scholarly journals Changing Health Behavior with Social Technology? A Pilot Test of a Mobile App Designed for Social Support of Physical Activity

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (22) ◽  
pp. 8383
Author(s):  
Anne Marie Kanstrup ◽  
Pernille Scholdan Bertelsen ◽  
Casper Knudsen
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Social Health ◽  
Pilot Test ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Health Support ◽  
Individual Use

Mobile applications targeting people engaged in physical activity have increased. However, while research has identified social support as a key factor for people’s engagement in physical activity, most mobile health (mHealth) applications are designed for individual use. In this paper, we report on a research study exploring opportunities for designing mHealth to facilitate social support around physical activity. A mHealth application was designed, and pilot tested for eight weeks with healthcare professionals (n = 3) and two groups of citizens (n = 20) who were motivated but challenged physically due to various health conditions. Data was collected via online monitoring of the use of the mHealth application during the pilot test and via qualitative interviews with the participants before and after. The results support the idea that designing for social health support is important but so is identifying key challenges related to (i) the facilitation of technology-mediated social health support, especially to a target group that is living with health challenges, and (ii) finding a balance between social and health agendas that bring social support to the foreground for the participants.

scholarly journals Doing and rethinking. Building resilience with men

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Robinson ◽  
Steve Robertson ◽  
Mary Steen ◽  
Gary Raine ◽  
Rhiannon Day
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Context Sensitive ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Resilience Intervention ◽  
And Coping

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present findings from an evaluation of a mental health resilience intervention for unemployed men aged 45-60. The focus is on examining the place of activities within a multi-dimensional men’s mental health programme, and exploring interactions between social context factors and models of change. Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on before and after survey data and qualitative interviews, to report results concerning effectiveness in changing men’s perceived resilience, to consider project processes concerning activities, social support and coping strategies, and to situate these within wider environments. Findings – The programme significantly raised the perceived resilience of participants. Activities were engaging for men, while the complex intersection between activities, social networking, and coping strategies course provided opportunities for men to develop resilience in contexts resonant with their male identities. Research limitations/implications – A limitation is that the evaluation could not measure longer term impacts. Practical implications – The paper discusses emerging considerations for resilience building, focusing on gender-sensitive approaches which can engage and retain men by focusing on doing and talking, in the contexts of men’s life-course, highlighting embodied (male) identities not disembodied “mental states”, and facilitating social support. There are challenges to recruit men despite stigma, support men to speak of feelings, and facilitate progression. Social implications – Potential exists for gender-aware programmes to sustain salutogenic change, co-producing social assets of peer support, male-friendly activities, and context sensitive course provision. Originality/value – The paper adds fresh evidence of gendered intervention approaches, including effects on male resilience. Application of a context-sensitive change model leads to multi-component findings for transferring and sustaining programme gains.

scholarly journals Supports and Barriers to Home-Based Physical Activity During Preoperative Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer: A Mixed-Methods Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. 1113-1122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan H. Parker ◽  
Rebecca E. Lee ◽  
Daniel P. O’Connor ◽  
An Ngo-Huang ◽  
Maria Q.B. Petzel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Preoperative Treatment ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Exercise Interventions ◽  
Neighborhood Walkability ◽  
Home Based

Background: Physical activity and exercise appear to benefit patients receiving preoperative treatment for cancer. Supports and barriers must be considered to increase compliance with home-based exercise prescriptions in this setting. Such influences have not been previously examined. Methods: The authors used quantitative and qualitative methods to examine potential physical activity influences among patients who were prescribed home-based aerobic and strengthening exercises concurrent with preoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiation for pancreatic cancer. Physical activity was measured using exercise logs and accelerometers. Social support for exercise and perceived neighborhood walkability were measured using validated surveys. Relationships between influences and physical activity were evaluated using linear regression analyses and qualitative interviews. Results: Fifty patients received treatment for a mean of 16 (9) weeks prior to planned surgical resection. Social support from friends and neighborhood esthetics were positively associated with physical activity (P < .05). In interviews, patients confirmed the importance of these influences and cited encouragement from health care providers and desire to complete and recover from treatment as additional motivators. Conclusions: Interpersonal and environmental motivators of exercise and physical activity must be considered in the design of future home-based exercise interventions designed for patients receiving preoperative therapy for cancer.

