Usage of Mobile Apps to support Active Transportation: Scoping Review (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuttanun Siriaporn ◽  
Audrey de Nazelle ◽  
Gilles Maignant ◽  
Pascal Staccini ◽  
Anne Vuillemin
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Active Transport ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
The United States ◽  
Active Transportation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Self Monitoring ◽  
Academic Literature ◽  
Android Apps

BACKGROUND The World Health Organization recommends 150-300 minutes of physical activity per week to lower health risks caused by sedentary behavior. Incorporating active transport (AT), non-motorized methods of transportation like walking and cycling, into daily life is an efficient way for individuals to reach recommended levels of physical activity. Active transportation can also improve the environment by reducing pollution emission when people make a switch from personal motorized vehicles. Smartphones have been explored as a tool to deliver health interventions through mobile apps, especially in the field of behavior change in weight loss and physical activity. OBJECTIVE This study sought to explore the extent of the usage of mobile apps in the field of active transport, both academically and commercially. We want to know if and how much mobile apps are being used in active transport research, as well as its availability commercially. This will allow us to realize the current trends and gaps of the field. METHODS A search on academic literature and commercial apps for any apps that support active transportation was done in five academic databases and the two app stores. For a wide check, commercial apps were searched in six countries, one in each continent. Two of the authors reviewed the articles and apps for inclusion and another made the final decision if conflict arose. RESULTS In academic literature, 24 apps were identified that were developed or used for AT promotion or AT research. Out of these 24 apps, 8 are still available for download. Through the commercial search, we found 34 apps on the Apple App Store and 107 on the Google Play Store, available in Australia, Brazil, France, South Africa, Thailand, and the United States. Most of the apps were bike shares, then research apps, campaign apps, and then resource apps. From this, we discovered that for iOS apps, there are 4 apps that integrated self-monitoring features, 5 apps that use gamification to encourage engagement in AT and 1 app that used incentives and rewards as a motivator. For android apps, we found 7 apps that have self-monitoring features, 8 apps that use gamification features, and 4 campaign apps that use incentives and rewards to encourage AT engagement. CONCLUSIONS With this scoping review, we found that mobile apps are being explored as a method to collect data for transportation research and as an intervention to promote AT. However, results of the interventions varied, indicating the need for further study for a successful promotion. The apps that were developed academically were rarely maintained. Furthermore, there are not enough commercially available evidence-based and science-backed mobile apps that support and encourage AT behavior.

Scoping review of digital biomarker-based studies (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hossein Motahari-Nezhad ◽  
Meriem Fgaier ◽  
Mohamed Mahdi Abid ◽  
Márta Péntek ◽  
László Gulácsi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Circulatory System ◽  
The United States ◽  
Classification Systems ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Digital Devices ◽  
Digital Biomarkers

BACKGROUND Sensors and digital devices have revolutionized the process of measuring, collecting, and storing health data. Digital biomarkers are defined as objective, quantifiable, physiological, and behavioral measures contained in digital devices that are portable, wearable, implantable, or digestible. The clinical utility of digital biomarkers is being supported by an increasing body of research. OBJECTIVE The present study intends to investigate the scope of digital biomarker-based systematic reviews. METHODS The current scoping review was organized using PRISMA-ScR. Limiting the search to English full-text systematic reviews of digital biomarkers that included at least one randomized controlled trial involving a human population and reporting changes in participants' health status. PubMed and the Cochrane library were searched. Separately, two reviewers screened and selected records. In addition, the qualified papers' reference lists were examined for additional reviews. The World Health Organization's (WHO) classification systems for diseases (ICD-11), health interventions (ICHI), and bodily functions (ICF) were used to classify populations, interventions, and outcomes. RESULTS 66 reviews met the inclusion criteria, mostly were published by authors from the United States of America (18, 27.28%). The most prevalent disease areas were Circulatory System (n=12, 18.18%) and External Causes (n=12, 18.18%). 27 and 23 interventions were connected to health-related behaviors and the circulatory system, respectively. Looking after one's health (physical activity) (n=22) and demographic changes (mortality) (n=19) were the most commonly reported outcomes. A substantial number of digital devices, mostly in the form of wearables (n=39/66, 59.09 %) were employed as interventions (n=43/66, 65.15 %). Position sensors (n=33/66) and heart /pulse rate sensors (n=32/66) were identified as the most prevalent types of sensors utilized to capture digital biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS Digital biomarker clinical research encompasses a wide range of technologies, populations, interventions, and clinical outcomes, with cardiovascular and physical activity sensors being the most explored. This necessitates a more thorough examination of the strength and quality of evidence regarding the health consequences of digital biomarker-based therapy.

