Exposure to “Exergames” Increases Older Adults’ Perception of the Usefulness of Technology for Improving Health and Physical Activity: A Pilot Study

Abstract

BackgroundHigh rates of sedentary behaviors in older adults can lead to poor health outcomes. However, new technologies, namely exercise-based videogames (“exergames”), may provide ways of stimulating uptake and ongoing participation in physical activities. Older adults’ perceptions of the use of technology to improve health are not known.ObjectiveThe study aimed to determine use and perceptions of technology before and after using a 5-week exergame.MethodsFocus groups determined habitual use of technology and the participant’s perceptions of technology to assist with health and physical activity. Surveys were developed to quantitatively measure these perceptions and were administered before and after a 5-week intervention. The intervention was an exergame that focused on postural balance (“Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012”). Games scores, rates of game participation, and enjoyment were also recorded.ResultsA total of 24 healthy participants aged between 55 and 82 years (mean 70, SD 6 years) indicated that after the intervention there was an increased awareness that technology (in the form of exergames) can assist with maintaining physical activity (P<.001). High levels of enjoyment (Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale [PACES-8] score mean 53.0, SE 0.7) and participation rates over the whole study (83%-100%) were recorded.ConclusionsOlder adults’ have low perception of the use of technology for improving health outcomes until after exposure to exergames. Technology, in the form of enjoyable exergames, may be useful for improving participation in physical activity that is relevant for older adults.

Replacing Self-Efficacy in Physical Activity: Unconscious Intervention of the AR Game, Pokémon GO

“…Many studies show self-efficacy to be important for increasing physical activity [29,39,44,45]. However, previous research has failed to provide more realistic accounts of how the gamification of health behavior would attract and change the behaviors of people with problematic health behaviors in the perspective of playing a game [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. If the purpose is not for exercise, but to enjoy a game, people's physical activity will increase despite a lack of intention.…”

“…Although these studies suggest that the main motivation for using these applications is the desire to improve one's studies suggest that the main motivation for using these applications is the desire to improve one's health [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20], it seems unrealistic that people who are not inclined to exercise and improve their health would actually use these applications or benefit from them in the way described in these studies. Moreover, some studies show that the app intervention does not have a significant effect on increasing the intensity level of physical activity [13,21].…”

“…Although these studies suggest that the main motivation for using these applications is the desire to improve one's studies suggest that the main motivation for using these applications is the desire to improve one's health [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20], it seems unrealistic that people who are not inclined to exercise and improve their health would actually use these applications or benefit from them in the way described in these studies. Moreover, some studies show that the app intervention does not have a significant effect on increasing the intensity level of physical activity [13,21]. However, previous studies on the gamification of health behaviors neglected the fact that people who are not motivated to exercise would be unlikely to use health and fitness applications, even gamified versions, when the sole benefit of using them is to increase exercise level [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20].…”

“…Moreover, some studies show that the app intervention does not have a significant effect on increasing the intensity level of physical activity [13,21]. However, previous studies on the gamification of health behaviors neglected the fact that people who are not motivated to exercise would be unlikely to use health and fitness applications, even gamified versions, when the sole benefit of using them is to increase exercise level [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20].…”

User-Centered Design of Serious Games for Older Adults Following 3 Years of Experience With Exergames for Seniors: A Study Design

“…It has been established in several studies that seniors enjoy playing exergames and they believe exergames can assist in maintaining physical activity [7-12]. Despite the fact that balance and rehabilitation of seniors can be maintained and improved through exergames [2,3,7,8,13-16], not many are designed for this age group [11,17,18].…”