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The role of smartphones in encouraging physical activity in adults

Lack of physical activity is a global public health issue. Behavioral change interventions utilizing smartphone applications (apps) are considered a potential solution. The purpose of this literature review was to: 1) determine whether smartphone-based interventions encourage the initiation of, and...

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Autores principales: Stuckey, Melanie I, Carter, Shawn W, Knight, Emily
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Dove Medical Press 2017
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5602432/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28979157
http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S134095
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author Stuckey, Melanie I
Carter, Shawn W
Knight, Emily
author_facet Stuckey, Melanie I
Carter, Shawn W
Knight, Emily
author_sort Stuckey, Melanie I
collection PubMed
description Lack of physical activity is a global public health issue. Behavioral change interventions utilizing smartphone applications (apps) are considered a potential solution. The purpose of this literature review was to: 1) determine whether smartphone-based interventions encourage the initiation of, and participation in, physical activity; 2) explore the success of interventions in different populations; and 3) examine the key factors of the interventions that successfully encouraged physical activity. Eight databases (Medline, Scopus, EBM Reviews–Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EBM Reviews–Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PsycInfo, SportDISCUS, CINAHL, and EMBASE) were searched and studies reporting physical activity outcomes following interventions using smartphone apps in adults were included in the narrative review. Results were mixed with eight studies reporting increased physical activity and ten reporting no change. Interventions did not appear to be successful in specific populations defined by age, sex, country, or clinical diagnosis. There was no conclusive evidence that a specific behavioral theory or behavioral change technique was superior in eliciting behavioral change. The literature remains limited primarily to short-term studies, many of which are underpowered feasibility or pilot studies; therefore, many knowledge gaps regarding the effectiveness of smartphone apps in encouraging physical activity remain. Robust studies that can accommodate the fast pace of the technology industry are needed to examine outcomes in large populations.
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spelling pubmed-56024322017-10-04 The role of smartphones in encouraging physical activity in adults Stuckey, Melanie I Carter, Shawn W Knight, Emily Int J Gen Med Review Lack of physical activity is a global public health issue. Behavioral change interventions utilizing smartphone applications (apps) are considered a potential solution. The purpose of this literature review was to: 1) determine whether smartphone-based interventions encourage the initiation of, and participation in, physical activity; 2) explore the success of interventions in different populations; and 3) examine the key factors of the interventions that successfully encouraged physical activity. Eight databases (Medline, Scopus, EBM Reviews–Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EBM Reviews–Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PsycInfo, SportDISCUS, CINAHL, and EMBASE) were searched and studies reporting physical activity outcomes following interventions using smartphone apps in adults were included in the narrative review. Results were mixed with eight studies reporting increased physical activity and ten reporting no change. Interventions did not appear to be successful in specific populations defined by age, sex, country, or clinical diagnosis. There was no conclusive evidence that a specific behavioral theory or behavioral change technique was superior in eliciting behavioral change. The literature remains limited primarily to short-term studies, many of which are underpowered feasibility or pilot studies; therefore, many knowledge gaps regarding the effectiveness of smartphone apps in encouraging physical activity remain. Robust studies that can accommodate the fast pace of the technology industry are needed to examine outcomes in large populations. Dove Medical Press 2017-09-12 /pmc/articles/PMC5602432/ /pubmed/28979157 http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S134095 Text en © 2017 Stuckey et al. This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/). By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed.
spellingShingle Review
Stuckey, Melanie I
Carter, Shawn W
Knight, Emily
The role of smartphones in encouraging physical activity in adults
title The role of smartphones in encouraging physical activity in adults
title_full The role of smartphones in encouraging physical activity in adults
title_fullStr The role of smartphones in encouraging physical activity in adults
title_full_unstemmed The role of smartphones in encouraging physical activity in adults
title_short The role of smartphones in encouraging physical activity in adults
title_sort role of smartphones in encouraging physical activity in adults
topic Review
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5602432/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28979157
http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S134095
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