%0 Journal Article %A Zeinab Gholamnia Shirvani, %A Fazlollah Ghofranipour, %A Reza Gharakhanlou, %A Farideh Yaghmaei, %T The effectiveness of theory-based multimedia software on exercise behavior and physical activity among women: The Women and Active Life Study %J Payesh (Health Monitor) Journal %V 15 %N 5 %U http://payeshjournal.ir/article-1-154-en.html %R %D 2016 %K Exercise Behavior, Physical Activity, Theory of Planned Behavior, Planning, Multimedia, Physical Fitness, %X Objective (s): The purpose of this intervention was to evaluate a theory-driven instructional multimedia about exercise behavior and health-related physical fitness among women in Tehran, Iran. Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial. In all a random sample of 130 women who were living in institutional houses in Tehran, Iran (2014) participated in the study. We designed ‘Women and Active Life’ self-taught multimedia based on the expanded theory of planned behavior (TPB) using the Flash and ActionScript3 software. This multimedia consisted of a menu with six principal actions (particularly educational sessions). The expected outcomes were analyzed at baseline, 3 and 6 months post-intervention. Results: Administering educational package was conducive in increasing and sustaining all outcome measures including the developed TPB constructs, cardiopulmonary fitness, muscular strength/endurance and flexibility in the experimental group at 3 and 6 months post-education, respectively (P<0.001). Additionally we observed that body fat percentage, waist to hip ratio and body mass index reduced and retained (P<0.001). However, no significant changes occurred in aforesaid variables in the control group (P>0.05). Conclusion: Utilizing new technologies such as interactive multimedia grounded on the expended TPB led to improved exercise behavior, aerobic/muscular fitness and body composition in women. %> http://payeshjournal.ir/article-1-154-en.pdf %P 549-558 %& 549 %! %9 Descriptive %L A-10-10-134 %+ Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran %G eng %@ 1680-7626 %[ 2016