No Cover Image

Journal article 1246 views 234 downloads

Feasibility and Effectiveness of Using Wearable Activity Trackers in Youth: A Systematic Review

Nicola D Ridgers, Melitta McNarry Orcid Logo, Kelly Mackintosh Orcid Logo

JMIR mHealth and uHealth, Volume: 4, Issue: 4, Start page: e129

Swansea University Authors: Melitta McNarry Orcid Logo, Kelly Mackintosh Orcid Logo

Check full text

DOI (Published version): 10.2196/mhealth.6540

Abstract

Background: The proliferation and popularity of wearable activity trackers (eg, Fitbit, Jawbone, Misfit) may present an opportunity to integrate such technology into physical activity interventions. While several systematic reviews have reported intervention effects of using wearable activity tracke...

Full description

Published in: JMIR mHealth and uHealth
ISSN: 2291-5222
Published: 2016
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa30964
first_indexed 2016-11-07T14:23:31Z
last_indexed 2018-02-09T05:17:22Z
id cronfa30964
recordtype SURis
fullrecord <?xml version="1.0"?><rfc1807><datestamp>2017-07-07T14:58:29.3268989</datestamp><bib-version>v2</bib-version><id>30964</id><entry>2016-11-07</entry><title>Feasibility and Effectiveness of Using Wearable Activity Trackers in Youth: A Systematic Review</title><swanseaauthors><author><sid>062f5697ff59f004bc8c713955988398</sid><ORCID>0000-0003-0813-7477</ORCID><firstname>Melitta</firstname><surname>McNarry</surname><name>Melitta McNarry</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author><author><sid>bdb20e3f31bcccf95c7bc116070c4214</sid><ORCID>0000-0003-0355-6357</ORCID><firstname>Kelly</firstname><surname>Mackintosh</surname><name>Kelly Mackintosh</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author></swanseaauthors><date>2016-11-07</date><deptcode>EAAS</deptcode><abstract>Background: The proliferation and popularity of wearable activity trackers (eg, Fitbit, Jawbone, Misfit) may present an opportunity to integrate such technology into physical activity interventions. While several systematic reviews have reported intervention effects of using wearable activity trackers on adults&#x2019; physical activity levels, none to date have focused specifically on children and adolescents.Objective: The aim of this review was to examine the effectiveness of wearable activity trackers as a tool for increasing children&#x2019;s and adolescents&#x2019; physical activity levels. We also examined the feasibility of using such technology in younger populations (age range 5-19 years).Methods: We conducted a systematic search of 5 electronic databases, reference lists, and personal archives to identify articles published up until August 2016 that met the inclusion criteria. Articles were included if they (1) specifically examined the use of a wearable device within an intervention or a feasibility study; (2) included participants aged 5-19 years old; (3) had a measure of physical activity as an outcome variable for intervention studies; (4) reported process data concerning the feasibility of the device in feasibility studies; and (5) were published in English. Data were analyzed in August 2016.Results: In total, we identified and analyzed 5 studies (3 intervention, 2 feasibility). Intervention delivery ranged from 19 days to 3 months, with only 1 study using a randomized controlled trial design. Wearable activity trackers were typically combined with other intervention approaches such as goal setting and researcher feedback. While intervention effects were generally positive, the reported differences were largely nonsignificant. The feasibility studies indicated that monitor comfort and design and feedback features were important factors to children and adolescents.Conclusions: There is a paucity of research concerning the effectiveness and feasibility of wearable activity trackers as a tool for increasing children&#x2019;s and adolescents&#x2019; physical activity levels. While there are some preliminary data to suggest these devices may have the potential to increase activity levels through self-monitoring and goal setting in the short term, more research is needed to establish longer-term effects on behavior.