Project BIPAMS: Behavioral Intervention for Physical Activity in Multiple Sclerosis

"The primary content of the website is delivered through interactive video courses. The interactive video courses are released seven times during the first two months, four times during the second two months, and twice during the final two months of the intervention.~Another key part of the website is the Tracker feature. This feature allows for tracking of daily step counts (via Yamax SW-200 pedometer) as well as setting goals and monitoring progress over the program.~The one-on-one video chats are conducted face to face through skype and are semi-scripted. The chats consist of an ongoing review of goal-setting and progress toward goal attainment through Tracker as well as discussion of strategies and facilitators of behavioral change based on SCT and current website content. The chats occur seven times during the first two months, four times during the second two months, and twice during the final two months of the intervention."

The control condition focuses on self-managing MS through means other than physical activity. The materials are transformations of brochures provided by the NMSS, including Gait or Walking Problems: The Basic Facts; MS and Your Emotions; Pain: The Basic Facts; Solving Cognitive Problems; Taming Stress in MS; Food for Thought: MS and Nutrition; and Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs: An Introduction. The delivery of the Internet materials and chat sessions will occur on the same time schedule and frequency as the intervention condition, and will have a comparable time commitment. The control condition will account for attention and social contact as well as other possible biases such as initial reactivity and time spent on the website and video chats. The participants in the control condition will not be offered the behavioral intervention for increasing physical activity after completion of the study procedures.