Table 3.
Characteristics of the inclusion study.
| Study | Subjects and Grouping (n) | Protocol Duration and Frequency; Training Modality, Program and Intensity |
|---|---|---|
| Todorovic J et al. (2019) [22] | 375 medical students FB-G (311) CG (64) |
Duration: 4 weeks Facebook group Students were free to practice any kind of physical activity if and when they wanted to. Facebook group was managed by the research team, that used a participatory approach. All members were allowed to post motivational messages or questions for their peers; the reports and photos from organized events were also posted regularly, so all participants could follow the level of participation of other students. Control group In this group, students were free to practice any kind of physical activity if and when they wanted to, but they did not join the facebook group. |
| Pope ZC et al. (2019) [41] | 38 college students, men age 21.5 FB+S-G (19; 15F, 4M) FB-G (19; 13F, 6M)) |
Duration: 12 weeks Facebook group1 1. Smartwatch to recorded daily step; 2. FB group: Social Cognitive Theory-related health education tips 2 twice-weekly. The aim was to integrate PA into their daily routine improving PA-related self-efficacy, outcome expectancy, social support and enjoyment. Facebook group2 FB group: Social Cognitive Theory-related health education tips 2 twice-weekly. The aim was to integrate PA into their daily routine improving PA-related self-efficacy, outcome expectancy, social support and enjoyment. |
| Torquati L et al. (2018) [24] | 47 healthy nurses, mean age 41.4 FB-G (47; 6M, 41F) |
Duration: 12 weeks, with a 6-month follow up. Mobile app to set diet; accelerometers to monitor physical activity behavior; FB group where people share experiences and motivate others. Moreover, diet and PA suggestion was given by FB group. |
| Looyestyn J et al. (2018) [25] | 89 healthy adults, mean age 35.2 FB-G (41; 4M, 37F) PG (48; 29M, 34F) |
Duration: 8 weeks, 30 min 3 d/w, with a 5-month follow up. Facebook group Warm-up: 5 min Main part: week 1 (5 sets run/walk 1:1 min; 6 sets run/walk 1:1 min; 5 sets run/walk 1.5:1.5 min); week 2 (6 sets run/walk 1.5:1.5 min; 5 sets run/walk 2:2 min; 3 sets run/walk 3:3 min); week 3 (6 sets run/walk 2:2 min; 6 sets run/walk 2:1 min; 6 sets run/walk 3:1.5 min); week 4 (5 sets run/walk 4:2 min; 7 sets run/walk 3:1 min; 12 min run); week 5 (6 sets run/walk 4:2 min; 10 sets run/walk 3:1 min; 4 sets run/walk 6:2 min); week 6 (15 min run; 3 sets run/walk 8:3 min; 18 min run); week 7 (5 sets run/walk 6:2 min; run 22 min; 3 sets run/walk 10:2 min); week 8 (26 min run; 16 min run, 2 min walk, 16 min run; 30 min run) Cool-down: 5 min Each day the group facilitator posted a message to the closed FB group. These posts were informative and encouraged social interaction including asking participants to post photos, providing information with lonks, motivational quotes, opinion polls, and posts prompting participants to answer questions and interest. Paper group Self-directed running program only to follow individually. |
| Pope ZC et al. (2018) [26] | 8 female breast cancer survivor, mean age 45.8 | Duration: 10 weeks: 1. Mobile application to recorded daily step 2. FB group: Social Cognitive Theory-related health education tips 2 twice-weekly. The aim was to integrate PA into their daily routine improving PA-related self-efficacy, outcome expectancy, social support and enjoyment while reducing physical activity-related barriers. |
| Pope ZC et al. (2018) [26] | 20 breast cancer survivor, mean age 52.8 FB+S-G (12F) FB-G (8F) |
Duration: 10 weeks Facebook group1 1. Smartwatch to recorded daily step; 2. FB group: Social Cognitive Theory-related health education tips 2 twice-weekly. The aim was to integrate PA into their daily routine improving PA-related self-efficacy, outcome expectancy, social support and enjoyment. Facebook group2 FB group: Social Cognitive Theory-related health education tips 2 twice-weekly. The aim was to integrate PA into their daily routine improving PA-related self-efficacy, outcome expectancy, social support and enjoyment. |
| Naslund JA et al. (2018) [27] | 25 obese people with depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, mean age 49.2 FB-G (19; 7M, 12F) CG_not join the Facebook Group (6; 5M, 1F) |
Duration: 24 weeks, 1 + 2 d/w Facebook group One weight management session facilitated by two lifestyle coaches and two optional exercise sessions led by a certified fitness trainer. Weight management: interactive focused on healthy eating and exercise, with group discussion and teamwork exercise when participants worked together to plan healthy meals and overcome challenges to adopting healthier lifestyle. Exercise sessions: stretching, resistance and cardio exercise tailored to the needs of obese sedentary adults. These sessions were intended to help participants work towards reaching 150 min of exercise each week. The program also included a secret Facebook group to allow participants to connect and support each other towards achieving their healthy eating and exercise goals. |
