Background/Purpose: Physical activity (PA) improves chronic knee symptoms (CKS) by decreasing pain and improving function, yet many interventions to increase PA are resource-intensive or poorly tailored to individual motivation. Brief Action Planning (BAP) offers is a self-management support tool based on motivational interviewing that remains understudied in real-world contexts. This study aimed to explore the feasibility, acceptability, and perceived impact of a computer-supported coaching program to support action planning for physical activity among adults with CKS in workplace

Methods: Employees (N&#3f9) were recruited via health portal to participate in a 12-week randomized controlled trial assessing health coaching plus Fitbit. The coaching program consisted of an initial 30-minute rapport-building session and 10-minute follow-up sessions delivered remotely by trained health coaches. Number of follow-up sessions ranged between 4-11 based on participant preference. Participants were invited to engage in semi-structured interviews post-intervention which were transcribed and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Codes were developed independently by two trained researchers. Self Determination Theory’s (SDT) three psychological needs autonomy, competence, and relatedness were used to interpret the motivational mechanisms supporting behavior change. Data were examined within and across codes to identify three themes and nine sub-themes

Results: Theme 1, value and sustainability of the BAP program included subthemes of acceptability, positive experience with coaching, and anticipated sustainability of behavioral change. Theme 2, active ingredients that facilitated physical activity behavior, included subthemes of coaching accountability, goal-setting structure, and behavioral monitoring. Theme 3, contextual conditions influencing motivation and program fit, included personal motivation, knee pain management, and workplace or lifestyle integration. Participants viewed the coaching relationship as the central driver of behavior change. Coaching enhanced personal accountability, enabled adaptive goal setting, and fostered supportive dialogue. Fitbit use complemented goal adherence but was secondary to interpersonal support. Mapping to SDT, autonomy was supported by individualized goal-setting; competence through iterative plan refinement and feedback; and relatedness through an empathic, nonjudgmental coaching relationship. Internalized motivation and increased self-efficacy supported sustainability of behavior change

Conclusion: Brief action planning-based coaching paired with Fitbit PA feedback was perceived as feasible, highly acceptable, and impactful for promoting physical activity in employed individuals with chronic knee symptoms

« Back to ACR Convergence 2025

ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/evaluating-the-feasibility-acceptability-and-behavioral-impact-of-brief-action-planning-bap-coaching-for-physical-activity-in-adults-with-chronic-knee-symptoms-a-qualitative-study/