Using technology to measure Pa

Question 1

what are example of digital solutions measure Pa?

Answer 1

• wearables e.g watches
• mobile applications
• ## embedded smartphone applications

Question 2

what are accelerometers ?

Answer 2

are wearable devices that are worn on the hip, thigh or lower back can be uncomfortable for participants which result in a decrease in compliance

Question 3

why use wearable technology ?

Answer 3

• Advances in wireless sensors and digital technologies have led to a proliferation of wearable health devices with which users can examine, monitor, and track their physiological conditions.

Question 4

what are the benefits of technology ?

Answer 4

• Commercial wearable devices have the potential to allow for population-level measurements of physical activity and large-scale behaviour change.
• Cheaper than Actigraph accelerometers
• Less cumbersome to wear – adherence?

Question 5

what are types of wearables ?

Answer 5

• Pedometers, watches, pendants, armbands, rings

Question 6

how do wearables work ?

Answer 6

Sensors in physical activity monitoring:
- ECG sensors
- Accelerometer
- Gyroscope
- GPS: location, distance travelled
- Photoplethmosmorgraph (optical sensor) – measuring HR and sometimes oxygen saturation.

Question 7

are wearables accurate ?

Answer 7

• Taken together, the research suggest that activity trackers are reasonably accurate
• Variations in validity for different makes and models
• Most accurate – counting steps
• Less accurate – stairs climbed and energy expenditure

Question 8

what are some aspects to consider with technology ?

Answer 8

• Spinal cord injury
• • wheelchair uses with spinal cord injury
• Android smartphone and LG smart watch and a Bluetooth wheel rotation monitor
• Personal health informatics and Rehabilitation Engineering (PHIRE) app
• Increases in light and moderate intensity physical with the use of the wearables and feedback provides by the app.

Question 9

why might individuals not use wearables ?

Answer 9

instructions, high price, physical limitations that older adults face as well as inactive lifestyle, little interest and curiosity in tyring activity trackers, band discomfort, and technology use difficulties

Question 10

how might ethnic minorities be effected by wearables ?

Answer 10

• African Americans – use of wearable for PA tracking
• Over 30 days – 81% uploaded PA wristband data at least once (19% non-users)
• Lower SES individuals may be more likely than higher SES participants within this community-based population to interact with PA monitoring with a centralized hub
• Digital access divide is shrinking along ethnic/racial and SES

Question 11

how can smart phone be used to track Pa

Answer 11

• Physical activity trackers
• Exercise programs/ interventions
• Among app users, fitness apps are the most popular
• Equivocal findings on effectiveness:
• Both Han and Lee (2018) and Payne et al (2015) reported that the majority of apps reviewed were effective at improving health-related behaviours.
• More recent review (2020) there was no strong evidence supporting the effectiveness of apps in changing behaviours as dew studies were significant.
• 4/39 studies reported intervention engagement as higher than control
• 9/39 studies had usage >60%.
• Free smartphone app to increase physical activity in adolescent girls.

Question 12

do mobile apps cause behaviour change ?

Answer 12

• Current research suggest that health and lifestyle apps deigned to modify health behaviours contain low levels of theory based BCTs.
• Apps had an average of 8 BCTs, with a range of 1-14

Question 13

what are advantages of technology ?

Answer 13

• Reasonably accurate
• Affordable
• Many people already use one
• Automatically collect physical activity information
• Less cumbersome and easier to wear