A comparison of persons who got Motivational Interviewing (MI) or not to promote physical activity, and prediction of factors influencing change of physical activity level after two years

Abstract: Introduction: Physical inactivity, related lifestyle diseases and back pain are severe problems in today’s society. One way to increase physical activity level is through Motivational Interviewing (MI).   Purpose: Comparing participants who were in need of MI for physical activity due to risk of heart- and coronary disease with participants not in need of MI, and to describe whether MI for physical activity and other factors can predict change of physical activity level.   Method: A cohort was followed during two years and measured on lifestyle factors, socioeconomic and psychological factors, general health, motivation to change lifestyle and back pain by questionnaires. Based on risk of heart and coronary disease, participants underwent an MI-session for increased physical activity (n=393) or no MI-session (n=380) at baseline.   Results: Besides having a deteriorated lifestyle, the majority of participants who received MI were females, had lower self-estimated economy, had lower health-related quality of life, scored lower on psychological factors and had comorbidity and back pain to a larger extent. Factors related to increase of physical activity level included being physically inactive at baseline, being a female, not having MI and not having disability due to back pain.   Conclusion: Participants in the MI-group had poorer health and more back pain. Having MI did not predict an increase of physical activity, but a low level of physical activity in the past and being a female did play a part in the prediction. More research is needed on MI for increase of physical activity level for an individual with risk of heart- and coronary disease and/or with back pain.