MobileMums was a randomised, controlled trial of a personalised program to assist women with young children to meet their activity goals. We adapted our previously successful physical activity skills training programs into a program that can be delivered by mobile telephone text-messaging (SMS). The program was based on Social Cognitive Theory, and provides individually tailored messages that target the known mediators of women’s physical activity: goal setting, self efficacy and social support. Our first phase pilot research showed that the program is acceptable and feasible for women with young children, and that it did encourage them to increase their physical activity in the short-term.
The trial recruited mothers from the Caboolture area in South-east Queensland with at least one child under the age of five years. Women in the program met face-to-face with an exercise counsellor who guided them to set an exercise goal and nominate a support person. Mums and their support person received the 12-week personalised SMS program with tips and reminders to help them to reach their exercise goal.
Fjeldsoe BS, Miller YD, Marshall AL (2012). Social cognitive mediators of the effect of the MobileMums Intervention on physical activity. Health Psychology. (in press).
Fjeldsoe BS, Miller YD, Marshall AL (2012). Text messaging interventions for chronic disease management and health promotion. In Noar, SM & Harrington, NG. (Eds., in press). eHealth applications: Promising strategies for behavior change. New York: Routledge.
Fjeldsoe BS, Marshall AL, Miller YD (2009). Behavior change interventions delivered by mobile telephone short-message service. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 36(2): 165-173.
Fjeldsoe BS, Miller YD, Marshall AL (2009). MobileMums: a randomised controlled trial of an SMS-based physical activity intervention. Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 39(2): 101-111.