Self-monitoring physical activity with a smartphone application in cancer patients: a randomized feasibility study (SMART-trial)

BACKGROUND Physical activity (PA), known as a modifiable protective factor, provides an approach to sustain physical and psycho-social health for breast cancer patients both during and after treatment. Mobile health (mHealth) application targeted promoting health behaviors demonstrates advantages in behavior tracking, knowledge sharing and social connecting and tailored intervention. However, process of mHealth application (App) development is lack of theoretical basis, restricting its sustainable benefits to cancer survivors. OBJECTIVE To construct a theory-based mHealth PA intervention program, and to determine whether this intervention would improve PA behavior change during chemotherapy for breast cancer patients, thus to capture their perspectives and experiences when participate it. METHODS Social cognitive theory (SCT), self-efficacy theory (SET) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB) are referred to construct mHealth intervention strategies. Smartphone application was chosen to implement a pre-post three-month PA intervention. A mixed method was utilized to test the preliminary effectiveness of MPAP. Quantitative results from online records and self-reported questionnaires were collected after intervention. Qualitative feedback through telephone interviewing was recorded to explore patients’ using experiences. RESULTS “Breast care” smartphone application was developed to improve self-management of breast cancer patients including PA. In the end, five main pages covering 6 functions (information delivering, disease tracking, events reminding based on calendar, online interaction, health behavior recording and self-reported assessment) were displayed in the app. In the preliminary evaluation process, twenty participants were recruited. Based on PA capability assessment and baseline PA evaluation, 12 patients were divided into active group, and 8 patients were grouped in sedentary lifestyle. Within three months, participants’ usage behavior identified at portal site indicated the accumulated app usage time is 40 minutes a week, and average login time of each participant was three times a week. The total PA increased 945.70 MET-min/w with a significant improvement(p=0.040) after 3 months. Walking displayed a significant improvement after intervention (904.20 MET-min/w) (p=0.030). Sedentary mean time declined 210 mins/w. Qualitative results showed satisfaction and willingness of breast cancer patients to use app to manage PA and relevant health behaviors. CONCLUSIONS The theory-based mHealth PA intervention has great potential to enhance breast cancer patients’ PA awareness and engagement, meanwhile to facilitate their PA behavior change.

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Increasing physical activity in older adults using STARFISH, an interactive smartphone application (app); a pilot study

Journal of Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Engineering ◽

10.1177/2055668317696236 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. 205566831769623 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Lorna Paul ◽

Stephen Brewster ◽

Sally Wyke ◽

Angus K McFadyen ◽

Naveed Sattar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Objective Measure ◽

Smartphone Application ◽

Behaviour Change Techniques ◽

Self Monitoring ◽

Steps Per Day ◽

Randomised Controlled

Background Increasing physical activity in older adults has preventative and therapeutic health benefits. We have developed STARFISH, a smartphone application, to increase physical activity. This paper describes the features of STARFISH, presents the views of older users on the acceptability and usability of the app and reports the results of a six week pilot study of the STARFISH app in older adults. Methods The operationalisation of the behaviour change techniques (BCTs) within the STARFISH app was mapped against the BCT Taxonomy of Michie et al. Sixteen healthy older adults (eight women and eight men; age 71.1 ± 5.2 years) used the app, in groups of four, for six weeks. Focus groups explored the user experience and objective measure of steps per day recorded. Results Participants were very positive about using the STARFISH app, in particular the embedded BCTs of self-monitoring, feedback and social support (in the form of group rewards). Objective step data, available for eight participants, showed that step counts increased by an average of 14% ( p = 0.077, d = 0.56). Conclusion The STARFISH app was acceptable and straightforward to use for older adults. STARFISH has potential to increase physical activity in older adults; however, a fully powered randomised controlled trial is required.

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Daily collection of physical activity via smartphone application and smart band for development of distress screening tools in breast cancer survivors: A feasibility study

Annals of Oncology ◽

10.1093/annonc/mdz416.011 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 30 ◽

pp. ix4

Author(s):

Y. Shin ◽

I.Y. Chung

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Feasibility Study ◽

Breast Cancer Survivors ◽

Smartphone Application ◽

Screening Tools ◽

Distress Screening

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Feasibility study of smartphone application for self-monitoring dietary intake among cancer patients

Journal of Medical Research and Innovation ◽

10.32892/jmri.209 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. e000209

Author(s):

Chiou Yi Ho ◽

Zhen Hong Ban ◽

Wai Han Ng ◽

May Kay Neoh ◽

Norshariza Jamhuri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dietary Intake ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Protein Intake ◽

