CONCLUSIONS Utilizing a consumer-based wearable activity tracker as either the primary component of an intervention or as part of a broader physical activity intervention has the potential to increase physical activity participation .
BACKGROUND The range of benefits associated with regular physical activity participation is irrefutable .
Despite the well-known benefits , physical inactivity remains one of the major contributing factors to ill-health throughout industrialized countries .
Traditional lifestyle interventions such as group education or telephone counseling are effective at increasing physical activity participation ; however , physical activity levels tend to decline over time .
Consumer-based wearable activity trackers that allow users to objective ly monitor activity levels are now widely available and may offer an alternative method for assisting individuals to remain physically active .
OBJECTIVE This review aim ed to determine the effects of interventions utilizing consumer-based wearable activity trackers on physical activity participation and sedentary behavior when compared with interventions that do not utilize activity tracker feedback .
It's LiFe! Mobile and Web-Based Monitoring and Feedback Tool Embedded in Primary Care Increases Physical Activity: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
Background Physical inactivity is a major public health problem . The It ’s LiFe ! monitoring and feedback tool embedded in the Self-Management Support Program ( SSP ) is an attempt to stimulate physical activity in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or type 2 diabetes treated in primary care . Objective Our aim was to evaluate whether the SSP combined with the use of the monitoring and feedback tool leads to more physical activity compared to usual care and to evaluate the additional effect of using this tool on top of the SSP . Methods This was a three-armed cluster r and omised controlled trial . Twenty four family practice s were r and omly assigned to one of three groups in which participants received the tool + SSP ( group 1 ) , the SSP ( group 2 ) , or care as usual ( group 3 ) . The primary outcome measure was minutes of physical activity per day . The secondary outcomes were general and exercise self-efficacy and quality of life . Outcomes were measured at baseline after the intervention ( 4 - 6 months ) , and 3 months thereafter . Results The group that received the entire intervention ( tool + SSP ) showed more physical activity directly after the intervention than Group 3 ( mean difference 11.73 , 95 % CI 6.21 - 17.25 ; P<.001 ) , and Group 2 ( mean difference 7.86 , 95 % CI 2.18 - 13.54 ; P=.003 ) . Three months after the intervention , this effect was still present and significant ( compared to Group 3 : mean difference 10.59 , 95 % CI 4.94 - 16.25 ; P<.001 ; compared to Group 2 : mean difference 9.41 , 95 % CI 3.70 - 15.11 ; P<.001 ) . There was no significant difference in effect between Groups 2 and 3 on both time points . There was no interaction effect for disease type . Conclusions The combination of counseling with the tool proved an effective way to stimulate physical activity . Counseling without the tool was not effective . Future research about the cost-effectiveness and application under more tailored conditions and in other target groups is recommended . Trial Registration Clinical Trials.gov : NCT01867970 , https:// clinical trials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01867970 ( archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6a2qR5BSr )
CONCLUSIONS Utilizing a consumer-based wearable activity tracker as either the primary component of an intervention or as part of a broader physical activity intervention has the potential to increase physical activity participation .
BACKGROUND The range of benefits associated with regular physical activity participation is irrefutable .
Despite the well-known benefits , physical inactivity remains one of the major contributing factors to ill-health throughout industrialized countries .
Traditional lifestyle interventions such as group education or telephone counseling are effective at increasing physical activity participation ; however , physical activity levels tend to decline over time .
Consumer-based wearable activity trackers that allow users to objective ly monitor activity levels are now widely available and may offer an alternative method for assisting individuals to remain physically active .
OBJECTIVE This review aim ed to determine the effects of interventions utilizing consumer-based wearable activity trackers on physical activity participation and sedentary behavior when compared with interventions that do not utilize activity tracker feedback .