Chronic Disease Self-Management Among Iranian Older Adults: A Scoping Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (8) ◽  
pp. 922-930 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aein Zarrin ◽  
Nima Tourchian ◽  
George A. Heckman
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Self Monitoring ◽  
Care Models ◽  
Language Objectives ◽  
Main Components

Background: Implementing care models that emphasize chronic disease self-management (CDSM) strategies may be an effective approach to the growing prevalence of chronic conditions in Iran. We, therefore, conducted a scoping review on CDSM among older Iranians to identify existing gaps and opportunities to improve chronic disease care. Method: We conducted a search in CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE/PubMed, and Cochrane library. Selected articles were charted based on year of publication, language, objectives, methods, target chronic disease(s), sample demographics, self-management type, and key findings. Results: We selected 73 articles. The main components of CDSM addressed were social support, education, physical activity, nutrition, self-monitoring, spirituality, and financial support. Older Iranians reported low levels of physical activity. Conclusion: Enhancing the quality of CDSM research and provision of coaching to enhance older adults’ social and mental health are among the main strategies to enhance CDSM among the Iranian older population.

scholarly journals Results From Kenya’s 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (s2) ◽  
pp. S195-S200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent O. Onywera ◽  
Stella K. Muthuri ◽  
Sylvester Hayker ◽  
Lucy-Joy M. Wachira ◽  
Florence Kyallo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Sport Participation ◽  
Sports Participation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Report Card ◽  
Active Transportation ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Children And Youth ◽  
World Health ◽  
Activity Levels

Background:Kenya’s 2016 report card aimed to highlight the health and well-being of Kenyan children and youth using the best available evidence on the physical activity of Kenyan children and youth. The report pointed at areas where Kenya was succeeding and areas where more action is required.Methods:Inclusive analyses of available data sources on the core indicators related to physical activity and body weights of Kenyan children and youth (5 to 17 years) were conducted. These were assigned grades based on a set of specific criteria.Results:Results show that Active Play, Active Transportation, Overweight and Obesity, and Sedentary Behavior were favorable with a grade of B. Overall Physical Activity, Organized Sport Participation, and School (infrastructure, policies, and programs) each received a grade of C, while Family and Peers, Government and Nongovernment organizations, as well as the Community and the Built Environment were assigned grade D.Conclusions:Over 72% of Kenyan children and youth use active transportation to and from school and in their daily lives. Although majority of the children and youth have normal body weight, there is need to ensure that they meet and maintain the physical activity levels recommended by the World Health Organization. More needs to be done especially in relation to the governmental and nongovernmental organizations, organized sports participation, as well as involvement of family and peers in promoting healthy active lifestyles among Kenyan children and youth. More representative data for all indicators are required in Kenya.

scholarly journals Devices for Self-Monitoring Sedentary Time or Physical Activity: A Scoping Review

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. e90 ◽  
Author(s):  
James P Sanders ◽  
Adam Loveday ◽  
Natalie Pearson ◽  
Charlotte Edwardson ◽  
Thomas Yates ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Sedentary Time ◽  
Self Monitoring

scholarly journals Examining ways to enhance active transportation and the impact on commuters’ health, wellbeing and sustainable development

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Papageorgiou ◽  
Eudokia Balamou ◽  
Theophano Efstathiadou ◽  
Athanasios Maimaris
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Inactivity ◽  
Cardiovascular Complications ◽  
Active Transportation ◽  
World Health ◽  
The World ◽  
Relevant Variables ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Impact