Smartphone Application ◽

Nutrition Status ◽

Protein Requirement ◽

Self Monitoring ◽

Objective Evidence ◽

Dietary Monitoring

Objective: Evidence accumulates that optimal nutrition status positively influences cancer treatment outcomes. A "smartphone application" (intelligent dietitian support apps, iDSA) was developed to act as a tool to assist patients in terms of dietary monitoring. This study aimed to examine the feasibility of iDSA for self-monitoring dietary intake among cancer patients. Method: This was a pilot study. Eligible patients were approached and recruited. Dietitian entered individual estimated energy protein requirement into iDSA after installation. Participants recorded and monitored own daily dietary intake. Dietitian arranged for a two-week follow up to monitor nutritional status (weight and dietary intake). Results: This study enrolled 14 participants, six males and eight females, with a mean age of 36.4 ± 10.1 years. iDSA improved participants’ nutritional outcomes significantly; weight gained 1.2 ± 0.2 kg, increased energy intake 215 ± 100 kcal/day and protein intake 8 ± 5.1 g/day. There were 92.9% of participants agreed or totally agreed that they were able to monitor and increase dietary intake during using iDSA. However, about 57.1% reported that it was burdensome to record their diet daily and sometimes they forgot to record their food intake. Conclusion: Self-monitoring dietary intake via intelligent dietitian support apps was feasible among cancer patients. With compliance to iDSA resulted in an increase in dietary intake and body weight after two-week. iDSA usability was rated good and can be used to study dietary intake among cancer patients.

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Patient Experience Connecting Mobile-Based Self-Monitoring of Diet and Physical Activity to Diabetes Educators through a Connected Interface in an Electronic System for Diabetes Education (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.11905 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Jing Wang ◽

Brittney Lewis ◽

Linda Siminerio

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Diabetes Education ◽

Smartphone Application ◽

Perceived Benefits ◽

Self Monitoring ◽

Activity Tracker ◽

Activity Trackers ◽

Diet And Exercise ◽

Diet And Physical Activity ◽

Diabetes Educators

BACKGROUND Smartphone applications and wearable activity trackers have become popular tools in recent years in managing chronic diseases such as diabetes. More recently, studies have focused on connecting patient-generated health data from mobile devices directly to health care providers and educators. However, not much is known regarding the patient experience in using these mobile devices for diabetes management, particularly the implications of allowing educators direct access to patients’ diet and exercise data. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to identify patients’ perceived benefits and concerns about using a smartphone application and wristband activity tracker to monitor diet and physical activity, as well as the perceived benefits and concerns of allowing educators access to such data. METHODS We conducted a qualitative, descriptive study as an axillary study to a clinical trial testing a connected interface to link patient self-monitoring diet and physical activity to a nationally used electronic diabetes education system. Our axillary study examined 13 type 2 diabetes patients’ views on perceived benefits and concerns about using a smartphone application and wristband activity tracker to monitor diet and physical activity for three months. A focus group interview was administered to obtain general and specific understanding of the use of smartphone applications and activity trackers during the study period. The central interview questions guiding the discussion included “What did you think about the UP24 wristband and app?”, “What are your thoughts about the connection of UP24 data with Chronicle, the Web-based diabetes education system, so that your diabetes educators can see your behavior?”, and “Has knowing that someone else has access to your diet and exercise data affected your behavior and self-monitoring?” The interviewer also asked specific questions to gain deeper understanding of the following topics: (1) the app and wristband features used to record and monitor diet and physical activity, (2) materials used for intervention orientation, (3) additional data (eg, weight and blood glucose) that participants would like to share with educators, and (4) suggestions for improvement in diabetes self-management and communication with educators and physicians. The focus group sessions were audio-recorded and transcribed. Transcribed data were analyzed to identify key themes based on interpretive coding procedures. RESULTS We identified 11 key themes under three major categories and described these themes with illustrative quotations. The three major categories of themes covered (1) self-monitoring themes: varied experience and self-monitoring patterns and adherence exist among patients using the wearable tracker and its companion smartphone application; (2) themes related to sharing self-monitoring of diet and physical activity data with diabetes educators: sharing self-monitoring diet influences patient self-monitoring adherence and dietary and activity changes, and communication with educators; and (3) research study-related themes: technical barriers, utilization of manuals and tutorial videos in beginning use of the connected health tools, and desired features on combining lifestyle data with glucose data and caregiver access. CONCLUSIONS Connected technology aiming to incorporate patient-generated health lifestyle data into clinical workflow should consider patient perspectives in terms of their experience and motivation for generating and sharing such data and technical barriers in using such tools.

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