Table 6.

Matrix of strategies, theory-based methods, practical applications of changing physical inactivity: examples

Phases of change	POs	Mediators	Moderators	PPOs	Strategies	Evidence-based Methods	IF	AND	THEN-Interventions	Mode
Precontemplation	PO1	Motivation	Risk Perception	PPO2	Dynamic monitoring and individualized, immediate feedback	Monitor and provide feedback on performance (e.g. salt intake) of the behavior. Monitor and provide feedback on the outcome (e.g. blood pressure) of the behavior.	PA frequency < 5 times a week or PA time < 15 min a day or patients’ steps < 6500 steps a day	Fasting blood glucose > 7.0 mmol/L or arbitrary blood glucose > 11.1 mmol/L	Mr. Wang, You have a bad control in blood glucose at present. Regular physical activity can effectively reduce blood glucose. Do you know the risk of Hyperglycemia for coronary heart disease? This video will tell you.	Video
Contemplation	PO2	Motivation	Self-Efficacy	PPO7	Role model	Use the story of a role model who has healthy behaviors	PA frequency < 5 times a week or PA time < 15 min a day or patients’ steps < 6500 steps a day	Making a specific and individualized PA action plans	Do you remember Mr. Zhang, he was in the hospital near your bed in the same ward, whose illness and age are similar to yours? Mr. Zhang has kept a regular PA. His blood pressure and blood glucose level are now normal. We believe you could do equally well. Keep it up!	Text with voice
Action	PO3	Volition	Coping Planning	PPO20	Individualization	Provide personalized coping strategies according to barriers patients meet during the process of behavior change	Regular PA for several days but patients’ steps < 6500 steps today	Making a specific and individualized PA action planning	Mr. Wang, your physical activity report shows that you have done well in recent days. But you did not make much progress today. I guess there were some causes for this. Please answer the questionnaire and so we can try to understand the reason that you did not keep up with your regular physical activity.	text-messaging and a link to a questionnaire
Maintenance	PO3	Volition	Behavioral enjoyment	PPO18	Experience of success or enjoyment	Material rewards will be given to the participants after each goal is completed, such as scores, small red packets (or coupons) which can be exchanged for gifts.	PA frequency > 5 times a week and PA time > 15 min a day or patients’ steps > 6500 steps a day	Maintaining regular PA for 6 months or above	Scores + 60, Rank + 3, monetary incentives sent at random	System setting

POs: Performance Objectives; PO1: Building intention to change; PO2: Building and enhancing motivation of action taking; PO3: Building and enhancing volition of action maintaining; PPOs: Proximal performance objectives; PPO2: Increasing patients’ awareness of the adverse consequences related to these risk factors; PPO7: Increasing patients’ confidence in diet and physical activity changes through role-models; PPO20: Promoting patients to coping with the barriers in maintaining healthy diet and regular physical activity; PPO18: Increasing patients’ perception of healthy diet and regular physical activity induced positive experience; PA: physical activity