Assessing the Influence of a Fitbit Physical Activity Monitor on the Exercise Practices of Emergency Medicine Residents: A Pilot Study

Abstract

BackgroundTargeted interventions have improved physical activity and wellness of medical residents. However, no exercise interventions have focused on emergency medicine residents.ObjectiveThis study aimed to measure the effectiveness of a wearable device for tracking physical activity on the exercise habits and wellness of this population, while also measuring barriers to adoption and continued use.MethodsThis pre-post cohort study enrolled 30 emergency medicine residents. Study duration was 6 months. Statistical comparisons were conducted for the primary end point and secondary exercise end points with nonparametric tests. Descriptive statistics were provided for subjective responses.ResultsThe physical activity tracker did not increase the overall self-reported median number of days of physical activity per week within this population: baseline 2.5 days (interquartile range, IQR, 1.9) versus 2.8 days (IQR 1.5) at 1 month (P=.36). There was a significant increase in physical activity from baseline to 1 month among residents with median weekly physical activity level below that recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at study start, that is, 1.5 days (IQR 0.9) versus 2.4 days (IQR 1.2; P=.04), to 2.0 days (IQR 2.0; P=.04) at 6 months. More than half (60%, 18/30) of participants reported a benefit to their overall wellness, and 53% (16/30) reported a benefit to their physical activity. Overall continued use of the device was 67% (20/30) at 1 month and 33% (10/30) at 6 months.ConclusionsThe wearable physical activity tracker did not change the overall physical activity levels among this population of emergency medicine residents. However, there was an improvement in physical activity among the residents with the lowest preintervention physical activity. Subjective improvements in overall wellness and physical activity were noted among the entire study population.

The Physical Activity Wearables in the Police Force (PAW-Force) study:Acceptability and impact 

“…According to the qualitative ndings, this was more pronounced for o cers and staff who were less active at the beginning of the study, and lacking in intrinsic motivation. Similar ndings have been reported in previous mHealth studies, where less active subgroups have shown the largest increases in PA (46,47). This nding is encouraging in that less active individuals are likely to realise the greatest health gains from increasing their PA levels (48).…”

Usage, Acceptability, and Effectiveness of an Activity Tracker in a Randomized Trial of a Workplace Sitting Intervention: Mixed-Methods Evaluation

“…Even among those who proceeded to use the belt-worn LUMOback, usage was low. Workplace studies evaluating trackers clipped on to the hip or shoe [ 12 , 13 , 27 ], worn on the wrist [ 14 , 30 ], or worn in a range of hip, wrist, and chest locations [ 31 ] have reported usage ranging from a mean use of 79% days across 6 weeks of intervention [ 12 ] to a mean use of approximately 69% days across 3 months of intervention [ 27 ], and 15% to upward of 89% of participants still using their tracker after 2 months [ 13 , 14 , 30 , 31 ]. All studies reporting high usage incorporated monetary incentives [ 13 , 27 ] or text message/email prompts [ 12 ] to encourage usage.…”

Succeeding with prolonged usage of consumer-based activity trackers in clinical studies: A mixed methods approach

“…However, few studies utilizing activity trackers use tracker output as outcomes, and recording time is mostly limited to the intervention period [8]. Exceptions include Schrager et al [17] who used a Fitbit Flex to collect PA over one month (secondary outcomes), Carmichael et al [18] who used a Garmin Vivo t 3 to collect PA (primary outcome) for up to one month of follow-up, and Patel et al [19] who used a Fitbit Flex in a 12-week intervention, with 12-weeks of follow-up. Although long time follow-ups with consumerbased activity trackers are uncommon, such studies are likely to increase in frequency going forward.…”