scholarly journals Effects of the FIT Game on Physical Activity in Sixth Graders: A Pilot Reversal Design Intervention Study (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damon Joyner ◽  
Heidi Wengreen ◽  
Sheryl Aguilar ◽  
Gregory Madden
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Sixth Grade ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Daily Step Count ◽  
Steps Per Day ◽  
Game Intervention ◽  
Reversal Design ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity

BACKGROUND The FIT Game is a low-cost intervention that increases fruit and vegetable consumption in elementary school children. For this study, the FIT Game was adapted into an intervention designed to increase children’s physical activity at school. OBJECTIVE We aimed to evaluate if the FIT Game could increase children’s physical activity relative to their baseline levels. METHODS A total of 29 participants were recruited from a sixth-grade classroom. An ABAB reversal design was used. Participants wore an accelerometer while at school during pre/postintervention baseline (A) and intervention (B) phases. During the FIT Game intervention, daily physical activity goals encouraged the class to increase their median daily step count above the 60th percentile of the previous 10 days. When daily goals were met, game-based accomplishments were realized. RESULTS Children met their activity goals 80% of the time during the intervention phases. Physical activity at school increased from a median of 3331 steps per day during the baseline to 4102 steps during the FIT Game phases (P<.001, Friedman test). CONCLUSIONS Preliminary evidence showed that playing the FIT Game could positively influence children’s physical activity at school.

scholarly journals Adding team-based financial incentives to the Carrot Rewards physical activity app increases daily step count on a population scale: a 24-week matched case control study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Pearson ◽  
Harry Prapavessis ◽  
Christopher Higgins ◽  
Robert Petrella ◽  
Lauren White ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Step Count ◽  
Daily Step ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Daily Step Count ◽  
Steps Per Day ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experimental Group

Abstract Background Mobile health applications (mHealth apps) targeting physical inactivity have increased in popularity yet are usually limited by low engagement. This study examined the impact of adding team-based incentives (Step Together Challenges, STCs) to an existing mHealth app (Carrot Rewards) that rewarded individual physical activity achievements. Methods A 24-week quasi-experimental study (retrospective matched pairs design) was conducted in three Canadian provinces (pre-intervention: weeks 1–12; intervention: weeks 13–24). Participants who used Carrot Rewards and STCs (experimental group) were matched with those who used Carrot Rewards only (controls) on age, gender, province and baseline mean daily step count (±500 steps/d). Carrot Rewards users earned individual-level incentives (worth $0.04 CAD) each day they reached a personalized daily step goal. With a single partner, STC users could earn team incentives ($0.40 CAD) for collaboratively reaching individual daily step goals 10 times in seven days (e.g., Partner A completes four goals and Partner B completes six goals in a week). Results The main analysis included 61,170 users (mean age = 32 yrs.; % female = 64). Controlling for pre-intervention mean daily step count, a significant difference in intervention mean daily step count favoured the experimental group (p < 0.0001; ηp2 = 0.024). The estimated marginal mean group difference was 537 steps per day, or 3759 steps per week (about 40 walking min/wk). Linear regression suggested a dose-response relationship between the number of STCs completed (app engagement) and intervention mean daily step count (adjusted R2 = 0.699) with each new STC corresponding to approximately 200 more steps per day. Conclusion Despite an explosion of physical activity app interest, low engagement leading to small or no effects remains an industry hallmark. In this paper, we found that adding modest team-based incentives to the Carrot Rewards app increased mean daily step count, and importantly, app engagement moderated this effect. Others should consider novel small-teams based approaches to boost engagement and effects.

scholarly journals A Pilot Intervention Using Gamification to Enhance Student Participation in Classroom Activity Breaks

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (21) ◽  
pp. 4082 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lexie R. Beemer ◽  
Tiwaloluwa A. Ajibewa ◽  
Gabriel DellaVecchia ◽  
Rebecca E. Hasson
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Student Participation ◽  
Sixth Grade ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Classroom Activity ◽  
Design Elements ◽  
Health Enhancing Physical Activity

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of adding game design elements (goal setting, feedback, and external rewards) to an evidence-based physical activity intervention to increase in-class physical activity participation (intensity of activity breaks performed). Nine third- through sixth-grade classrooms (n = 292 students) in one elementary-middle school in Detroit, Michigan (49% female, 95% nonwhite; 80% qualified for free/reduced lunch) participated in this 20-week intervention where teachers implemented 5 × 4 min moderate-to-vigorous activity breaks per day. Gamification of activity breaks occurred during weeks 13–20 of the intervention and included the use of game design elements and classroom goals for activity break intensity. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during activity breaks was measured via direct observation. There was a significant effect of intervention with a 27% increase in student MVPA participation during the gamified intervention weeks compared with the standard intervention weeks (p = 0.03). Gamification of activity breaks resulted in 55% (compared with 25% during the standard intervention) of students accumulating approximately 20 min of health-enhancing physical activity per day in their classroom. These findings provide preliminary evidence that gamifying activity breaks may be an important strategy for increasing student participation in classroom activity breaks.

