Feasibility of using activity trackers and apps to increase physical activity in whole families: The Step it Up Family intervention

Abstract

Objective This study examined the feasibility of an activity tracker and app intervention to increase physical activity in whole families. Methods This was a single-arm feasibility study with pre–post-intervention measures. Between 2017 and 2018, 40 families (58 children aged 6–10 years, 39 mothers, 33 fathers) participated in the 6-week Step it Up Family programme in Queensland, Australia. It was delivered using Garmin activity trackers and apps, weekly motivational text messages and an introductory session. Online surveys and semi-structured interviews conducted with parents assessed intervention usage, acceptability, usability, perceived usefulness, use of physical activity self-management strategies and programme influence. Analyses included descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon signed-rank test and qualitative content analysis. Results Overall, 38 families completed the post-intervention survey (95% family retention; 90% children, 95% mothers, 88% fathers). Garmin activity tracker usage was high (i.e. nearly 24/7 during the 6 weeks intervention). Families also used the Garmin apps regularly (i.e. mostly 2–6 times per week). Further, 80% of mothers and 52% of fathers read the motivational mobile text messages. Usability and perceived usefulness of the Garmin activity trackers and apps were rated high. Both parents significantly increased their use of physical activity self-management strategies from pre to post-intervention. Parents expressed that the intervention had increased awareness of physical (in)activity in the family, encouraged to be active and promoted outdoor family activities. Conclusions Using activity trackers and apps to increase physical activity in the whole family was well received by children and parents which suggests that this intervention approach is feasible. However, further testing is needed amongst more diverse family populations. These early findings support the implementation of a randomised controlled trial to examine intervention efficacy.

Experience and Satisfaction with a Family-Based Physical Activity Intervention Using Activity Trackers and Apps: A Qualitative Study

“…This qualitative study involved semi-structured telephone interviews of parents who participated in the Step it Up Family intervention. Step it Up Family was a single-arm feasibility study with pre–post intervention measures conducted in 2017/2018 at Central Queensland University in Rockhampton, Australia [ 22 , 23 ]. Ethical approval for this study was granted by Central Queensland University Human Ethics Committee in May 2017 (H17/03-041).…”

“…However, previous physical activity interventions in families have involved parents mainly as supporters of their child’s physical activity engagement but less so as actively involved participants [ 18 , 19 ]. As such, few interventions in this area have involved the whole family by promoting physical activity participation in both children and parents [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Hence, evidence on the feasibility of physical activity interventions involving the whole family is very limited [ 24 , 25 , 26 ].…”

“…Overall, this evidence suggests that activity trackers have great potential to increase physical activity in families. A key benefit of wearable activity trackers and apps is that they can be easily used by all family members to promote incidental physical activity (e.g., walking, active outdoor play) individually and within the family without the need to attend organised physical activity sessions face-to-face [ 22 , 23 , 25 ]. However, few family-based interventions have used popular commercial activity trackers and apps to promote physical activity in families [ 20 , 22 , 25 , 36 ].…”

“…Using popular commercial activity trackers and apps, our research team tested the feasibility of implementing an intervention (Step it Up Family) to increase physical activity in whole families [ 22 , 23 ]. Findings showed high (95%) family retention and significant increases in MVPA in children and both parents postintervention [ 23 ]. Further, evaluation of process data from parent surveys showed that the Garmin activity trackers and apps were popular among the children and parents [ 24 ].…”

“…Further, evaluation of process data from parent surveys showed that the Garmin activity trackers and apps were popular among the children and parents [ 24 ]. This was reflected in the high ratings for usage, usability, and perceived usefulness of the activity trackers and apps [ 23 ]. Another important step towards process evaluation was to analyse the telephone interviews conducted with families postintervention to better understand their experience and satisfaction with the Step it Up Family intervention.…”