scholarly journals Daily Physical Activity and Sleep Measured by Wearable Activity Trackers during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: A Lesson for Preventing Physical Inactivity during Future Pandemics

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (21) ◽  
pp. 9956
Author(s):  
Hidetaka Hamasaki
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Inactivity ◽  
The Body ◽  
Daily Physical Activity ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Activity Tracker ◽  
Activity Trackers ◽  
Wearable Activity Trackers ◽  
Wearable Activity Tracker ◽  
The Impact

Wearable activity trackers are devices that are comfortably worn on the body and are designed to be effective in monitoring daily physical activity and improving physical fitness of the wearer. This review aimed to investigate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on physical activity measured using wearable activity trackers and discuss future perspectives on wearable activity trackers during pandemics. Daily physical activity was significantly decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The implementation of strict public health measures, such as total lockdown, can decrease people’s physical activity by 50% or more of that prior to the lockdown. Physical inactivity is significantly associated with several health problems, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancers; therefore, an effective healthcare system to prevent physical inactivity during pandemics should be established. It is essential to create a network between healthcare organizations and wearable activity tracker users to monitor real-time health status and prepare for the future pandemic.

scholarly journals Parental Perspectives of a Wearable Activity Tracker for Children Younger Than 13 Years: Acceptability and Usability Study

10.2196/13858 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. e13858 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly A Mackintosh ◽  
Stephanie E Chappel ◽  
Jo Salmon ◽  
Anna Timperio ◽  
Kylie Ball ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Distance Information ◽  
Activity Tracker ◽  
Activity Trackers ◽  
Activity Promotion ◽  
Parental Perspectives ◽  
Physical Activity Levels ◽  
Wearable Activity Trackers ◽  
Wearable Activity Tracker

Background There is increasing availability of, and interest in, wearable activity trackers for children younger than 13 years. However, little is known about how children and parents use these activity trackers or perceive their acceptability. Objective This study primarily aimed to ascertain parental perspectives on the acceptability and usability of wearables designed to monitor children’s physical activity levels. Secondary aims were to (1) identify practical considerations for future use in physical activity interventions and promotion initiatives; (2) determine use of different features and functions incorporated into the accompanying app; and (3) identify parents’ awareness of their child’s current physical activity levels. Methods In total, 36 children (18 boys and 18 girls) aged 7-12 years were asked to wear a wrist-worn activity tracker (KidFit) for 4 consecutive weeks and to use the accompanying app with parental assistance and guidance. Each week, one parent from each family (n=25; 21 mothers and 4 fathers) completed a Web-based survey to record their child’s activity tracker use, app interaction, and overall experiences. At the end of the 4-week period, a subsample of 10 parents (all mothers) participated in face-to-face interviews exploring perceptions of the acceptability and usability of wearable activity trackers and accompanying apps. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed descriptively and thematically, respectively. Thematic data are presented using pen profiles, which were constructed from verbatim transcripts. Results Parents reported that they and their children typically found the associated app easy to use for activity tracking, though only step or distance information was generally accessed and some difficulties interpreting the data were reported. Children were frustrated with not being able to access real-time feedback, as the features and functions were only available through the app, which was typically accessed by, or in the presence of, parents. Parents identified that children wanted additional functions including a visual display to track and self-monitor activity, access to the app for goal setting, and the option of undertaking challenges against schools or significant others. Other barriers to the use of wearable activity trackers included discomfort of wearing the monitor because of the design and the inability to wear for water- or contact-based sports. Conclusions Most parents reported that the wearable activity tracker was easy for their child or children to use and a useful tool for tracking their children’s daily activity. However, several barriers were identified, which may impact sustained use over time; both the functionality and wearability of the activity tracker should therefore be considered. Overall, wearable activity trackers for children have the potential to be integrated into targeted physical activity promotion initiatives.

scholarly journals Parental Perspectives of a Wearable Activity Tracker for Children Younger Than 13 Years: Acceptability and Usability Study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly A Mackintosh ◽  
Stephanie E Chappel ◽  
Jo Salmon ◽  
Anna Timperio ◽  
Kylie Ball ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Distance Information ◽  
Activity Tracker ◽  
Activity Trackers ◽  
Activity Promotion ◽  
Parental Perspectives ◽  
Physical Activity Levels ◽  
Wearable Activity Trackers ◽  
Wearable Activity Tracker

