Finding a Sports Buddy Online – Evaluation Of a Social Networking Site Aimed For Health Promotion
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Abstract
Background: Beweegmaatje.nl is a Web 2.0 application designed by health institute NIGZ. Purpose of this social networking site is the promotion of physical activity among its members by removing a barrier for exercise. This barrier is not having company to perform a sport with. Subscribers are matched to other members who live in the vicinity and would like to perform the same sport. The target population of the intervention consist of those people who want to change their exercise behaviour within the next month and people who recently changed their exercise behaviour.
Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate this intervention, by describing the users and impact of the intervention in order to provide recommendations about future adjustments. This study used the dimensions reach, effectiveness and adoption of the RE-AIM model.
Methods: One online questionnaire was send to all current members (response rate: 23.3 %) and additionally a questionnaire was send to people who recently unsubscribed (response rate 28 %). Besides this survey, data was gathered from background computer programming and short chat interviews with members.
Results: The intervention has been online since December 2007 and attracted over 10.000 members. 75 % of the members were female, and 93 % was between 21 – 65 years old. Mainly the native Dutch were reached by this intervention. More than half of the members did not meet the Dutch Norm of Healthy Exercise. Among this group were people who do not want to change their exercise behavior, people who wanted to change within 6 months and people who wanted to change in the next month. The group of people who exercised sufficiently existed mainly of people who changed their physical activity level more than a year ago.
14 – 22 % of the members found an exercise partner by using the social networking site. Having an exercise partner did not explain the level of physical activity among members. Members with an exercise partner did not exercise more than people without a partner. About half of the members did not use the site regularly. Another part of the members did not take initiative to find a partner, but they waited for others to contact them. People experienced a barrier to contact others online and make an offline appointment due to privacy and safety reasons.
Conclusions: This internet intervention reaches a diversity of people, broader as the target population. Some members wanted to find a buddy just for social interaction without having the intention to exercise more. A large proportion of members do not use the site regularly, this might have an influence on the impact. The site could potentially promote exercise for a larger proportion of its members. Incentives and reminders could be used to increase the use of the intervention. Subsequently, a more systematic execution of the intervention and more attention to other factors which influence exercise behavior are needed.
Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate this intervention, by describing the users and impact of the intervention in order to provide recommendations about future adjustments. This study used the dimensions reach, effectiveness and adoption of the RE-AIM model.
Methods: One online questionnaire was send to all current members (response rate: 23.3 %) and additionally a questionnaire was send to people who recently unsubscribed (response rate 28 %). Besides this survey, data was gathered from background computer programming and short chat interviews with members.
Results: The intervention has been online since December 2007 and attracted over 10.000 members. 75 % of the members were female, and 93 % was between 21 – 65 years old. Mainly the native Dutch were reached by this intervention. More than half of the members did not meet the Dutch Norm of Healthy Exercise. Among this group were people who do not want to change their exercise behavior, people who wanted to change within 6 months and people who wanted to change in the next month. The group of people who exercised sufficiently existed mainly of people who changed their physical activity level more than a year ago.
14 – 22 % of the members found an exercise partner by using the social networking site. Having an exercise partner did not explain the level of physical activity among members. Members with an exercise partner did not exercise more than people without a partner. About half of the members did not use the site regularly. Another part of the members did not take initiative to find a partner, but they waited for others to contact them. People experienced a barrier to contact others online and make an offline appointment due to privacy and safety reasons.
Conclusions: This internet intervention reaches a diversity of people, broader as the target population. Some members wanted to find a buddy just for social interaction without having the intention to exercise more. A large proportion of members do not use the site regularly, this might have an influence on the impact. The site could potentially promote exercise for a larger proportion of its members. Incentives and reminders could be used to increase the use of the intervention. Subsequently, a more systematic execution of the intervention and more attention to other factors which influence exercise behavior are needed.
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