</abstract><type>Journal Article</type><journal>JMIR mHealth and uHealth</journal><volume>4</volume><journalNumber>4</journalNumber><paginationStart>e129</paginationStart><publisher/><issnElectronic>2291-5222</issnElectronic><keywords/><publishedDay>23</publishedDay><publishedMonth>11</publishedMonth><publishedYear>2016</publishedYear><publishedDate>2016-11-23</publishedDate><doi>10.2196/mhealth.6540</doi><url/><notes/><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><department>Engineering and Applied Sciences School</department><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><DepartmentCode>EAAS</DepartmentCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><apcterm/><lastEdited>2017-07-07T14:58:29.3268989</lastEdited><Created>2016-11-07T09:12:47.6905270</Created><path><level id="1">Faculty of Science and Engineering</level><level id="2">School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Sport and Exercise Sciences</level></path><authors><author><firstname>Nicola D</firstname><surname>Ridgers</surname><order>1</order></author><author><firstname>Melitta</firstname><surname>McNarry</surname><orcid>0000-0003-0813-7477</orcid><order>2</order></author><author><firstname>Kelly</firstname><surname>Mackintosh</surname><orcid>0000-0003-0355-6357</orcid><order>3</order></author></authors><documents><document><filename>0030964-13122016122008.pdf</filename><originalFilename>ridgers2016(2).pdf</originalFilename><uploaded>2016-12-13T12:20:08.3300000</uploaded><type>Output</type><contentLength>1145701</contentLength><contentType>application/pdf</contentType><version>Version of Record</version><cronfaStatus>true</cronfaStatus><embargoDate>2016-12-13T00:00:00.0000000</embargoDate><copyrightCorrect>false</copyrightCorrect></document></documents><OutputDurs/></rfc1807>
spelling 2017-07-07T14:58:29.3268989 v2 30964 2016-11-07 Feasibility and Effectiveness of Using Wearable Activity Trackers in Youth: A Systematic Review 062f5697ff59f004bc8c713955988398 0000-0003-0813-7477 Melitta McNarry Melitta McNarry true false bdb20e3f31bcccf95c7bc116070c4214 0000-0003-0355-6357 Kelly Mackintosh Kelly Mackintosh true false 2016-11-07 EAAS Background: The proliferation and popularity of wearable activity trackers (eg, Fitbit, Jawbone, Misfit) may present an opportunity to integrate such technology into physical activity interventions. While several systematic reviews have reported intervention effects of using wearable activity trackers on adults’ physical activity levels, none to date have focused specifically on children and adolescents.Objective: The aim of this review was to examine the effectiveness of wearable activity trackers as a tool for increasing children’s and adolescents’ physical activity levels. We also examined the feasibility of using such technology in younger populations (age range 5-19 years).Methods: We conducted a systematic search of 5 electronic databases, reference lists, and personal archives to identify articles published up until August 2016 that met the inclusion criteria. Articles were included if they (1) specifically examined the use of a wearable device within an intervention or a feasibility study; (2) included participants aged 5-19 years old; (3) had a measure of physical activity as an outcome variable for intervention studies; (4) reported process data concerning the feasibility of the device in feasibility studies; and (5) were published in English. Data were analyzed in August 2016.Results: In total, we identified and analyzed 5 studies (3 intervention, 2 feasibility). Intervention delivery ranged from 19 days to 3 months, with only 1 study using a randomized controlled trial design. Wearable activity trackers were typically combined with other intervention approaches such as goal setting and researcher feedback. While intervention effects were generally positive, the reported differences were largely nonsignificant. The feasibility studies indicated that monitor comfort and design and feedback features were important factors to children and adolescents.Conclusions: There is a paucity of research concerning the effectiveness and feasibility of wearable activity trackers as a tool for increasing children’s and adolescents’ physical activity levels. While there are some preliminary data to suggest these devices may have the potential to increase activity levels through self-monitoring and goal setting in the short term, more research is needed to establish longer-term effects on behavior. Journal Article JMIR mHealth and uHealth 4 4 e129 2291-5222 23 11 2016 2016-11-23 10.2196/mhealth.6540 COLLEGE NANME Engineering and Applied Sciences School COLLEGE CODE EAAS Swansea University 2017-07-07T14:58:29.3268989 2016-11-07T09:12:47.6905270 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Sport and Exercise Sciences Nicola D Ridgers 1 Melitta McNarry 0000-0003-0813-7477 2 Kelly Mackintosh 0000-0003-0355-6357 3 0030964-13122016122008.pdf ridgers2016(2).pdf 2016-12-13T12:20:08.3300000 Output 1145701 application/pdf Version of Record true 2016-12-13T00:00:00.0000000 false
