Table 2 E-health intervention strategies

1. Automated advice

Provide pre-designed physical activity advice (e.g., benefits of physical activities) to participants automatically by computer or internet.

2. Tele-counselling

Provide physical activity counselling (e.g., goal-setting, prompting, planning) by human facilitators via telephone or smartphone.

3. Digital-tailored advice

Provide physical activity advice (e.g., time, types, benefits of physical activity) to participants considering the participants’ individuality (e.g., baseline physical activity) by computer or internet.

4. Digital PA recording

Allow participants to input their physical activity performance (e.g., step count) so that participants can understand the progress of their performance.

5. Digital PA coaching

Providing coaching (e.g., goal setting, prompting, social support, demonstrations) for participants via digital platforms (e.g., online forums, texting) according to the individuality of the participants (e.g., baseline physical activity performance, on-going progress).

6. Online resources

Provide physically active lifestyle resources online (e.g., types of physical activity, health benefits of physical activities, places to perform physical activity).

7. Online social support

Provide an online platform for participants and the facilitator to share their physical activity tips and supportive messages.

8. PA auto-tracking feedback

Provide automatic tracking and feedback (e.g., trend of step counts, physical activity time, percentage of target achieved) by wearable devices (e.g., smartphones, wrist bands).

9. Video demonstrations

Provide physical activity demonstrations via video (e.g., DVD, online video streaming).

10. Video games

Provide video-game-based activities to enhance physical activity time.

11. Video vignettes

Provide successful stories of behavioural change from being sedentary to becoming physically active.