Tailored physical activity behavior change interventions: challenges and opportunities

Abstract

Lay Summary Being physically active has many social, emotional, and health benefits, but very few individuals are active enough to see those benefits. Using interventions that are tailored, in other words, individualized to a person’s characteristics, needs, preferences, and/or situation, may help improve physical activity participation rates. However, a better understanding of how to do tailoring is needed. Our collaboration reviewed the literature and convened to suggest two key opportunities to better understand how tailored approaches to physical activity can be done: (a) improve engagement of those who the research is intended for and (b) understand the ethical impacts and patient/provider experience of using technology to support tailoring.