Table 4.
Text messages in the Horizon prototype for the first week.
| Text category/typea | Example |
| Motivational/small steps | Small steps add up to important changes. This is not a quick fix but developing new habits to last a lifetime |
| Goal setting/reference to toolkit/ Motivational/monitoring behavior | It is important to set small goals each week. The toolkit has suggestions. Pick one goal to get started on this week, write it down and go for it! |
| Pedometer/monitoring behavior | Ralphb here, wearing your pedometer and recording your daily step count in your toolkit is a great way to track your progress, start today! |
| Motivational/monitoring behavior | Hi (name), we are here to support you along the way. Each week we will ask about your step count and goals, and you can track your progress online. |
| Monitoring behavior | Clionab here, writing down what you eat can help you understand your eating patterns. Try it for the next 7 days to see where you can make changes |
| Reference to toolkit/reference to website/monitoring behavior | Hi (name), this is Cliona your nutrition coach. You may find the food diary and the weight tracker in the toolkit to be useful tools. |
| Motivational/goal setting/small steps | Have you reduced the sugar in your tea and coffee? It can taste funny at first but you will soon get used to it. Try it now. Cliona |
| Getting support | Hi (name), where can you get support? Making changes is easier with the help of others. See if your friends or family will join in too. |
| Pedometer/monitoring behavior/reminder | Hi this is Ralph your activity coach. Have you been wearing your pedometer? I will text you in 3 days for your daily step count. |
| Getting support/reference to the website | If you are finding it hard to get people to support your efforts, ask others on Horizon to help via the horizon study weblog |
| Motivational/goals setting | Hi (name), remind yourself daily why you are doing this by writing your reasons somewhere you can see them everyday. |
| Motivational/getting support/ reference to the toolkit/reference to the website | Did you read about Jamie in the toolkit/online. He removed all snacks and sweets from his house to help him in the early days. |
| Monitoring success | Hi. Overall, how well do you think you did with your goal this week? Reply with a number from 1 (not well at all) to 10 (brilliantly). |
| Motivational/reference to the toolkit | Cliona again. If you are starting to get bored with your healthy meals, the toolkit has recipe websites to inspire new ideas. |
a The messages were slightly tailored; we developed specific texts according to: (1) whether the participant was the main household grocery shopper/cook; (2) whether participants had children or not.
b Horizon includes a physical activity coach (Ralph) and a nutrition coach (Cliona) who were incorporated in the program to give it a more personal feel.