BACKGROUND There is increasing availability of, and interest in, wearable activity trackers for children younger than 13 years. However, little is known about how children and parents use these activity trackers or perceive their acceptability. OBJECTIVE This study primarily aimed to ascertain parental perspectives on the acceptability and usability of wearables designed to monitor children’s physical activity levels. Secondary aims were to (1) identify practical considerations for future use in physical activity interventions and promotion initiatives; (2) determine use of different features and functions incorporated into the accompanying app; and (3) identify parents’ awareness of their child’s current physical activity levels. METHODS In total, 36 children (18 boys and 18 girls) aged 7-12 years were asked to wear a wrist-worn activity tracker (KidFit) for 4 consecutive weeks and to use the accompanying app with parental assistance and guidance. Each week, one parent from each family (n=25; 21 mothers and 4 fathers) completed a Web-based survey to record their child’s activity tracker use, app interaction, and overall experiences. At the end of the 4-week period, a subsample of 10 parents (all mothers) participated in face-to-face interviews exploring perceptions of the acceptability and usability of wearable activity trackers and accompanying apps. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed descriptively and thematically, respectively. Thematic data are presented using pen profiles, which were constructed from verbatim transcripts. RESULTS Parents reported that they and their children typically found the associated app easy to use for activity tracking, though only step or distance information was generally accessed and some difficulties interpreting the data were reported. Children were frustrated with not being able to access real-time feedback, as the features and functions were only available through the app, which was typically accessed by, or in the presence of, parents. Parents identified that children wanted additional functions including a visual display to track and self-monitor activity, access to the app for goal setting, and the option of undertaking challenges against schools or significant others. Other barriers to the use of wearable activity trackers included discomfort of wearing the monitor because of the design and the inability to wear for water- or contact-based sports. CONCLUSIONS Most parents reported that the wearable activity tracker was easy for their child or children to use and a useful tool for tracking their children’s daily activity. However, several barriers were identified, which may impact sustained use over time; both the functionality and wearability of the activity tracker should therefore be considered. Overall, wearable activity trackers for children have the potential to be integrated into targeted physical activity promotion initiatives.

scholarly journals Consumer-Based Wearable Activity Trackers Increase Physical Activity Participation: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie-Jane Brickwood ◽  
Greig Watson ◽  
Jane O'Brien ◽  
Andrew D Williams
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Physical Activity Participation ◽  
Activity Participation ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Activity Tracker ◽  
Activity Trackers ◽  
Wearable Activity Trackers ◽  
Wearable Activity Tracker ◽  
Meta Analyses

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 objectively monitor activity levels are now widely available and may offer an alternative method for assisting individuals to remain physically active. OBJECTIVE This review aimed 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. METHODS A systematic review was performed searching the following databases for studies that included the use of a consumer-based wearable activity tracker to improve physical activity participation: Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials, MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, SPORTDiscus, and Health Technology Assessments. Controlled trials of adults comparing the use of a consumer-based wearable activity tracker with other nonactivity tracker–based interventions were included. The main outcome measures were physical activity participation and sedentary behavior. All studies were assessed for risk of bias, and the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system was used to rank the quality of evidence. The guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement were followed. A random-effects meta-analysis was completed on the included outcome measures to estimate the treatment effect of interventions that included an activity tracker compared with a control group. RESULTS There was a significant increase in daily step count (standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.24; 95% CI 0.16 to 0.33; P<.001), moderate and vigorous physical activity (SMD 0.27; 95% CI 0.15 to 0.39; P<.001), and energy expenditure (SMD 0.28; 95% CI 0.03 to 0.54; P=.03) and a nonsignificant decrease in sedentary behavior (SMD −0.20; 95% CI −0.43 to 0.03; P=.08) following the intervention versus control comparator across all studies in the meta-analyses. In general, included studies were at low risk of bias, except for performance bias. Heterogeneity varied across the included meta-analyses ranging from low (I2=3%) for daily step count through to high (I2=67%) for sedentary behavior. 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. As the effects of physical activity interventions are often short term, the inclusion of a consumer-based wearable activity tracker may provide an effective tool to assist health professionals to provide ongoing monitoring and support.

scholarly journals Wearable Activity Tracker Use Among Australian Adolescents: Usability and Acceptability Study (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola D Ridgers ◽  
Anna Timperio ◽  
Helen Brown ◽  
Kylie Ball ◽  
Susie Macfarlane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Daily Activities ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Activity Tracker ◽  
Physical Activity Interventions ◽  
Activity Trackers ◽  
Wearable Activity Trackers ◽  
Wearable Activity Tracker ◽  
Barriers To Use