Active transportation and physical activity is a major remedy to health-related problems in our society. According to the World Health Organization the lack of physical activity is one of the leading risk factors for global mortality as well as health problems such as diabetes, cardiovascular complications and other diseases that are threatening public health. To reduce the health risks of physical inactivity, active transportation and generally physical activity have recently gained great interest in our modern societies. This paper investigates ways to enhance active transportation and the impact on commuters’ health, wellbeing and urban sustainability. As a result, a theoretical framework is developed that explores the relevant variables that influence commuter’s willingness for active mobility.

scholarly journals Daily intra-individual variability of positive but not negative affect impacts moderate to vigorous physical activity

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
K Wierenga ◽  
S.E Moore ◽  
D.M Fresco
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Time Span ◽  
World Health ◽  
Positive And Negative Affect ◽  
Latent Trajectory

Abstract Introduction The World Health Organization recommends moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for 150 minutes per week to reduce the risk of primary or secondary cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Adherence to these recommendations is only around 30% in the US. Identifying reliable barriers or facilitators of time spent in MVPA is a critical component to primary and secondary CVD prevention. Negative affect, including feelings such as being sad, nervous, and restless, is known to diminish time spent in MVPA, whereas positive affect, which includes feelings such as being calm, happy, or full of life is associated with MVPA increases. Relatedly, variability in positive but not negative affect is associated with poorer physical health. What is unclear is how intra-individual variability of positive and negative affect may influence MVPA. Research question What is the influence of variations (i.e. intra-individual day-to-day) in positive and negative affect on variations in MVPA? Method. Guided by the individual and self-management theory, a secondary analysis was conducted of data from a nationwide US sample of participants. Using data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Refresh Wave Study Daily Diary Project, we analyzed eight consecutive days of affect and MVPA assessments in a sample of 553 healthy participants (54% women, 86% white, mean age = 48.7 years). Latent trajectory models were computed to determine the influence of daily positive and negative affect on daily MVPA. Results Affect variability, calculated as the standard deviation of daily positive and negative affect, was positively correlated with MVPA variability. An autoregressive cross-lagged latent trajectory model provided the best fit to examine relationships between positive affect, negative affect, and MVPA (χ2=946.54, df=379, p<0.001; CFI=0.95; RMSEA=0.05, SRMR = 0.06). Positive, but not negative affect, intercepts were significantly correlated with MVPA trajectories (r=0.19, p<0.05). Individuals who initially begin the eight day time span with a higher reported positive affect show a modest increase in MVPA over the same time period (r=0.19, p<0.001). By contrast, individuals evidencing increases in positive affect over the time span showed a decreased rate of change in MVPA over that same time (r=−0.32, p<0.001). Conclusion The association of positive affect to MVPA necessitates a complex analysis to more fully understand intra-individual-level interactions. Relatively higher positive affect with fewer fluctuations was associated with greater MVPA. These intriguing preliminary findings must be considered in light of important limitations (e.g., only eight days of data; affect and MVPA do not necessarily follow diurnal patterns). Still, findings support the view that beginning with positive affect may lead to stability in time spent in MVPA. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

scholarly journals Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Obesity

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Risto Marttinen ◽  
Laura Vernikoff ◽  
Sharon Phillips ◽  
Nicole Fletcher
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Significant Interaction ◽  
The United States ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
World Health ◽  
Tv Viewing ◽  
Significant Interaction Effect ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Increased Risk

Background and Purpose: Overweight and obesity have been identified by the World Health Organization as a global epidemic and disproportionately affects minority populations in the United States. This study explored cross-sectional associations with TV viewing, physical activity, video game playing, gender, and Latina/o ethnicity with Body Mass Index (BMI). Methods: Data from the 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) were utilized (N=15,503). Results: Time spent in physical activity, watching television, playing video games, male gender, and Latina/o ethnicity status were all significantly associated with increased risk of overweight and obesity, but age was not. There was also a significant interaction effect in which above-median levels of physical activity had a stronger relationship with lower overweight/obesity rates among non-Latinos compared to Latinos. Conclusion: Our findings support previous findings regarding well-known correlates of overweight and obesity. The significant interaction effects suggest that the relationships of these correlates are nuanced, and future interventions may be more effective if demographic-specific relationships between correlates and obesityrelated outcomes are considered.