scholarly journals Using a Mobile Social Networking App to Promote Physical Activity: A Qualitative Study of Users’ Perspectives (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huong Ly Tong ◽  
Enrico Coiera ◽  
Liliana Laranjo
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Great Promise ◽  
Mobile Social Networking

BACKGROUND Despite many health benefits of physical activity, nearly a third of the world’s adult population is insufficiently active. Technological interventions, such as mobile apps, wearable trackers, and Web-based social networks, offer great promise in promoting physical activity, but little is known about users’ acceptability and long-term engagement with these interventions. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to understand users’ perspectives regarding a mobile social networking intervention to promote physical activity. METHODS Participants, mostly university students and staff, were recruited using purposive sampling techniques. Participants were enrolled in a 6-month feasibility study where they were provided with a wearable physical activity tracker (Fitbit Flex 2) and a wireless scale (Fitbit Aria) integrated with a social networking mobile app (named “fit.healthy.me”). We conducted semistructured, in-depth qualitative interviews and focus groups pre- and postintervention, which were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were analyzed in Nvivo 11 using thematic analysis techniques. RESULTS In this study, 55 participants were enrolled; 51% (28/55) were females, and the mean age was 23.6 (SD 4.6) years. The following 3 types of factors emerged from the data as influencing engagement with the intervention and physical activity: individual (self-monitoring of behavior, goal setting, and feedback on behavior), social (social comparison, similarity and familiarity between users, and participation from other users in the network), and technological. In addition, automation and personalization were observed as enhancing the delivery of both individual and social aspects. Technological limitations were mentioned as potential barriers to long-term usage. CONCLUSIONS Self-regulatory techniques and social factors are important to consider when designing a physical activity intervention, but a one-size-fits-all approach is unlikely to satisfy different users’ preferences. Future research should adopt innovative research designs to test interventions that can adapt and respond to users’ needs and preferences throughout time.

Active Participation of Care Partners in a Physical Activity Intervention alongside People with Stroke: A Feasibility Study

2021 ◽  
pp. e20200035
Author(s):  
Reed Handlery ◽  
Elizabeth Regan ◽  
Allison Foster Lewis ◽  
Chelsea Larsen ◽  
Kaci Handlery ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Care Partners ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Physical Activity Adherence ◽  
Ongoing Support ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose: This study investigated the feasibility of a physical activity intervention for people with stroke and their care partners and the role social support plays in physical activity adherence. Method: The study used a single-group, pretest–posttest design with follow-up. Participants were adults with chronic stroke and their care partners. The intervention consisted of 8 weeks of structured, group-based physical activity classes, followed by 19 weeks of self-directed physical activity. Recruitment, adherence, safety, and retention were assessed. Familial social support was assessed before and after the 8-week structured portion and again 19 weeks later. Results: A total of 21 participants (15 people with stroke, 6 care partners), mean (SD) age 67.6 (11.6) years, were recruited; 19 (90.5%) completed the 19-week assessment. No adverse events were experienced during the programme. Attendance during the 8-week portion was better than during the 19-week portion (mean difference 0.95; p < 0.001; 95% CI: 0.71, 1.19 visits/wk). No relationship was found between social support and physical activity adherence ( p > 0.05). Conclusions: Involvement of care partners in a physical activity intervention is feasible and safe. Both people with stroke and their care partners may require ongoing support to participate in long-term physical activity. The relationship between social support and physical activity adherence requires further study.

scholarly journals Sport, physical activity and social health in older adults. Caring with technology in the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 101269022110456
Author(s):  
Ivana Matteucci
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Social Health ◽  
Short Version ◽  
The Social ◽  
Communications Technologies ◽  
The Impact

