• Britta A Larsen, Tanya J Benitez, Andrea S Mendoza-Vasconez, Sheri J Hartman, Sarah E Linke, Dori J Pekmezi, Shira I Dunsiger, Jesse N Nodora, Kim M Gans, and Bess H Marcus.
• Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California. Electronic address: blarsen@ucsd.edu.
• Am J Prev Med. 2020 Aug 1; 59 (2): 219-227.

IntroductionLatino men experience disproportionately high rates of diseases related to low physical activity, yet they are poorly represented in physical activity intervention trials. Efforts to promote physical activity in Latina women show promising results, yet such interventions are yet to be extended to Latino men. This study tested a computer expert system‒tailored, text messaging-supported physical activity intervention for underactive Spanish-speaking Latino men compared with a control group matched for contact time. Potential predictors of intervention success were also explored.Study DesignRandomized trial. Participants were randomized to receive a Tailored Physical Activity Intervention (Intervention) or a Wellness Control (Control). Data were collected in 2015-2017 and analyzed in 2018-2019.Setting/ParticipantsInsufficiently active Latino men (n=46).InterventionIntervention participants received a baseline counseling session and then, individually tailored print materials and text messages on a tapered schedule for 6 months. Control participants received printed wellness materials and text messages on the same schedule.Main Outcome MeasuresPrimary outcome was a change in weekly moderate to vigorous physical activity from baseline to 6 months measured by accelerometers. Self-reported moderate to vigorous physical activity measured by the 7-day Physical Activity Recall Interview was a secondary outcome.ResultsFor Intervention participants, median accelerometer-measured moderate to vigorous physical activity increased from 10.0 minutes/week at baseline to 57.5 minutes/week at 6 months, whereas for Control participants, it increased from 21.0 minutes/week at baseline to 23.0 minutes/week at 6 months (p<0.05). Similar results were found for self-reported moderate to vigorous physical activity. At 6 months, 47% of Intervention participants met national guidelines of 150 minutes/week versus 25% of Control participants (p=0.15, not significant).ConclusionsFindings suggest that an individually tailored intervention can successfully increase moderate to vigorous physical activity in underactive Latino men. Such technology-supported interventions have the potential for broad dissemination.Trial RegistrationThis study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT02512419.Copyright © 2020 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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