The effects of goal setting, prompt fading, and feedback on physical activity for individuals with diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a growing global health issue, with its prevalence rising steadily. Integrating physical activity into diabetes management is crucial for maintaining health and well-being. Goal setting has emerged as an effective approach in increasing physical activity for individuals with diabetes and is widely recognized behavior change method in diabetes self-management interventions and education programs. This study investigated the impact of goal setting, prompt fading, and feedback on physical activity levels in individuals with diabetes. Three female participants between the ages of 30 and 60, diagnosed with diabetes, participated in the study. A changing criterion design was implemented, with each criterion targeting each weekly goal. The result of the study showed that goal setting, prompting, and feedback increased physical activity for all participants; however, inadequate experimental control discredited the study's validity. The current findings can indicate the intervention's potential for enhancing physical activity levels for individuals with diabetes in a cost-effective and minimally intrusive method, however more studies need to be carried out to further the evidence of goal setting's effectiveness. Keywords: goal setting, prompt fading, feedback, physical activity, diabetes.