title Feasibility and Effectiveness of Using Wearable Activity Trackers in Youth: A Systematic Review
spellingShingle Feasibility and Effectiveness of Using Wearable Activity Trackers in Youth: A Systematic Review
Melitta McNarry
Kelly Mackintosh
title_short Feasibility and Effectiveness of Using Wearable Activity Trackers in Youth: A Systematic Review
title_full Feasibility and Effectiveness of Using Wearable Activity Trackers in Youth: A Systematic Review
title_fullStr Feasibility and Effectiveness of Using Wearable Activity Trackers in Youth: A Systematic Review
title_full_unstemmed Feasibility and Effectiveness of Using Wearable Activity Trackers in Youth: A Systematic Review
title_sort Feasibility and Effectiveness of Using Wearable Activity Trackers in Youth: A Systematic Review
author_id_str_mv 062f5697ff59f004bc8c713955988398
bdb20e3f31bcccf95c7bc116070c4214
author_id_fullname_str_mv 062f5697ff59f004bc8c713955988398_***_Melitta McNarry
bdb20e3f31bcccf95c7bc116070c4214_***_Kelly Mackintosh
author Melitta McNarry
Kelly Mackintosh
author2 Nicola D Ridgers
Melitta McNarry
Kelly Mackintosh
format Journal article
container_title JMIR mHealth and uHealth
container_volume 4
container_issue 4
container_start_page e129
publishDate 2016
institution Swansea University
issn 2291-5222
doi_str_mv 10.2196/mhealth.6540
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Sport and Exercise Sciences{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Sport and Exercise Sciences
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description Background: The proliferation and popularity of wearable activity trackers (eg, Fitbit, Jawbone, Misfit) may present an opportunity to integrate such technology into physical activity interventions. While several systematic reviews have reported intervention effects of using wearable activity trackers on adults’ physical activity levels, none to date have focused specifically on children and adolescents.Objective: The aim of this review was to examine the effectiveness of wearable activity trackers as a tool for increasing children’s and adolescents’ physical activity levels. We also examined the feasibility of using such technology in younger populations (age range 5-19 years).Methods: We conducted a systematic search of 5 electronic databases, reference lists, and personal archives to identify articles published up until August 2016 that met the inclusion criteria. Articles were included if they (1) specifically examined the use of a wearable device within an intervention or a feasibility study; (2) included participants aged 5-19 years old; (3) had a measure of physical activity as an outcome variable for intervention studies; (4) reported process data concerning the feasibility of the device in feasibility studies; and (5) were published in English. Data were analyzed in August 2016.Results: In total, we identified and analyzed 5 studies (3 intervention, 2 feasibility). Intervention delivery ranged from 19 days to 3 months, with only 1 study using a randomized controlled trial design. Wearable activity trackers were typically combined with other intervention approaches such as goal setting and researcher feedback. While intervention effects were generally positive, the reported differences were largely nonsignificant. The feasibility studies indicated that monitor comfort and design and feedback features were important factors to children and adolescents.Conclusions: There is a paucity of research concerning the effectiveness and feasibility of wearable activity trackers as a tool for increasing children’s and adolescents’ physical activity levels. While there are some preliminary data to suggest these devices may have the potential to increase activity levels through self-monitoring and goal setting in the short term, more research is needed to establish longer-term effects on behavior.
published_date 2016-11-23T06:59:24Z
_version_ 1821297202036736000
score 11.047393

Similar Items