scholarly journals Evaluation of mobile applications for fitness training and physical activity in healthy low-trained people - A modular interdisciplinary framework

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 12-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josef Wiemeyer
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Exercise Physiology ◽  
Training Methods ◽  
Behavior Change Techniques ◽  
Integrative Framework ◽  
Scientific Disciplines ◽  
Interdisciplinary Framework ◽  
Fitness Training

Abstract Numerous mobile applications are available that aim at supporting sustainable physical activity and fitness training in sedentary or low-trained healthy people. However, the evaluation of the quality of these applications often suffers from severe shortcomings such as reduction to selective aspects, lack of theory or suboptimal methods. What is still missing, is a framework that integrates the insights of the relevant scientific disciplines. In this paper, we propose an integrative framework comprising four modules: training, behavior change techniques, sensors and technology, and evaluation of effects. This framework allows to integrate insights from training science, exercise physiology, social psychology, computer science, and civil engineering as well as methodology. Furthermore, the framework can be flexibly adapted to the specific features of the mobile applications, e.g., regarding training goals and training methods or the relevant behavior change techniques as well as formative or summative evaluation.

scholarly journals Behavior change techniques in mobile applications for sedentary behavior

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 205520761878579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily E Dunn ◽  
Heather L Gainforth ◽  
Jennifer E Robertson-Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Health Behavior Change ◽  
Behavior Change Techniques ◽  
Self Monitoring ◽  
Behavior Change Interventions ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Keyword Searches

Objective Mobile applications (apps) are increasingly being utilized in health behavior change interventions. To determine the presence of underlying behavior change mechanisms, apps for physical activity have been coded for behavior change techniques (BCTs). However, apps for sedentary behavior have yet to be assessed for BCTs. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to review apps designed to decrease sedentary time and determine the presence of BCTs. Methods Systematic searches of the iTunes App and Google Play stores were completed using keyword searches. Two reviewers independently coded free ( n = 36) and paid ( n = 14) app descriptions using a taxonomy of 93 BCTs (December 2016–January 2017). A subsample ( n = 4) of free apps were trialed for one week by the reviewers and coded for the presence of BCTs (February 2017). Results In the free and paid app descriptions, only 10 of 93 BCTs were present with a mean of 2.42 BCTs (range 0–6) per app. The BCTs coded most frequently were “prompts/cues” ( n = 43), “information about health consequences” ( n = 31), and “self-monitoring of behavior” ( n = 17). For the four free apps that were trialed, three additional BCTs were coded that were not coded in the descriptions: “graded tasks,” “focus on past successes,” and “behavior substitution.” Conclusions These sedentary behavior apps have fewer BCTs compared with physical activity apps and traditional (i.e., non-app) physical activity and healthy eating interventions. The present study sheds light on the behavior change potential of sedentary behavior apps and provides practical insight about coding for BCTs in apps.

Behavior Change Techniques in Physical Activity Interventions for Multiple Sclerosis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie L. Silveira ◽  
Trinh Huynh ◽  
Ariel Kidwell ◽  
Dena Sadeghi-Bahmani ◽  
Robert W. Motl
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Behavior Change Techniques ◽  
Physical Activity Interventions

Using Behavior Change Techniques to Guide Selections of Mobile Applications to Promote Fluid Consumption

Urology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 99 ◽  
pp. 33-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
David E. Conroy ◽  
Alexandra Dubansky ◽  
Joshua Remillard ◽  
Robert Murray ◽  
Christine A. Pellegrini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Behavior Change ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Fluid Consumption ◽  
Behavior Change Techniques