BACKGROUND Wearable activity trackers have the potential to be integrated into physical activity interventions, yet little is known about how adolescents use these devices or perceive their acceptability. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine the usability and acceptability of a wearable activity tracker among adolescents. A secondary aim was to determine adolescents’ awareness and use of the different functions and features in the wearable activity tracker and accompanying app. METHODS Sixty adolescents (aged 13-14 years) in year 8 from 3 secondary schools in Melbourne, Australia, were provided with a wrist-worn Fitbit Flex and accompanying app, and were asked to use it for 6 weeks. Demographic data (age, sex) were collected via a Web-based survey completed during week 1 of the study. At the conclusion of the 6-week period, all adolescents participated in focus groups that explored their perceptions of the usability and acceptability of the Fitbit Flex, accompanying app, and Web-based Fitbit profile. Qualitative data were analyzed using pen profiles, which were constructed from verbatim transcripts. RESULTS Adolescents typically found the Fitbit Flex easy to use for activity tracking, though greater difficulties were reported for monitoring sleep. The Fitbit Flex was perceived to be useful for tracking daily activities, and adolescents used a range of features and functions available through the device and the app. Barriers to use included the comfort and design of the Fitbit Flex, a lack of specific feedback about activity levels, and the inability to wear the wearable activity tracker for water-based sports. CONCLUSIONS Adolescents reported that the Fitbit Flex was easy to use and that it was a useful tool for tracking daily activities. A number of functions and features were used, including the device’s visual display to track and self-monitor activity, goal-setting in the accompanying app, and undertaking challenges against friends. However, several barriers to use were identified, which may impact on sustained use over time. Overall, wearable activity trackers have the potential to be integrated into physical activity interventions targeted at adolescents, but both the functionality and wearability of the monitor should be considered.

Effect of interventions using physical activity trackers on physical activity in people aged 60 years and over: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (20) ◽  
pp. 1188-1194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana S Oliveira ◽  
Cathie Sherrington ◽  
Elizabeth R Y Zheng ◽  
Marcia Rodrigues Franco ◽  
Anne Tiedemann
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Older People ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Activity Tracker ◽  
Activity Trackers ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundOlder people are at high risk of physical inactivity. Activity trackers can facilitate physical activity. We aimed to investigate the effect of interventions using activity trackers on physical activity, mobility, quality of life and mental health among people aged 60+ years.MethodsFor this systematic review, we searched eight databases, including MEDLINE, Embase and CENTRAL from inception to April 2018. Randomised controlled trials of interventions that used activity trackers to promote physical activity among people aged 60+ years were included in the analyses. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42017065250.ResultsWe identified 23 eligible trials. Interventions using activity trackers had a moderate effect on physical activity (23 studies; standardised mean difference (SMD)=0.55; 95% CI 0.40 to 0.70; I2=86%) and increased steps/day by 1558 (95% CI 1099 to 2018 steps/day; I2=92%) compared with usual care, no intervention and wait-list control. Longer duration activity tracker-based interventions were more effective than short duration interventions (18 studies, SMD=0.70; 95% CI 0.47 to 0.93 vs 5 studies, SMD=0.14; 95% CI −0.26 to 0.54, p for comparison=0.02). Interventions that used activity trackers improved mobility (three studies; SMD=0.61; 95% CI 0.31 to 0.90; I2=10%), but not quality of life (nine studies; SMD=0.09; 95% CI −0.07 to 0.25; I2=45%). Only one trial included mental health outcomes and it reported similar effects of the activity tracker intervention compared with control.ConclusionsInterventions using activity trackers improve physical activity levels and mobility among older people compared with control. However, the impact of activity tracker interventions on quality of life, and mental health is unknown.

scholarly journals B.01 Impact of work-hours and sleep on well-being and burnout for physicians-in-training: the prospective RATE Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (S2) ◽  
pp. S10-S10
Author(s):  
D Mendelsohn ◽  
I Despot ◽  
PA Gooderham ◽  
A Singhal ◽  
GJ Redekop ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Work Hours ◽  
Surgical Residents ◽  
Activity Trackers ◽  
Steps Per Day ◽  
Wearable Activity Trackers ◽  
Rate Study ◽  
The Impact