The aim of this paper was to photograph this precise moment in history, focusing on the situation of older adults during the COVID-19 health emergency in Northern Italy. In particular, we analysed the relationship between social networks and social support, sport and recreational activity, and the use of communications technologies in December 2020. We investigated and discussed such use of technologies, wondering if and how it helped to compensate for the diminishment in social health, usually gained trough social interactions and the practice of sport and physical activity. We examined how reduction of mobility, social distancing and isolation measures imposed by the government to reduce the spread of COVID-19, affected the living conditions of the older adults, in particular their social health, and the level of sport and physical activity they were engaged in. We collected data through interviews with the subjects, assessing their social networks, the perceived social support provided by their family members, friends and caregivers, and the level of sport and physical activity they were engaged in. Moreover, we analysed the impact of technological communications devices, which were employed to help older adults to maintain their relationships with the outside world and to preserve their active life. The interview questions were formulated based on the Lubben Social Network Scale-Revised (LSNS-R), the short version of the Social Support List (SSL12-I) for the elderly and the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE). A relationship was found between the social health related to physical activity of the older adults subjects during the COVID-19 emergency and the use of communications technologies, which played a role in mitigating the impact of the crisis on their social health by helping them to keep physically and socially active.

Support for physical activity among young cancer survivors.

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 177-177
Author(s):  
Pamela Kim Washington
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Adjuvant Chemotherapy ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Psychosocial Effects ◽  
Qualitative Analyses

177 Background: There is strong evidence that physical activity mitigates negative psychosocial effects and sequelae associated with adjuvant chemotherapy among cancer survivors. Given the many benefits of physical activity in this population, it is important to understand the factors that influence continued participation post diagnosis. One possible determinant that has received little attention to date is the influence of social support. This study is unique in that it is the first to explore the role of social support for physical activity among young survivors of breast cancer through the use of mixed methods. Methods: Survey data (n = 273) were used to determine actual levels of moderate and vigorous physical activity. These data were subsequently used to identify women of interest to participate in face-to-face qualitative interviews. Semi-structured interviews (n = 31) were conducted with a subset of women from the quantitative sample. Participants were Bay Area women who were age 55 or less and premenopausal at the time of diagnosis and who also received adjuvant chemotherapy. Following qualitative analyses, hypotheses were developed to test the association between social support and obtaining recommended levels of physical activity through the use of logistic regression analyses using a sample of 273 women. Results: Qualitative analyses indicated that women who have a partner with whom they engage in physical activity are more likely to adopt and maintain physical activity behaviors over time. Regression analyses provide evidence that women who have support specifically for physical activity are more likely to meet recommended activity guidelines (b = .030, OR = 1.030 per unit of scale, p = .003, C.I. = 1.01 – 1.05). Conclusions: When considering correlates of physical activity, social support specific to physical activity may be important or even pivotal in assisting survivors to adopt and/or maintain participation in a given activity at recommended levels.

scholarly journals A Health Support Model for Suburban Hills Citizens

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Telung Pan
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Suburban Areas ◽  
Medicine Service ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Health Support ◽  
Central Taiwan ◽  
Local Healthcare ◽  
Care Support ◽  
Support Model

In spite of the increasing understanding of the importance of social support attached to health and medical services in suburban areas, a support model needs to be established that can benefit those areas with different living patterns. To that end, this research employs both quantitative and qualitative analyses to investigate the medication, social support, and care forms and sources in the suburban hills of an area in a central Taiwan village. Different types of data sources were collected during the analysis phase to develop a support model. A new model integrated with the boundaries between the demander and the provider was developed. An experimental mobile app was also developed, and this app was based on the concept of this new support model. It is hoped that the medicine service, care support, and key information on society health activities could be provided by means of using the easiest and simplest GUI through which the local healthcare economic system could be further established.

scholarly journals Usability inquiry of a gamified behavior change app for increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior in adults with and without autism spectrum disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 2992-3008
Author(s):  
Daehyoung Lee ◽  
Georgia C Frey ◽  
Aehong Min ◽  
Bogoan Kim ◽  
Donetta J Cothran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
System Usability

The purpose of this study was to conduct the first usability inquiry of a gamified, behavior change theory-guided mobile app PuzzleWalk for increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior in adults with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Eighteen adults with and without ASD participated in a mixed-methods study that consisted of cognitive walkthrough, system usability assessment, and qualitative interviews. The results of the system usability testing indicated satisfactory quality of the PuzzleWalk system that can be readily applicable to both adults with and without ASD. Several notable issues were identified from the qualitative interviews that address critical insights into unique health and social needs in adults with ASD. Future work is warranted to examine the long-term effects of the PuzzleWalk system on increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior in adults with and without ASD in real-world settings.

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