ENACTING

What techniques do people use to motivate themselves to become more physically active? This is the question the ENACTING project (Enhancing Wellbeing Through Digital Training With Self-Enactable Behaviour Change Techniques) aims to answer.

Purpose

The goal of the project is to develop and test a digital platform based on behavioural change techniques to increase physical activity among adults.

The ENACTING project will develop a digital training guide based on 30 behavioural change techniques to promote physical activity among adults aged 35–55. The guide will be created through a co-creation process consisting of three workshops involving approximately 20 participants in spring 2025. Afterward, it will be tested in a randomized pilot study with about 80 participants to evaluate feasibility and usability.

The project aims to create a user-friendly platform that enhances participants' ability to independently change their physical activity habits and behaviours. The platform is to be integrated into existing health initiatives eventually.

Background

Physical inactivity is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide and a significant public health issue. In Denmark, almost two out of three adults do not meet the recommended levels of physical activity, yet 70% of inactive adults express a desire to become more active.

Health behaviours are shaped by social and physical environments but ultimately require self-motivation and personal responsibility to achieve lasting change.

Behavioural change techniques such as self-monitoring, goal setting, and feedback are already used by professionals; however, the ENACTING project focuses on training individuals to independently learn and apply these techniques to strengthen motivation and foster lasting behavioural changes.

Activities

The project consists of three phases:

• Co-design of the platform
• A 6-month pilot study to test feasibility
• Analysis and knowledge dissemination through publications

Project contributions from Health Innovation Centre of Southern Denmark 

Health Innovation Centre of Southern Denmark supports the collaborative development of the platform, plans the process, facilitates workshops, recruits participants, and assists with data analysis and evaluation.

Partners

The project is a collaboration between Health Innovation Centre of Southern Denmark and university partners:

• Project owner: University of Southern Denmark – Danish Centre for Motivation and Behaviour Science (DRIVEN) at the Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics
• University of Victoria, Canada
• Tampere University and University of Jyväskylä, Finland
• Dansk Firmaidræt

Funding

Trygfonden has donated DKK 3,200,000.

Project Duration

September 2024 – February 2027.

Health Innovation Centre of Southern Denmark will be involved during the first year of the project until September 2025.