Effectiveness of Web-Based vs. Non-Web-Based Interventions
Author Information
Author(s): Dean J Wantland, Carmen J Portillo, William L Holzemer, Rob Slaughter, Eva M McGhee
Primary Institution: University of California, San Francisco
Hypothesis
Do Web-based interventions lead to better behavioral change outcomes compared to non-Web-based interventions?
Conclusion
Web-based interventions improve knowledge and behavioral outcomes compared to non-Web-based interventions.
Supporting Evidence
- 16 of the 17 studied effect outcomes revealed improved knowledge and/or improved behavioral outcomes for participants using the Web-based interventions.
- The average attrition rate for longitudinal studies was 21%.
- Effect sizes for the studied outcomes ranged from -.01 to .75.
Takeaway
Using the internet to help people change their behavior is better than traditional methods like face-to-face meetings.
Methodology
A meta-analysis of 22 studies comparing Web-based and non-Web-based interventions was conducted, analyzing effect sizes and participant outcomes.
Potential Biases
Selection bias may have occurred due to self-selection of participants familiar with the internet.
Limitations
The variability in study designs and outcomes limited the ability to calculate an overall effect size.
Participant Demographics
Average age of participants was 41.5 years, with 5,841 women and 5,729 men.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p ≤ 0.001
Statistical Significance
p ≤ 0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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