Background: Wearable activity trackers are an innovative tool for measuring sleep and physical activity. The Resident Activity Tracker Evaluation (RATE) is a prospective observational study evaluating the impact of work-hours, sleep, and physical activity on resident well-being, burnout, and job satisfaction. Methods: Residents were recruited from: 1. general surgery and orthopedics (SURG), 2. internal medicine and neurology (MED) and 3. anesthesia and radiology (RCD). Groups 1 and 2 do not enforce on-call duration restrictions and group 3 had 12-hour restricted-call durations (RCD). Participants wore FitBit activity trackers for 14 days and completed four validated surveys assessing self-reported health, sleepiness, burnout, and job satisfaction. Results: Fifty-nine residents completed the study. 778 days of activity and 244 on-call periods were tracked. Surgical residents worked 24 more hours per week than non-surgical residents (84.3 vs 60.7). Surgical residents had 7 less hours of sleep per week and reported significantly higher Epworth Sleepiness scores. Nearly two-thirds of participants (61%) scored high burnout on the Maslach depersonalization subscore. Total steps per day and self-reported well-being, burnout, and job satisfaction were comparable between the groups. Conclusions: Despite a positive correlation between work-hours and sleepiness, burnout and well-being were similar among residents. Physical activity did not prevent burnout. These findings are relevant to work-hours policies.

scholarly journals Wearable Activity Trackers in the Management of Rheumatic Diseases: Where Are We in 2020?

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (17) ◽  
pp. 4797
Author(s):  
Thomas Davergne ◽  
Antsa Rakotozafiarison ◽  
Hervé Servy ◽  
Laure Gossec
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Automatic Monitoring ◽  
Great Accuracy ◽  
Self Monitoring ◽  
Activity Tracker ◽  
External Monitoring ◽  
Activity Trackers ◽  
Steps Per Day ◽  
Wearable Activity Trackers

In healthcare, physical activity can be monitored in two ways: self-monitoring by the patient himself or external monitoring by health professionals. Regarding self-monitoring, wearable activity trackers allow automated passive data collection that educate and motivate patients. Wearing an activity tracker can improve walking time by around 1500 steps per day. However, there are concerns about measurement accuracy (e.g., lack of a common validation protocol or measurement discrepancies between different devices). For external monitoring, many innovative electronic tools are currently used in rheumatology to help support physician time management, to reduce the burden on clinic time, and to prioritize patients who may need further attention. In inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, regular monitoring of patients to detect disease flares improves outcomes. In a pilot study applying machine learning to activity tracker steps, we showed that physical activity was strongly linked to disease flares and that patterns of physical activity could be used to predict flares with great accuracy, with a sensitivity and specificity above 95%. Thus, automatic monitoring of steps may lead to improved disease control through potential early identification of disease flares. However, activity trackers have some limitations when applied to rheumatic patients, such as tracker adherence, lack of clarity on long-term effectiveness, or the potential multiplicity of trackers.

scholarly journals The Use of Wearable Activity Trackers Among Older Adults: Focus Group Study of Tracker Perceptions, Motivators, and Barriers in the Maintenance Stage of Behavior Change (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anastasia Kononova ◽  
Lin Li ◽  
Kendra Kamp ◽  
Marie Bowen ◽  
R.V. Rikard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Activity Tracker ◽  
Activity Trackers ◽  
Maintenance Stage ◽  
Wearable Activity Trackers

BACKGROUND Wearable activity trackers offer the opportunity to increase physical activity through continuous monitoring. Viewing tracker use as a beneficial health behavior, we explored the factors that facilitate and hinder long-term activity tracker use, applying the transtheoretical model of behavior change with the focus on the maintenance stage and relapse. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate older adults’ perceptions and uses of activity trackers at different points of use: from nonuse and short-term use to long-term use and abandoned use to determine the factors to maintain tracker use and prevent users from discontinuing tracker usage. METHODS Data for the research come from 10 focus groups. Of them, 4 focus groups included participants who had never used activity trackers (n=17). These focus groups included an activity tracker trial. The other 6 focus groups (without the activity tracker trial) were conducted with short-term (n=9), long-term (n=11), and former tracker users (n=11; 2 focus groups per user type). RESULTS The results revealed that older adults in different tracker use stages liked and wished for different tracker features, with long-term users (users in the maintenance stage) being the most diverse and sophisticated users of the technology. Long-term users had developed a habit of tracker use whereas other participants made an effort to employ various encouragement strategies to ensure behavior maintenance. Social support through collaboration was the primary motivator for long-term users to maintain activity tracker use. Short-term and former users focused on competition, and nonusers engaged in vicarious tracker use experiences. Former users, or those who relapsed by abandoning their trackers, indicated that activity tracker use was fueled by curiosity in quantifying daily physical activity rather than the desire to increase physical activity. Long-term users saw a greater range of pros in activity tracker use whereas others focused on the cons of this behavior. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that activity trackers may be an effective technology to encourage physical activity among older adults, especially those who have never tried it. However, initial positive response to tracker use does not guarantee tracker use maintenance. Maintenance depends on recognizing the long-term benefits of tracker use, social support, and internal motivation. Nonadoption and relapse may occur because of technology’s limitations and gaining awareness of one’s physical activity without changing the physical activity level itself.

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