scholarly journals Using Narrative Game Design to Increase Children’s Physical Activity: Exploratory Thematic Analysis

10.2196/16031 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. e16031 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Shirong Lu ◽  
Melanie C Green ◽  
Debbe Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Science Fiction ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Game Design ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Narrative Strategies ◽  
Active Video ◽  
Gender Groups ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity

Background Physical activity is crucial for child obesity prevention and intervention. Narratives embedded in active games can increase children’s physical activity. Objective Little is known about the narrative characteristics that would motivate children to exercise. We attempted to fill the gaps in understanding regarding narrative design for active video games. Methods In this exploratory study, four animated narratives of different genres were professionally generated. Children (N=41) between the ages of 8 and 12 years were interviewed to identify their preferences. Sessions were digitally recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using exploratory thematic analysis. Results Findings revealed that the children rated the dystopian science fiction story as their favorite across all weight, race, and gender groups. The physical activity-friendly narrative strategies included virtuous characters, extraordinary character actions, interesting plots, super powers, and engaging cliffhangers. Alternatively, information not related to physical activity, difficult-to-follow plot lines, passive protagonists, and repetitive narrative tropes were less appealing for physical activity. Conclusions This research provides preliminary evidence that narratives have characteristics that may increase child physical activity when playing active games. Future empirical studies should verify and test these design principles.

Cutoff Points for Step Count to Predict 1-year All-Cause Mortality in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Respiration ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Kazuya Shingai ◽  
Toshiaki Matsuda ◽  
Yasuhiro Kondoh ◽  
Tomoki Kimura ◽  
Kensuke Kataoka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽  
Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽  
Step Count ◽  
Cutoff Point ◽  
Daily Step ◽  
All Cause Mortality ◽  
Cutoff Points ◽  
Daily Step Count ◽  
Steps Per Day

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Although physical activity is associated with mortality in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), reference values to interpret levels of physical activity are lacking. <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> This study aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of physical activity assessed by step count and its cutoff points for all-cause mortality. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We measured physical activity (steps per day) using an accelerometer in patients with IPF at the time of diagnosis. Relationships among physical activity and mortality, as well as cutoff points of daily step count to predict all-cause mortality were examined. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Eighty-seven patients (73 males) were enrolled. Forty-four patients (50.1%) died during the follow-up (median 54 months). In analysis adjusting for Gender-Age-Physiology stage and 6-min walk distance, daily step count was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.820, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.694–0.968, <i>p</i> = 0.019). The optimal cutoff point (receiving operating characteristic analysis) for 1-year mortality was 3,473 steps per day (sensitivity = 0.818 and specificity = 0.724). Mortality was significantly lower in patients with a daily step count exceeding 3,473 steps than in those whose count was 3,473 or less (HR = 0.395, 95% CI = 0.218–0.715, <i>p</i> = 0.002). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Step count, an easily interpretable measurement, was a significant predictor of all-cause mortality in patients with IPF. At the time of diagnosis, a count that exceeded the cutoff point of 3,473 steps/day more than halved mortality. These findings highlight the importance of assessing physical activity in this patient population.

scholarly journals Adding Team-Based Financial Incentives to the Carrot Rewards App Increases Daily Step Count on a Population Scale: A 24-Week Matched Pairs Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Pearson ◽  
Harry Prapavessis ◽  
Christopher Higgins ◽  
Robert Petrella ◽  
Lauren White ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Step Count ◽  
Matched Pairs ◽  
Daily Step ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Daily Step Count ◽  
Steps Per Day ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experimental Group