| Krishnamohan S et al. (2017) [28] | 45 college students, age: 18–23 FB-G (22; 12M, 10F) CG (23; 12M, 11F) |
Duration: 6 weeks Facebook group Inclusion in a private Facebook group in which the health education messages were posted thrice a week in the form of pictures, videos, quotes. Content was decided by a team of dietician, physical education trainer and public health specialist. Control group No such intervention was done for the control group. |
| Ashton LM et al. (2017) [29] | 47 men, age 18–25 FB-G (24M) CG (23M) |
Duration: 12 weeks Facebook group 1. Responsive website with relevant information and resources including guidelines, support video and recommended mobile application for improving eating habits, PA, reducing alcohol intake or coping with stress. 2. Wearable PA tracker with associated mobile phone application. 3. 1 h of weekly supervised PA: 40 min of aerobic and strength exercise, 10 min of healthy eating education, 10 min of stress and well-being management 4. An individualized session (week 3) in which personal tailored goals for dietary improvements were set. 5. A private FB group to facilitate social support. 6. Gymstick resistance band for home-based strength training (preferably 2 d/w). 7. A TEMPlate dinner disc to guide main meal portion size form main meal components. Control group Control participants were asked to continue their usual lifestyle for 3 months and offered the program once follow-up assessments were completed. |
| Jane M et al. (2017) [30] | 67 obese or overweight; subjects, mean age: 21–65 FB-G (23; 4M, 19F) PG (23; 2M, 21F) CG (21; 4M, 17F) |
Duration: 24 weeks Facebook group Participants were instructed to follow the Total Wellbeing Diet: an energy-reduced, low fat, lower carbohydrate, and higher protein diet. In addition, they were issued with a pedometer and instructed to achieve 10,000 steps per day. The information was received into a secret FB group. Paper group The same instructions and information of the FG, but in written form. Control group Participants were instructed to follow the Australian Government dietary guidelines as well as the National Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults as standard care. |
| Willis EA et al. (2016) [31] | 70 obese people, age: 21–70 FB-G (34; 5M, 29F) PhC-G (36; 6M, 30F) |
Duration: 24 weeks Facebook group 24 weekly online modules (1 health lesson post, 1 audio recordings of the phone conference group, 4 comments to highlight the major points of the lesson). Participants were instructed to post a minimum of 4 comments on the message boards per week. Phone conference group 24 meeting (1 evening per week) of group phone conference of 60 min. Participants were encouraged to actively participate and interact with the other. |
| Joseph RP et al. (2015) [32] | 29 healthy women, mean age 35 FB-G (14F) PG (15F) |
Duration: 8 weeks Facebook group 1. Weekly PA promotion materials posted on the FB group wall; 2. Discussion topics and participants engagement on the group FB wall: week 1 (overview of the national PA recommendations, health benefits of PA, and PA statistics among African American women); week 2 (developing a PA plan that works for you); week 3 (barriers to PA among African American women and strategies to overcoming barriers); week 4 (developing a social support network to promote PA); week 5 (strategies for incorporating short bouts of PA into your daily routine to achieve national PA recommendations); week 6 (testimonials from African American Women on how they successfully incorporate PA into their daily lives); week 7 (National PA recommendations, barriers to PA among African American Women and strategies to overcoming barriers and incorporate more PA into your life); week 8 (strategies for maintaining a physical active lifestyle after the intervention); 3. Motivational text messages promoting PA: 3 text messages every each week (a. tips on strategies to increase PA throughout the day; b. information on how to overcome barriers to PA; c. reminders of the health benefits of PA; d. motivational/inspirational tips and quotes to participants); 4. Adaptive pedometer-based self-monitoring and goal-setting program: weekly individualized step goals and social reinforcement via email. Printed group 1. Mailed print-based component: booklets mailed every two weeks at home with general information on risk factors for cardiovascular disease, the benefits of PA, tips and strategies to increase daily PA, and encouraged participants to perform a minimum of 150 min of MVPA per week; 2. Static pedometer-based self-monitoring program: participants were instructed to achieve a static goal of 8000–10,000 steps each day. |
