Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9605-9616
Document Type
Conference Paper
Disciplines
3.3 HEALTH SCIENCES
Abstract
Prolonged sedentary behavior and insufficient physical activity increase the risk for non-communicable diseases. Online peer support groups, driven by the widespread use of mobile phones and social media, have gained popularity among people seeking health condition management advice. This position paper examines the role of online peer support groups within a behaviour change intervention, MOV’D (Move Often eVery Day), which promotes physical activity and reduces sedentary behavior in the workplace. We conducted a thematic analysis of post-study interviews from two randomized control trials to identify the benefits and limitations of online peer support groups and provide recommendations for improvement. We found that participation in online peer support groups contributes to a sense of belonging and accountability, helps to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and application of the intervention content, and serves as reminders encouraging physical activity throughout the day. Howev er, participants do not always have enough time and cognitive resources to read all the messages and actively participate in the group chats. Individual differences also contribute to a decrease in overall chat activity, as the group chat does not always meet all participant’s preferences and needs.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21427/b9s4-zx66
Recommended Citation
Uetova, Ekaterina; Hederman, Lucy; O'Sullivan, Dympna; Ross, Robert J.; and Oppezzo, Marily, "Chatting for Change: Insights into and Directions for Using Online Peer Support Groups to Interrupt Prolonged Workplace Sitting" (2024). Conference papers. 425.
https://arrow.tudublin.ie/scschcomcon/425
Funder
Science Foundation Ireland. The MOV’D project was funded in part by the award K01 HL136702/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Publication Details
Uetova, E.; Hederman, L.; O’Sullivan, D.; Ross, R. and Oppezzo, M. (2024). Chatting for Change: Insights into and Directions for Using Online Peer Support Groups to Interrupt Prolonged Workplace Sitting. In Proceedings of the 17th International Joint Conference on Biomedical Engineering Systems and Technologies - HEALTHINF; ISBN 978-989-758-688-0; ISSN 2184-4305, SciTePress, pages 166-174.