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Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique logoLink to Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique
. 2006 Mar 1;97(Suppl 1):S30–S38. doi: 10.1007/BF03405362

Characteristics of Participants Visiting the Canada on the Move Website

Profil des visiteurs du site Web de Canada en mouvement

Ronald C Plotnikoff 16,✉, John C Spence 26, Leonor S Tavares 36, Liza S Rovniak 46, Adrian Bauman 56, Scott A Lear 66, Linda McCargar 76
PMCID: PMC6975823  PMID: 16676836

Abstract

Background

The Internet is a potential medium to attain large groups of Canadians for physical activity monitoring and interventions, however, little is known about the characteristics of participants who could be recruited on a national level. Our objectives were to determine: 1) the extent to which our sample was representative of the Canadian population; 2) the demographic, social-cognitive and physical activity behaviour, and environmental characteristics of one-time and multi-time users of the Canada on the Move website; and 3) whether certain recruitment strategies were more likely to reach specific demographic subgroups.

Methods

Web-based self-report measures were collected on demographic, social-cognitive, physical activity behaviour, and environmental factors. Descriptive statistics were employed to address the study’s research objectives.

Results

Significant differences (p<0.001) were found between our total sample and 2001 Canadian census/Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) data on all demographic and physical activity behaviour measures. One-time and multi-time users significantly differed on age (p<0.005) and being responsible for children under age 13 (p=0.01). No differences existed between the groups on any of the social-cognitive, behavioural or environmental variables. Source of knowledge about the Canada on the Move website between one-time and multi-time users was not significantly different.

Conclusion

The Canada on the Move website presents a viable approach to reaching diverse demographic groups. Further work needs to be undertaken to: 1) develop engaging websites; 2) detail the monitoring of the web-based access information; 3) integrate the website with other organizations promoting physical activity; and 4) expand the number of recruitment sources.

Electronic Supplementary Material

Supplementary material is available for this article at 10.1007/BF03405362 and is accessible for authorized users.

MeSH terms: Demographics, environment, social-cognitive, steps, physical activity, webbased interventions

French language version/Version en Français

41997_2006_BF03405362_MOESM1_ESM.pdf (116.9KB, pdf)

Profil des visiteurs du site Web de Canada en mouvement

Footnotes

Acknowledgements: The authors thank Stephanie Brunet and Sonia Lippke.

Sources of support: The research was funded by the Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism, and Diabetes — Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the University of Alberta. Dr. Plotnikoff is supported by Salary Awards from the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Remerciements: Les auteurs remercient Mmes Stéphanie Brunet et Sonia Lippke.

Sources d’aide financière: Cette recherche était financée par l’Institut de la nutrition, du métabolisme et du diabète des Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada et par l’Université de l’Alberta.

M. Plotnikoff est titulaire de bourses d’appui salarial de l’Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research et des Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada.

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