Improvement of a Physically Active Lifestyle
Improvement of a Physically Active Lifestyle
To help rehabilitation patients to adopt and maintain a physically active lifestyle, it is
 imperative to increase self-management competencies. Aim of this research project is to
 evaluate an evidence- and theory-based computerized expert system in comparison to a well
 established standard program and a questionnaire-only group. Rehabilitation patients will be
 treated psychologically and followed up over 18 months. The computerized expert system is
 expected to help patients better than the standard program. Both interventions are
 hypothesized to improve self-management competencies over and above the rehabilitation
 treatment (i.e., questionnaire-only group).
An experimental study with three groups is planned over a time period of 18 months. Patients
 in the intervention group receive an interactive, computerized expert system (Intervention
 Group, IG). Patients in the Active Control Group (ACG) get an interactive computerized
 standard program. This standard program has already been proven to be effective but which
 does not tailor treatment components to the individual needs of the patients. Patients in the
 Passive Control Group (PCG) are asked to answer the questionnaires only. Rehabilitation
 patients (N = 1000) will be recruited in three rehabilitation clinics and followed up over
 six measurement points: t1 and t2 with computer interventions during their rehabilitation
 stay; t3 and t4 with booster-sessions via telephone (6 weeks and 6 months after admission
 from rehabilitation). Furthermore, patients will be contacted at t5 per mail with
 motivational material (12 months after admission) and at t6 again per mail (only
 questionnaire, 18 months after admission).

 The hypotheses are: In comparison to the PCG, both the IG and the ACG are expected to have a
 higher motivation, to adopt a healthy lifestyle, to perform more health behavior and to be
 less likely to relapse into previous unhealthy routines. Also, IG and ACG will be healthier
 as well as they will report more quality of life and rehabilitation satisfaction. In
 comparison to ACG, the IG is hypothesized to be more effective than the ACG regarding
 motivation, behavior and social-cognitive predictors of behavior. Moreover, the interventions
 (ACG and IG) are supposed to be equally effective for cardiac and orthopedic, as well as
 out-patient and stationary treated rehabilitation patients. After successful evaluation and
 some adoptions the intervention will be implemented as a self-help program in all eligible
 rehabilitation clinics and in the internet.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  to be capable of exercising on their own at the minimum level recommended by the
 according rehabilitation clinic

 -  able to fill out a questionnaire (no illiteracy)

 -  adequate German language ability

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  the participant not be of age

 -  severe cognitive deficits

 -  visual impairments (patients have to read at the PC)