The Surveillance of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Sleep: Protocol for the Development and Feasibility Evaluation of a Novel Measurement System

Abstract

Background There is increasing recognition of the need for more comprehensive surveillance data, including information on physical activity of all intensities, sedentary behavior, and sleep. However, meeting this need poses significant challenges for current surveillance systems, which are mainly reliant on self-report. Objective The primary objective of this project is to develop and evaluate the feasibility of a sensor-based system for use in the surveillance of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep (SurPASS) at a national level in Denmark. Methods The SurPASS project involves an international, multidisciplinary team of researchers collaborating with an industrial partner. The SurPASS system consists of (1) a thigh-worn accelerometer with Bluetooth connectivity, (2) a smartphone app, (3) an integrated back end, facilitating the automated upload, analysis, storage, and provision of individualized feedback in a manner compliant with European Union regulations on data privacy, and (4) an administrator web interface (web application) to monitor progress. The system development and evaluation will be performed in 3 phases. These phases will include gathering user input and specifications (phase 1), the iterative development, evaluation, and refinement of the system (phase 2), and the feasibility evaluation (phase 3). Results The project started in September 2020 and completed phase 2 in February 2022. Phase 3 began in March 2022 and results will be made available in 2023. Conclusions If feasible, the SurPASS system could be a catalyst toward large-scale, sensor-based surveillance of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep. It could also be adapted for cohort and interventional research, thus contributing to the generation of evidence for both interventions and public health policies and recommendations. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/35697

Are we ready for wearable-based global physical activity surveillance?

“…In this editorial, we focus on non-commercial wearables designed for research and surveillance purposes with validated algorithms and safe and transparent data infrastructure that are compliant with data regulations such as General Data Protection Regulation. Such wearables, combined with smartphones and integrated wireless connectivity and cloud services that facilitate big data analytics, have the potential to provide feasible and accurate measures for physical activity surveillance 7. For example, Denmark is already taking the first steps toward this vision of physical activity surveillance 7.…”

“…Such wearables, combined with smartphones and integrated wireless connectivity and cloud services that facilitate big data analytics, have the potential to provide feasible and accurate measures for physical activity surveillance 7. For example, Denmark is already taking the first steps toward this vision of physical activity surveillance 7. Preliminary data will provide a benchmark on the feasibility of implementing a wearable-based surveillance system that relies entirely on remote sensor attachment, detachment and measurement by the participants.…”

“…As countries may face different challenges in the process of designing and implementing surveillance, a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach will not work. While Denmark could share their experience7 and technological know-how, a collaborative and codesigned approach is essential to scaling up the implementation of wearable-based physical activity surveillance so that soon we will have richer and more valid physical activity surveillance data in more countries.…”

A Novel System for the Device-Based Measurement of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Sleep (Motus): Usability Evaluation

“…Although device-based measurements (monitors worn on the body) have undergone considerable development over the past decades [ 7 ], their use in research still places a considerable burden on participants [ 3 , 8 ]. As highlighted by various previous studies [ 9 - 11 ], such burden on participants includes, for example, the requirement to meet in-person, restriction on certain activities during wear time, the requirement to complete and maintain paper diaries of work and sleep hours, and the delay in receiving meaningful feedback on their measurements.…”

“…More recently, the increased availability of more affordable sensors, the growth in ownership of internet-connected smartphones, and the accessibility of cloud computing have meant that we can now begin to develop methods with the potential to reduce the burden on participants [ 8 ]. The Motus system, developed as part of the SurPASS project [ 9 ], integrates many of the aforementioned newly accessible technologies to reduce the burden on participants. In theory, Motus should (1) remove the need for in-person meetings, (2) replace data collected on paper, and (3) automate the generation of participant feedback.…”