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Table 2 Features of the ‘My Exercise Messages’ app mapped to behaviour change techniques [46]

From: Exercise adherence Mobile app for Knee Osteoarthritis: protocol for the MappKO randomised controlled trial

Feature within the app

Behaviour change technique

Input a weekly exercise goal (target)

Goal setting (behaviour)

Messages/function to record weekly exercise sessions

Prompts/cues

Self-monitoring of behaviour

Graph displaying weekly exercise sessions, relative to the exercise goal (target)

Review of behavioural goals

Feedback on behaviour

Discrepancy between current behavior and goal

Motivational/praise/encouragement messages when the exercise goal (target) is achieved

Social reward

Message acknowledging partial achievement of exercise goal (target) where appropriate

Social reward

Selection and input of main exercise barrier when exercise goal (target) not achieved

Problem solving

Tailored messages with tips to overcome reported exercise barrier†

Goal setting (behaviour)

Problem solving

Goal setting (outcome)

Action planning

Self-reward

Restructuring the physical environment

Distraction

Verbal persuasion about capability

Focus on past success

Self-talk

Feedback on behaviour

Self-monitoring of outcome(s) of behaviour

Social support (unspecified)

Instruction on how to perform behaviour

Behavioural experiments

Information on health consequences

Prompts/cues

Habit formation

Graded tasks

Generic regular messages to facilitate ongoing exercise adherence

Information on health consequences

Self-reward

Instruction on how to perform behaviour

Social comparison

Reducing frequency of messages as the program progresses

Reduce prompts/cues

Benefits of exercise and physical activity for osteoarthritis information section

Information on health consequences

Instruction on how to perform behaviour

  1. †Note- users do not necessarily receive messages containing all behaviour change techniques, as messages sent are dependent on the barriers reported by users