Wearable activity trackers and health awareness: Nursing implications

PURPOSE: Wearable devices are commonly used to measure physical activity. However, it remains unclear the effect of wearing these devices on health awareness. Our aim was to provide evidence related to wearing physical activity trackers and health awareness. METHODS: A quantitative comparison study design was used comparing participants who wore physical activity tracking devices (n = 108) and those who did not (n = 112). A paper-based Physical Health Knowledge survey designed for the purpose of this research was used for data collection in 2018. RESULTS: A difference between participants who wore physical activity tracking devices and those that did not was identified in relation to activity levels and physical health awareness. Wearable devices are suggested as an opportunity for nurses to engage people in physical activity with the potential to improve their health awareness. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses are well placed in the healthcare landscape to work with patients who own an activity tracker device concerning increasing activity self-monitoring. This information the patient has from the device can also form the basis of health discussions between nurses and the people in their care.