Journal article
Effects of activity tracker use with health professional support or telephone counseling on maintenance of physical activity and health outcomes in older adults: Randomized Controlled Trial
JMIR mHealth and uHealth, Vol.9(1), Art. e18686
2021
PMID: 33399541
Abstract
Background: Despite a range of efforts to increase physical activity participation in Australia, inactivity levels in older adults have remained high over recent decades, contributing to increased rates of chronic health conditions. Lifestyle interventions, including telephone counseling (TC), improve physical activity participation and associated health outcomes over the short term; however, ongoing feedback and support is required to maintain these changes. Newer technologies such as wearable activity trackers (ATs) may offer an alternative method for providing ongoing support.
Objective: This study aims to investigate whether newer technologies such as wearable ATs assist in providing ongoing support to maintain physical activity levels and health outcomes.
Methods: Older adults aged >60 years who had just completed a 12-week face-to-face individualized community exercise program in Tasmania, Australia, participated in the study. They were randomized to receive AT, TC, or usual care (UC). All groups received a home exercise program and an optional referral to a community-based exercise program. The AT group also received an AT and text message feedback from an accredited exercise physiologist (AEP). The TC group received phone calls from an AEP throughout the 12-month intervention. The primary outcome was daily steps measured by an ActivPAL (TM) accelerometer at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months. Secondary outcome measures included body composition, blood pressure, 10-time sit-to-stand (TTSTS) test, timed up and go test, and cardiorespiratory fitness. This trial was approved by the Tasmanian Health and Medical Human Research Ethics Committee (H0014713).
Results: A total of 117 participants were randomized to the study (AT, n=37; TC, n=38; UC, n=42). At baseline, the participants (75/117, 64.1% female; mean age 72.4 years, SD 6.4) completed an average of 6136 steps (SD 2985) per day. Although there were no significant differences between groups, the TC and AT groups maintained daily step counts (mean difference [MD] -79 steps, 95% CI -823 to 663 steps; P=.81; and MD -588 steps, 95% CI -1359 to 182 steps; P=.09), and UC showed a reduction in daily steps (MD 981 steps, 95% CI -1668 to -294 steps; P=.003) during the 12-month period. Diastolic blood pressure was significantly higher after AT than after UC (MD 5.62 mm Hg, 95% CI 1.30 to 9.94 mm Hg; P=.01), and TTSTS was significantly slower on TC compared with UC (MD 2.36 seconds, 95% CI -0.14 to 4.87 seconds; P=.03).
Conclusions: The use of an AT with AEP support or TC is effective at maintaining daily step count in older adults over a 12-month period, suggesting that wearable ATs are as effective as TC. Further research to investigate which option is more cost-effective would be beneficial.
Details
- Title
- Effects of activity tracker use with health professional support or telephone counseling on maintenance of physical activity and health outcomes in older adults: Randomized Controlled Trial
- Authors/Creators
- K-J Brickwood - Univ Tasmania, Coll Hlth & Med, Sch Hlth Sci, Newnham Dr, Launceston, Tas 7250, AustraliaK. Ahuja - Univ Tasmania, Coll Hlth & Med, Sch Hlth Sci, Newnham Dr, Launceston, Tas 7250, AustraliaG. WatsonJ. O'Brien - Univ Tasmania, Coll Hlth & Med, Sch Nursing, Launceston, Tas, AustraliaA. D. Williams - Univ Tasmania, Coll Hlth & Med, Sch Hlth Sci, Newnham Dr, Launceston, Tas 7250, Australia
- Publication Details
- JMIR mHealth and uHealth, Vol.9(1), Art. e18686
- Publisher
- Jmir Publications, Inc
- Identifiers
- 991005548865307891
- Copyright
- © 2021 The Authors
- Murdoch Affiliation
- College of Health and Education
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.44 Nutrition & Dietetics
- 1.44.103 Physical Activity
- Web Of Science research areas
- Health Care Sciences & Services
- Medical Informatics
- ESI research areas
- Clinical Medicine