scholarly journals Key facets to build up eHealth and mHealth interventions to enhance physical activity, sedentary behavior and nutrition in healthy subjects – An umbrella review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janis Fiedler ◽  
Tobias Eckert ◽  
Kathrin Wunsch ◽  
Alexander Woll
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Just In Time ◽  
Umbrella Review ◽  
Behavior Change Techniques ◽  
Adaptive Interventions ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: Electronic (eHealth) and mobile (mHealth) health interventions can provide a large coverage, and are promising tools to change health behavior (i.e. physical activity, sedentary behavior and healthy eating). However, the determinants of intervention effectiveness in primary prevention has not been explored yet. Therefore, the objectives of this umbrella review were to evaluate intervention effectiveness, to explore the impact of pre-defined determinants of effectiveness (i.e. theoretical foundations, behavior change techniques, social contexts or just-in-time adaptive interventions), and to provide recommendations for future research and practice in the field of primary prevention delivered via e/mHealth technology.Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library were searched for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (reviews) published between January 1990 and May 2020. Reviews reporting on e/mHealth behavior change interventions in physical activity, sedentary behavior and/or healthy eating for healthy subjects (i.e. subjects without physical or physiological morbidities which would influence the realization of behaviors targeted by the respective interventions) were included if they also investigated respective theoretical foundations, behavior change techniques, social contexts or just-in-time adaptive interventions. Included studies were ranked concerning their methodological quality and qualitatively synthesized.Results: The systematic search reveled eleven systematic reviews and meta-analyses of moderate quality. The majority of original research studies within the reviews found e/mHealth interventions to be effective, but the results showed a high heterogeneity concerning assessment methods and outcomes, making them difficult to compare. Whereas theoretical foundation and behavior change techniques were suggested to be potential positive determinants of effective interventions, the impact of social context remains unclear. None of the reviews included just-in-time adaptive interventions.Conclusion: Findings of this umbrella review support the use of e/mHealth to enhance physical activity and healthy eating and reduce sedentary behavior. The general lack of precise reporting and comparison of confounding variables in reviews and original research studies as well as the limited number of reviews for each health behavior constrains the generalization and interpretation of results. Further research is needed on study-level to investigate effects of versatile determinants of e/mHealth efficiency, using a theoretical foundation and additionally explore the impact of social contexts and more sophisticated approaches like just-in-time adaptive interventions.Trial registration: The protocol for this umbrella review was a priori registered with PROSPERO: CRD42020147902.

scholarly journals Prostate Cancer Survivors’ and Caregivers’ Experiences Using Behavior Change Techniques during a Web-Based Self-Management and Physical Activity Program: A Qualitative Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 3244
Author(s):  
Laura Hallward ◽  
Keryn Chemtob ◽  
Sylvie D. Lambert ◽  
Lindsay R. Duncan
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Positive Outcomes ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Behavior Change Techniques ◽  
Web Based

Both men with prostate cancer and their caregivers report experiencing a number of challenges and health consequences, and require programs to help support the cancer patient–caregiver dyad. A tailored, web-based, psychosocial and physical activity self-management program (TEMPO), which implements behavior change techniques to help facilitate behavior change for the dyads was created and its acceptability was tested in a qualitative study. The purpose of this secondary analysis was to explore the dyads’ experiences using behavior change techniques to change behavior and address current needs and challenges while enrolled in TEMPO. Multiple semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 prostate cancer-caregiver dyads over the course of the program, resulting in 46 transcripts that were analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis. Results revealed four main themes: (1) learning new behavior change techniques, (2) engaging with behavior change techniques learned in the past, (3) resisting full engagement with behavior change techniques, and (4) experiencing positive outcomes from using behavior change techniques. The dyads’ discussions of encountering behavior change techniques provided unique insight into the process of learning and implementing behavior change techniques through a web-based self-management program, and the positive outcomes that resulted from behavior changes.

scholarly journals Key facets to build up eHealth and mHealth interventions to enhance physical activity, sedentary behavior and nutrition in healthy subjects – an umbrella review

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Janis Fiedler ◽  
Tobias Eckert ◽  
Kathrin Wunsch ◽  
Alexander Woll
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Just In Time ◽  
Umbrella Review ◽  
Behavior Change Techniques ◽  
Adaptive Interventions ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Electronic (eHealth) and mobile (mHealth) health interventions can provide a large coverage, and are promising tools to change health behavior (i.e. physical activity, sedentary behavior and healthy eating). However, the determinants of intervention effectiveness in primary prevention has not been explored yet. Therefore, the objectives of this umbrella review were to evaluate intervention effectiveness, to explore the impact of pre-defined determinants of effectiveness (i.e. theoretical foundations, behavior change techniques, social contexts or just-in-time adaptive interventions), and to provide recommendations for future research and practice in the field of primary prevention delivered via e/mHealth technology. Methods PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library were searched for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (reviews) published between January 1990 and May 2020. Reviews reporting on e/mHealth behavior change interventions in physical activity, sedentary behavior and/or healthy eating for healthy subjects (i.e. subjects without physical or physiological morbidities which would influence the realization of behaviors targeted by the respective interventions) were included if they also investigated respective theoretical foundations, behavior change techniques, social contexts or just-in-time adaptive interventions. Included studies were ranked concerning their methodological quality and qualitatively synthesized. Results The systematic search revealed 11 systematic reviews and meta-analyses of moderate quality. The majority of original research studies within the reviews found e/mHealth interventions to be effective, but the results showed a high heterogeneity concerning assessment methods and outcomes, making them difficult to compare. Whereas theoretical foundation and behavior change techniques were suggested to be potential positive determinants of effective interventions, the impact of social context remains unclear. None of the reviews included just-in-time adaptive interventions. Conclusion Findings of this umbrella review support the use of e/mHealth to enhance physical activity and healthy eating and reduce sedentary behavior. The general lack of precise reporting and comparison of confounding variables in reviews and original research studies as well as the limited number of reviews for each health behavior constrains the generalization and interpretation of results. Further research is needed on study-level to investigate effects of versatile determinants of e/mHealth efficiency, using a theoretical foundation and additionally explore the impact of social contexts and more sophisticated approaches like just-in-time adaptive interventions. Trial registration The protocol for this umbrella review was a priori registered with PROSPERO: CRD42020147902.

