment differentially predicted change in calories expended in moderate, rote,
sport, and lifestyle PA.
Conclusions: A computer-assisted, multifaceted approach to PA demonstrated improvement after 2 months. The results suggest that individuals
are capable of adjusting their activity patterns to maximize their PA.
This work was supported by the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Grant DK35524.