Abstract Background Mobile health applications (mHealth apps) targeting physical inactivity have increased in popularity yet are usually limited by low engagement. This study examined the impact of adding team-based incentives (Step Together Challenges, STCs) to an existing mHealth app (Carrot Rewards) that rewarded individual physical activity achievements. Methods A 24-week quasi-experimental study (retrospective matched pairs design) was conducted in three Canadian provinces (pre-intervention: weeks 1–12; intervention: weeks 13–24). Participants who used Carrot Rewards and STCs (experimental group) were matched with those who used Carrot Rewards only (controls) on age, gender, province and baseline mean daily step count (± 500 steps/d). Carrot Rewards users earned individual-level incentives (worth $0.04 CAD) each day they reached a personalized daily step goal. With a single partner, STC users could earn team incentives ($0.40 CAD) for collaboratively reaching individual daily step goals 10 times in seven days (e.g., Partner A completes four goals and Partner B completes six goals in a week). Results The main analysis included 61,170 users (mean age = 32yrs; % female = 64). Controlling for pre-intervention mean daily step count, a significant difference in intervention mean daily step count favoured the experimental group (p < 0.0001; ηp2 = 0.024). The estimated marginal mean group difference was 537 steps per day, or 3759 steps per week (about 40 walking min/wk). Linear regression suggested a dose-response relationship between the number of STCs completed (app engagement) and intervention mean daily step count (adjusted R2 = 0.699) with each new STC corresponding to approximately 200 more steps per day. Conclusion Despite an explosion of physical activity app interest (100,000 + published apps), low engagement leading to small or no effects remains an industry hallmark. In this paper, we found that adding modest team-based incentives to the Carrot Rewards app increased mean daily step count, and importantly, app engagement moderated this effect. Others should consider novel small-teams based approaches to boost engagement and effects.

scholarly journals Adding team-based financial incentives to the Carrot Rewards physical activity app increases daily step count on a population scale: A 24-week matched case control study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Pearson ◽  
Harry Prapavessis ◽  
Christopher Higgins ◽  
Robert Petrella ◽  
Lauren White ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Step Count ◽  
Daily Step ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Daily Step Count ◽  
Steps Per Day ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experimental Group

Abstract Background: Mobile health applications (mHealth apps) targeting physical inactivity have increased in popularity yet are usually limited by low engagement. This study examined the impact of adding team-based incentives (Step Together Challenges, STCs) to an existing mHealth app (Carrot Rewards) that rewarded individual physical activity achievements.Methods: A 24-week quasi-experimental study (retrospective matched pairs design) was conducted in three Canadian provinces (pre-intervention: weeks 1-12; intervention: weeks 13-24). Participants who used Carrot Rewards and STCs (experimental group) were matched with those who used Carrot Rewards only (controls) on age, gender, province and baseline mean daily step count (±500 steps/d). Carrot Rewards users earned individual-level incentives (worth $0.04 CAD) each day they reached a personalized daily step goal. With a single partner, STC users could earn team incentives ($0.40 CAD) for collaboratively reaching individual daily step goals 10 times in seven days (e.g., Partner A completes four goals and Partner B completes six goals in a week).Results: The main analysis included 61,170 users (mean age=32yrs; % female=64). Controlling for pre-intervention mean daily step count, a significant difference in intervention mean daily step count favoured the experimental group (p<0.0001; ηp2=0.024). The estimated marginal mean group difference was 537 steps per day, or 3759 steps per week (about 40 walking min/wk). Linear regression suggested a dose-response relationship between the number of STCs completed (app engagement) and intervention mean daily step count (adjusted R2=0.699) with each new STC corresponding to approximately 200 more steps per day.Conclusion: Despite an explosion of physical activity app interest, low engagement leading to small or no effects remains an industry hallmark. In this paper, we found that adding modest team-based incentives to the Carrot Rewards app increased mean daily step count, and importantly, app engagement moderated this effect. Others should consider novel small-teams based approaches to boost engagement and effects.

scholarly journals Emerging Evidence of the Physical Activity Transition in Kenya

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 554-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Ochieng Onywera ◽  
Kristi B. Adamo ◽  
Andrew W. Sheel ◽  
Judith N. Waudo ◽  
Michael Kipsugut Boit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Inactivity ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Parental Perception ◽  
Daily Step ◽  
National Data ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Daily Step Count ◽  
Steps Per Day

Background:Comparable data to examine the physical activity (PA) transition in African countries such as Kenya are lacking.Methods:We assessed PA levels from urban (UKEN) and rural (RKEN) environments to examine any evidence of a PA transition. Nine- to twelve-year-old children participated in the study: n = 96 and n = 73 children from UKEN and RKEN, respectively. Pedometers were used to estimate children’s daily step count. Parental perception regarding their child’s PA patterns was collected via questionnaire (n = 172).Results:RKEN children were more physically active than their UKEN counterparts with a mean average steps per day (± SE) of 14,700 ± 521 vs. 11,717 ± 561 (P < .0001) for RKEN vs. UKEN children respectively. 62.5% of the UKEN children spent 0 hours per week playing screen games compared with 13.1% of UKEN children who spent more than 11 hours per week playing screen games. Seventy percent of UKEN and 34% of RKEN parents reported being more active during childhood than their children respectively.Conclusions:Results of this study are indicative of a PA transition in Kenya. Further research is needed to gather national data on the PA patterns of Kenyan children to minimize the likelihood of a public health problem due to physical inactivity.

