Effectiveness of pedometer- and accelerometer-based interventions in improving physical activity and health-related outcomes among college students: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Although the pedometer- and accelerometer-based interventions (PABI) have demonstrated efficacy in improving physical activity (PA) and health-related outcomes, the dearth of empirical evidence in college students warrants further investigation. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to examine the effects of PABI on improving PA and health-related outcomes among college students. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO were searched for relevant literature from inception to 20 February 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted among college students with PABI to increase objectively measured PA as the primary outcome were included in this study. RESULTS: A total of nine RCTs with 527 participants were included in this study. The combined results showed that PABI significantly improved PA (standardized mean difference = 0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.08, 0.74, P = 0.016) and significantly contributed to weight loss (mean differences (MD) = −1.56 kg, 95% CI: −2.40 kg, −0.73 kg, P < 0.01), and lower body mass index (MD = −0.33 kg/m(2), 95% CI: −0.66 kg/m(2), 0.00 kg/m(2), P = 0.05) compared to the control group, but no significant effects were observed on improvements of body fat (%) and exercise self-efficacy. Interventions in the group of step, general students, pedometer-based intervention, theory, and developed region were significantly more effective in subgroup analyses. CONCLUSIONS: PABI was found to be effective in promoting PA and weight loss among college students. Future research is needed to further explore the long-term effects of PABI and the characteristics of multiple intervention models.