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Table 2 Methodological characteristics (delivery) of three key SDT-based intervention trials for PA promotion.
| Descriptor | PAC Trial | Empower Trial | PESO Trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Randomization | - Participants randomized to 2 groups (statistician-created sequence): BPAC = brief or IPAC = intensive). - Stratified by gender & age. | - 13 leisure centres with EoP randomized to 2 arms (statistician-created sequence): standard practice (control) or SDT-based intervention - Stratified by Primary Care Trust (PCT) and deprivation of population served | Participants from 3 annual cohorts randomized (Excel 2007 random number generator function) to 2 groups: experimental (SDT-based intervention) or control. |
| Interventionist(s) | - BPAC (control) by HCP. - IPAC by PA counsellor (part of health care team; exercise science degree). | - Control/intervention: HFAs at community leisure centres. - HFAs: Level 3 National Occupational Standards. | Intervention (staff): 6 Ph.D. or M.S. level exercise physiologists, nutritionists, dieticians, & psychologists. Control: invited lecturers |
| Interventionist(s) training | - BPAC (HCP): 3 training seminars (SDT-based delivery of first 4A's of 7A's model; [3]) - IPAC (PA counsellor): 2-month autonomy-support & MI training (last 3 A's) + counselling skills + bi-weekly supervision. | - Control HFAs: Training Day One (see [11]) + 2nd training meeting (on topic of recruitment). - Intervention HFAs: Training Day One & Two + 1/2 day (theory, client-centered communication, creating autonomy-supportive climate). | - Intervention staff: 2-day-long workshop and 4-6 training meetings provided by in-house SDT experts and by one external MI expert. - Control: no specific weight control or behavior change/SDT training |
| Intervention duration/ intensity | - IPAC: BPAC + intensive 3-month PA-counselling (last 3 A's; 6 sessions, every 2 weeks). - IPAC sessions: 3 in-person, 3 conducted by phone; see [3] for format/order of sessions). | - Control/intervention: initial 1 hour consultation + 3-month program (6-month follow-up). - One-on-one contacts (3) each month; telephone or in-person; intended: 5 to 30 min per contact. | - Consistent across groups. - One-year intervention (group-based); 2-year follow-up. - Thirty (29 for control) weekly or bi-weekly sessions of 120-min each. |
| Control group | BPAC: 2-4 minute PA intervention delivered by HCP (first 4 A's of 7A's + PA prescription). | Standard practice (control) of each EoP leisure centre provided by HFA without SDT training. | General health education curriculum (themed courses including stress management, food safety and preventive nutrition, interpersonal relationships, etc.). |