School Performance, Lack of Facilities, and Safety Concerns: Barriers to Parents' Support of Their Children's Physical Activity

2009 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 315-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsten Krahnstoever Davison
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
African American ◽  
School Performance ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Community Based ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Family Based ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity

Purpose. To identify barriers to parents' support of their children's physical activity (PA) and to develop a survey to assess such barriers. Methods. Eighty-two parents (40 white; 36 African-American; 6 other) of elementary school-aged children participated in small-group interviews. Parents reported barriers to supporting their children's PA and suggested possible solutions. This information was used to develop the Barriers to Activity Support Scale (BASS), which was completed by 75 of the 82 parents along with a survey that assessed the parents' support for their children's PA. Results. Parents reported community-based, interpersonal, and intrapersonal barriers to supporting their children's PA. Top barriers included the importance of children's school performance, a lack of facilities, and concerns about safety. Parents who reported greater barriers reported lower support for their children's PA. Discussion. Results provide preliminary evidence for the reliability and validity of the BASS and highlight the need to address barriers during the development of family-based PA programs.

scholarly journals Fit “N” Cool Kids: The Effects of Character Modeling and Goal Setting on Children’s Physical Activity and Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 117955651878429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessyka N Larson ◽  
Timothy A Brusseau ◽  
Heidi Wengreen ◽  
Stuart J Fairclough ◽  
Maria M Newton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Goal Setting ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity ◽  
Over Time

Efforts to decrease the risk of overweight and obesity should focus on children’s physical activity (PA) and fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption. Within school-based interventions, there is insufficient evidence on the effectiveness of the use of character modeling and goal setting to determine changes in step counts, MVPA, and FV consumption. Study participants were 187 students in grades 4 and 5 from 2 Title 1 elementary schools in the Southwest United States. The intervention was a quasi-experimental character modeling and goal setting program. New Lifestyles NL-1000 activity monitors were used to assess number of steps taken and MVPA by the participants. Fruit and vegetable consumption was measured by direct observation. School day steps, MVPA, and FV consumption were recorded at baseline, intervention, and during a 10-week follow-up. There were not differences between groups at baseline. Steps and MVPA were statistically significantly ( P < .05; Δ = ~2500 steps and ~5 minutes of MVPA) greater in the intervention compared with the control group over time. Fruit and vegetable consumption was not significantly ( P = .308) greater in the intervention compared with the control group over time. Students in the intervention school were significantly more active than students in the control school during the intervention phase and at follow-up. The findings reported here would suggest that character modeling and goal setting can increase PA among elementary aged children but did not increase FV consumption.

Preliminary Evidence for School-Based Physical Activity Policy Needs in Washington, DC

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 124-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Goodman ◽  
W. Douglas Evans ◽  
Loretta DiPietro
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Inner City ◽  
School Children ◽  
School Setting ◽  
Sixth Grade ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Washington Dc ◽  
Enrichment Programs ◽  
Step Counts

Background:The school setting could be a primary venue for promoting physical activity among inner-city children due to the structured natured of the school day. We examined differences in step counts between structured school days (SSD) and weekend days (WED) among a sample of public school children in Washington, DC.Methods:Subjects (N = 29) were third- to sixth-grade students enrolled in government-funded, extended-day enrichment programs. Step counts were measured using a pedometer (Bodytronics) over 2 SSD and 2 WED. Differences in mean step counts between SSD and WED were determined using multivariable linear regression, with adjustments for age, sex, and reported distance between house and school (miles).Results:Recorded step counts were low on both SSD and WED (7735 ± 3540 and 8339 ± 5314 steps/day). Boys tended to record more steps on SSD compared with girls (8080 ± 3141 vs. 7491 ± 3872 steps/day, respectively), whereas girls recorded more steps on the WED compared with boys (9292 ± 6381 vs. 7194 ± 3669 steps/day). Parameter estimates from the regression modeling suggest distance from school (P < .01) to be the strongest predictor of daily step counts, independent of day (SSD/WED), sex, and age.Conclusion:Among inner-city school children, a safe walking route to and from school may provide an important opportunity for daily physical activity.

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