Randomized Trial of a Fitbit-Based Physical Activity Intervention for Women

Cadmus-Bertram, Lisa; Marcus, Bess H.; Patterson, Ruth E.; Parker, Barbara A.; Morey, Brittany L.

doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2015.01.020

Cited by 427 publications

(458 citation statements)

References 15 publications

(17 reference statements)

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“…This stream of research suggests that activity tracking devices, by offering mechanisms such as goals reinforcement, gamification, and possibilities for social competition generate greater awareness about one's activity, and motivate engagement in specific fitness-related activities and behaviors [5,8,9]. Several studies in the past three years [e.g., 6,7,10,11] have focused on how different groups of users perceive and interact with the affordances of activity tracking devices.…”

Section: Related Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Activity Trackers, Relational Affordances, and Device Ecologies of Fitness Technologies (Preprint)

Jarrahi¹

2018

Preprint

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BACKGROUND With the proliferation of activity-tracking devices and other smart tools, more users leverage these technologies to track their physical and fitness-related activities. The research on the benefits (and limitations) of these devices tends to focus on the use of a single tool, leaving out the interactions among multiple technologies, and how these interactions influence the way users perceive affordances of activity trackers. OBJECTIVE The research on the benefits (and limitations) of fitness tacking devices to date tends to focus on the use of a single tool, leaving out the interactions among multiple technologies. Building from an ecological perspective, this work extend the research on activity-tracking devices by providing insight into the relationships among activity tracking devices and other fitness-related technologies within the device ecology of technologies around the user. METHODS This exploratory, qualitative study is based on 29 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with users of Fitbit fitness tracking devices. RESULTS Analysis of the interviews revealed competitive and complementary interactions among various fitness tracking devices, and explained how these interactions influenced the way users perceived affordances of fitness trackers in a device ecology. CONCLUSIONS The affordances of fitness devices are not enacted in isolation but are relational to those of other technological options and differing personal preferences and goals of the user.

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Section: Related Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Activity Trackers, Relational Affordances, and Device Ecologies of Fitness Technologies (Preprint)

Jarrahi¹

2018

Preprint

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“…WATs may also motivate users to exercise and increase selfawareness of daily physical activity. Adults in general and, specifically, older adults who started using WATs have been shown to increase daily activity levels [2,7,23]. For instance, 71% of older adults who used an activity tracker reported an increased awareness of activity levels, and 45% reported a change in behavior due to this awareness.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…African-American and Hispanic older female participants, who tested a Fitbit Zip WAT in a 7-week study, increased their physical activity level, lost weight, and had reduced blood pressure [25]. WATs have been found to be more effective than their "predecessors", where sedentary female older adults who used Fitbit WATs significantly increased their physical activity compared with those who used pedometers [2]. A Fitbit One WAT that delivered prompts via short message service has also been found effective in increasing moderate to vigorous physical activity among overweight and obese adults [26].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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)

Kononova¹,

Li²,

Kamp³

et al. 2018

Preprint

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Background: Physical activity benefits older adults by protecting against morbidity and mortality. Wearable activity trackers (WATs) offer the opportunity to increase physical activity through continuous monitoring. We explore the nuances of WAT use and adoption among older adults using the transtheoretical model (TTM) of behavior change. Objective: We investigate older adults' perceptions and uses of WATs in different stages of WAT adoption. Method: Data for the research come from 10 focus groups. The first set of focus groups was with participants who had never used WATs. These focus groups included a WAT trial. Other focus groups (without the trial) were conducted with short-term, long-term, and former WAT users. Results: Older adults in different WAT use stages liked and wished for different WAT features, with long-term users being the most diverse and sophisticated users of WATs. Long-term users had developed a habit of WAT use while other participants needed to employ various encouragement strategies. Social support, with the focus on collaboration, was the primary motivator for long-term users, while short-term and former users focused on competition, and non-users engaged in vicarious WAT use experiences. Finally, longterm users were more likely to see benefits of WATs while other participants focused on obstacles related to WAT use. Conclusion: WATs may be an effective technology to encourage physical activity among older adults. Yet, WATs alone are not likely to be successful in changing behavior. Tailored approaches based on the TTM stage of change as well as motivations, facilitators, and specific WAT characteristics that are important for older adults will ensure successful longterm use.Keywords: older adults, wearable activity trackers, Transtheoretical Model, physical activity, focus groups IntroductionThe focus of the present study is on exploring the nuances of adopting wearable activity trackers (WATs) in the population of adults who are 65 years of age or older using the transtheoretical model of behavior change (TTM) [1]. Academic and industry research has shown that the use of WATs can increase physical activity through continuous monitoring of activity progress [2][3]. Physical activity is beneficial for older adults due to its protective power against chronic diseases, many of which increase with older age [4].Despite the evident benefits of WATs for older generations, digital care today is more available to younger populations, leaving older adults on the periphery of the industry [5]. 1As little as 7% of older adults owned an activity tracker in 2014 [6]. Only a few studies have been done to understand how and why older adults use WATs and why they choose not to use or stop using this wearable technology [7][8][9].Even if individuals decide to use WATs, it does not guarantee that they will continue using them on a long-term basis. One in three WAT users of all adult ages stop using the device within six months after purchase [10][11]. Length of use is correlated with age, with th...

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“…The Fitbit website provides access to minute-by-minute activity data through the application programming interface (API). A recent study in overweight, postmenopausal women showed promising results in favor of the intervention group that received the Fitbit One as an intervention tool (2). Because real-time feedback is and should be based on data collected throughout the day and thus on data collected over smaller time intervals than the whole day, it is important to know the validity of the Fitbit for levels of physical activity based on smaller time intervals than the whole day (i.e., total daily activity).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A Validation Study of the Fitbit One in Daily Life Using Different Time Intervals

Middelweerd

Ploeg

Halteren

et al. 2017

Medicine &Amp; Science in Sports &Amp; Exercise

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Randomized Trial of a Fitbit-Based Physical Activity Intervention for Women

Cited by 427 publications

References 15 publications

Activity Trackers, Relational Affordances, and Device Ecologies of Fitness Technologies (Preprint)

Activity Trackers, Relational Affordances, and Device Ecologies of Fitness Technologies (Preprint)

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)

A Validation Study of the Fitbit One in Daily Life Using Different Time Intervals

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