Human Telephone vs Text Message Counseling and Physical Activity Among Midlife and Older Adults

Can a customized computer-driven 12-month short message service (SMS) counseling platform increase weekly walking minutes among adults to levels comparable with those receiving telephone counseling from a trained human advisor?In this randomized equivalence clinical trial of 280 midlife and older adults who self-identified as Hispanic or Latino/a, the computer-based SMS program achieved significant 12-month increases in weekly walking that were comparable to those achieved by participants who received telephone counseling from human advisors. Both programs helped promote weight maintenance and well-being outcomes.The findings showing meaningful 12-month physical activity increases in the SMS and telephone programs expand the technology-enabled, customizable light touch program choices that can be offered to adults.

Corresponding Author: Abby C. King, PhD, Department of Epidemiology king@stanford.edu).

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