Behavior Change Techniques Used in Theory of Planned Behavior Physical Activity Interventions Among Older Adults: A Systematic Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 746-754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie Senkowski ◽  
Clara Gannon ◽  
Paul Branscum
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Theory Of Planned Behavior ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Planned Behavior ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
The United States ◽  
Behavior Change Techniques ◽  
Physical Activity Interventions

Physical activity interventions among older adults vary widely in the techniques used to elicit behavior change. The purpose of this systematic review was to determine what behavior change techniques (BCTs) are used in interventions to increase physical activity among older adults using the theory of planned behavior and to make suggestions for BCTs that appear to be more effective. A database search identified peer-reviewed articles documenting interventions based on the theory of planned behavior. Seven articles (three randomized controlled trial, three quasi-experimental, and onen-of-1) from four countries (the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Netherlands) were included for review. Researchers independently coded BCTs using a hierarchical taxonomy of 93 BCTs. The most frequently coded BCTs includedGoal Setting(n = 5 studies),Action Planning(n = 5 studies), andCredible Source(n = 5 studies). Of the 93 BCTs in the taxonomy, only 26 were used, indicating potential opportunities to implement and evaluate less commonly used techniques in future studies.

scholarly journals Strategies and effects of school-based interventions to promote active school transportation by bicycle among children and adolescents: a systematic review

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorothea M. I. Schönbach ◽  
Teatske M. Altenburg ◽  
Adilson Marques ◽  
Mai J. M. Chinapaw ◽  
Yolanda Demetriou
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
School Travel ◽  
Behavior Change Techniques ◽  
School Based ◽  
Active School Travel ◽  
School Based Interventions

Abstract Background Promoting cycling to school may benefit establishing a lifelong physical activity routine. This systematic review aimed to summarize the evidence on strategies and effects of school-based interventions focusing on increasing active school transport by bicycle. Methods A literature search based on “PICo” was conducted in eight electronic databases. Randomized and non-randomized controlled trials with primary/secondary school students of all ages were included that conducted pre-post measurements of a school-based intervention aimed at promoting active school travel by bicycle and were published in English between 2000 and 2019. The methodological quality was assessed using the “Effective Public Health Practice Project” tool for quantitative studies. Applied behavior change techniques were identified using the “BCT Taxonomy v1”. Two independent researchers undertook the screening, data extraction, appraisal of study quality, and behavior change techniques. Results Nine studies investigating seven unique interventions performed between 2012 and 2018 were included. All studies were rated as weak quality. The narrative synthesis identified 19 applied behavior change techniques clustered in eleven main groups according to their similarities and a variety of 35 different outcome variables classified into seven main groups. Most outcomes were related to active school travel and psychosocial factors, followed by physical fitness, physical activity levels, weight status, active travel and cycling skills. Four studies, examining in total nine different outcomes, found a significant effect in favor of the intervention group on bicycle trips to school (boys only), percentage of daily cycling trips to school, parental/child self-efficacy, parental outcome expectations, moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (total, from cycling, before/after school), and total basic cycling skills. Seven of these outcomes were only examined in two studies conducting the same intervention in children, a voluntary bicycle train to/from school accompanied by adults, including the following clustered main groups of behavior change techniques: shaping knowledge, comparison of behavior, repetition and substitution as well as antecedents. Conclusions The applied strategies in a bicycle train intervention among children indicated great potential to increase cycling to school. Our findings provide relevant insights for the design and implementation of future school-based interventions targeting active school transport by bicycle. Trial registration This systematic review has been registered in the international prospective register of systematic reviews “PROSPERO” at (registration number: CRD42019125192).

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