TY - JOUR
T1 - The effectiveness of a wearable activity tracker (WAT)-based intervention to improve physical activity levels in sedentary older adults
T2 - A systematic review and meta-analysis
AU - Liu, Justina Yat Wa
AU - Kor, Patrick Pui Kin
AU - Chan, Claire Pik Ying
AU - Kwan, Rick Yiu Cho
AU - Sze-Ki, Daphne
PY - 2020/11/1
Y1 - 2020/11/1
N2 - Background: The evidence shows that WAT-based interventions enhance the physical activity (PA) levels of young people by sustainably delivering behavior change techniques (BCTs). These results may not be replicable among older adults. This paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of WAT-based interventions in improving PA levels in sedentary older adults. Methods: Eight electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled trials published January 2008 to December 2018. BCTs delivered by WAT aimed at increasing PA levels using step counts or time spent on moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA) exercise as an outcome were eligible for inclusion. Results: In nine out of the ten included studies, higher PA levels were seen in the intervention group than in the control group. One study where the participants’ mean age was 80+ showed no significant increase in PA levels. Significant effects were also demonstrated from the meta-analysis, which included four studies using a passive control (i.e., the usual care or health information) on step counts (n = 207, Hedges g = 1.27, 95 % CI = 0.51–2.04, p = 0.001) and two studies on MVPA (n = 83, Hedge's g = 1.23, 95 % CI = 0.75–1.70, p < 0.001). A non-significant effect was found on step counts (n = 201, Hedge's g = 0.22, 95 % CI = −0.62 to 1.06, p = 0.61) in three studies that used an active control comparison group (i.e., traditional pedometer). Conclusions: A WAT-based intervention is effective at improving PA levels among older adults over the short term when compared with the usual care or health information. However, when compared with a traditional pedometer or when used among old-old adults, the results were inconclusive.
AB - Background: The evidence shows that WAT-based interventions enhance the physical activity (PA) levels of young people by sustainably delivering behavior change techniques (BCTs). These results may not be replicable among older adults. This paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of WAT-based interventions in improving PA levels in sedentary older adults. Methods: Eight electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled trials published January 2008 to December 2018. BCTs delivered by WAT aimed at increasing PA levels using step counts or time spent on moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA) exercise as an outcome were eligible for inclusion. Results: In nine out of the ten included studies, higher PA levels were seen in the intervention group than in the control group. One study where the participants’ mean age was 80+ showed no significant increase in PA levels. Significant effects were also demonstrated from the meta-analysis, which included four studies using a passive control (i.e., the usual care or health information) on step counts (n = 207, Hedges g = 1.27, 95 % CI = 0.51–2.04, p = 0.001) and two studies on MVPA (n = 83, Hedge's g = 1.23, 95 % CI = 0.75–1.70, p < 0.001). A non-significant effect was found on step counts (n = 201, Hedge's g = 0.22, 95 % CI = −0.62 to 1.06, p = 0.61) in three studies that used an active control comparison group (i.e., traditional pedometer). Conclusions: A WAT-based intervention is effective at improving PA levels among older adults over the short term when compared with the usual care or health information. However, when compared with a traditional pedometer or when used among old-old adults, the results were inconclusive.
KW - Behavior change
KW - Meta-analysis
KW - Older people
KW - Physical activity
KW - Systematic review
KW - Wearable technology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85088813548&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.archger.2020.104211
DO - 10.1016/j.archger.2020.104211
M3 - Review article
C2 - 32739713
AN - SCOPUS:85088813548
VL - 91
JO - Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
JF - Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
SN - 0167-4943
M1 - 104211
ER -