| Rote AE et al. (2015) [33] | 53 university students, mean age 18 FB-G (27F) SWI-G (26F) |
Duration: 8 weeks Facebook group Each week: personal FB message from the intervention leader requesting a report of their steps/day for the previous week. New step goal each week in according to the previous week steps (10% more steps than the previous mean). Weekly post in the FB page and group with educational information. Standard Walking Intervention group Weekly e-mails with the new step goal in according to the previous week steps (10% more steps than the previous mean), and educational information (the same of FB group). |
| Maher C et al. (2015) [18] | 110 adults, mean age 35.6 FB-G (51; 14M, 37F) CG (59; 18M, 41F) |
Duration: 50-day, with a 20-week follow up Facebook group Team challenge: participants are provided with a pedometer and encourage achieving 10,000 steps per day, working in teams of 3 to 8 FB friends. Control group Waiting list, with health monitoring over the ensuing 5 months. |
| Wang CKJ et al. (2015) [34] | 62 university students, mean age 22.3 FB3h-G (14) FB1h-G (24) EG (17) CG (7) |
Duration: 8 weeks Facebook1 group 3 h of physical fitness class taught by university lecturer each week + FB group. Facebook2 group Voluntary 1 h of exercise programme taught by experienced university lecturer each week + FB group. Exercise group 3 h of physical fitness class each week. Control group This group did not receive any intervention. |
| Chee HP et al. (2014) [35] | 120 government employees, mean age: 18–59 FB-G (35; 11M, 24F) PG (85, 23M, 62F) |
Duration: 16 weeks, with a 2-month follow up Facebook group The participants received a card to log the number of steps taken per day and a pamphlet on PA information that summarized the information provided on FB. Moreover, participants can view and comment the content of the posts, in addition to logging their daily steps counts, through the FB group page. The content of the FB posts were the subsequent: Week 1: healthy every day with 10,000 steps per day Week 2: PA recommendation (10,000 steps per day, or 150 min of moderate intensity PA per week, or 75 min of vigorous PA per week) Week 3–5: benefits of walking Week 6–8: walking as the PA Week 9: PA level based on number of steps per day Week 10–15: strategies to increase number of steps per day (e.g., to park the vehicle far away from the office; to use the stairs instead of the elevator; to take 10-min walks for every 2-h worked) Week 16: PA pyramid Printed group The printed group did not receive a weekly physical activity-related intervention, but the participants obtained a card to log the number of steps taken per day and a pamphlet on PA information. |
| Valle CG et al. (2013) [36] | 86 cancer survivors, mean age 31.7 FB-G.fit (45; 4M, 41F) FB-G.com (41; 4M, 37F) |
Duration: 12 weeks Facebook group—fitnet Participants received a pedometer. Each week was posted a Fb message, with expanded behavioral lesson with specific guidance on PA and behavioral strategies, such as enlisting social support, incorporating PA into daily routine, self-monitoring and maintaining PA. The administrator posted various prompts including discussion question, links to videos, exercise- or cancer-related news articles, or electronic PA resources, and a weekly reminder to set an exercise goal, log daily PA. Facebook group—comparison The same intervention but without administration moderation that encourage the interaction. |
| Cavallo N et al. (2012) [37] | 134 university students, aged <25 years FB-G (67F) CG (67F) |
Duration: 12 weeks Facebook group INSHAPE website, which provided educational information related to PA and a self-monitoring tool that allowed participants to set goals, track their daily PA, and view a chart depicting their progress relative to their goal and to national recommendations for PA. Control group Control group participants received access to a limited version of the INSHAPE website, which excluded self-monitoring. |
d/w: day/week; M: male; F: female; FB-G: Facebook group; PG: paper group; FB+S-G: Facebook + smartwatch group; PhC-G: phone conference group; EG: exercise group; TM-G: text message group; SWI-G: Standard Walking Intervention Group; FB: Facebook; PA: physical activity; MVPA: moderate voluntary physical activity; INSHAPE: Internet Support for Healthy Associations promoting Exercise.