scholarly journals Association of prevalence of active transport to work and incidence of myocardial infarction: A nationwide ecological study

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (8) ◽  
pp. 822-829 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theresa Munyombwe ◽  
Robin Lovelace ◽  
Mark Green ◽  
Paul Norman ◽  
Sarah Walpole ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Active Transport ◽  
Ecological Study ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Negative Binomial Regression ◽  
Credible Interval ◽  
Local Area ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Active Transportation

Background There is a paucity of population-based geospatial data about the association between active transport and myocardial infarction. We investigated the association between active transport to work and incidence of myocardial infarction. Design This ecological study of 325 local authorities in England included 43,077,039 employed individuals aged 25–74 years (UK Census, 2011), and 117,521 individuals with myocardial infarction (Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project, 2011–2013). Methods Bayesian negative binomial regression models were used to investigate the association of active transport to work and incidence of myocardial infarction adjusting for local levels of deprivation, obesity, smoking, diabetes and physical activity. Results In 2011, the prevalence of active transportation to work for people in employment in England aged 25–74 years was 11.4% (4,531,182 active transporters; 8.6% walking and 2.8% cycling). Active transport in 2011 was associated with a reduced incidence of myocardial infarction in 2012 amongst men cycling to work (incidence rate ratio (95% credible interval) 0.983 (0.967–0.999); and women walking to work (0.983 (0.967–0.999)) after full adjustments. However, the prevalence of active transport for men and women was not significantly associated with the combined incidence of myocardial infarction between 2011–2013 after adjusting for physical activity, smoking and diabetes. Conclusions In England, the prevalence of active transportation was associated with a reduced incidence of myocardial infarction for women walking and men cycling to work in corresponding local geographic areas. The overall association of active transport with myocardial infarction was, however, explained by local area levels of smoking, diabetes and physical activity.

The efficacy of using mobile applications in changing adolescent girls’ physical activity behaviour during weekends

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-131
Author(s):  
Ming Li Carol Seah ◽  
Koon Teck Koh
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Physical Activity Behaviour ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Self Monitoring ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
And Control

Smartphones are omnipresent and offer real-time information on the go. Predominantly, adolescent girls have been found to be engaged in levels of physical activity (PA) below the daily recommended guideline of at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity, and especially during weekends. Lack of sufficient PA can lead to a risk of contracting non-communicable diseases. The purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate the efficacy of using mobile applications (app) (i.e. MapMyFitness [MMF]) in changing adolescent girls’ PA behaviour during weekends. It also examined the perceived benefits, challenges and recommendations for using mobile apps. Thirty-six participants aged 15 years ( Mage = 14.9; SD = 0.30) from a convenience sample volunteered and took part in the present study, which spanned four weekends. Quantitative results showed a significant difference in the mean step count between experimental and control groups during week two, probably due to the novelty effect when the participants were introduced to the new MMF mobile app. Overall, the use of the MMF app seems to be able to attenuate the decline of adolescent girls’ PA level during weekends. Qualitative results revealed benefits of using mobile apps to promote PA, such as a sense of autonomy in selecting PA, the ability to view friends’ postings of PA and self-monitoring of PA. The study revealed specific challenges to using such PA mobile apps - in particular, factors such as the cumbersome and confusing functions in the app that discouraged users from performing PA. Recommendations included allowing users to customise their accounts, simplifying the app’s functions, and including rewards and videos as motivators to enhance users’ PA experience. Although mobile apps may have the potential to encourage participation in PA, a careful selection of mobile app functions is required to engage adolescent girls to continue to use it for PA.

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