Effectiveness of a Facebook-Delivered Physical Activity Intervention for Postpartum Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Facebook has over 1.8 billion users and offers unique opportunities for health intervention delivery due to its popularity, flexibility, high engagement, and social connectedness. METHODS: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the Mums Step It Up (MSIU) Facebook app, a team-based, 50-day physical activity intervention for postpartum women. A total of 120 postpartum women were recruited and randomly allocated to 1 of 3 conditions: MSIU (n = 41), pedometer only (n = 39), and control (n = 40). Assessments were completed at baseline, 6 weeks, and 6 months. Primary outcomes were accelerometer moderate to vigorous physical activity and self-reported walking. Analyses were undertaken on an intention to treat basis using random effects mixed modeling (P ≤ .05). Compliance and engagement with the MSIU app were analyzed, descriptively. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in changes in moderate to vigorous physical activity (P = .81, 6 wk; P = .91, 6 mo) or self-reported walking (P = .55, 6 wk; P = .90, 6 mo) across the 3 conditions. High engagement with the MSIU app was evident, with participants on average visiting the app 26 times and logging steps for 48/50 days. CONCLUSION: Although engagement with the MSIU app was promising, the nonsignificant results suggest that further work needs to be done to enhance efficacy for postpartum women.