Liliana Laranjo|Ding Ding|Bruno Heleno|A. Baki Kocaball?|Juan C. Quiroz|Huong Ly Tong|Bahia Chahwan|Ana Luísa Neves|Elia Gabarrón|Kim Phuong Dao|David Rodrigues|Gisela Costa Neves|Maria da Luz Antunes|Enrico Coiera|David W. Bates
Do smartphone applications and activity trackers increase physical activity in adults? Systematic review, meta-analysis and metaregression
University of Sydney|University of Sydney|Universidade Nova de Lisboa|University of Technology Sydney|Macquarie University|UNSW Sydney|Macquarie University|Macquarie University|Macquarie University|Imperial College London|University Hospital of North Norway|Macquarie University|Universidade Nova de Lisboa|Universidade Nova de Lisboa|Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa|Macquarie University|Brigham and Women's Hospital
objective determine effectiveness physical activity interventions involving mobile applications apps trackers automated continuous selfmonitoring feedback design systematic review metaanalysis data sources pubmed seven additional databases 2007 2020 study selection randomised controlled trials adults 1865 years old without chronic illness testing mobile app activity tracker comparison main outcome physical activity measure independent screening conducted data extraction synthesis conducted random effects metaanalysis effect sizes transformed standardised difference means sdm conducted exploratory metaregression continuous discrete moderators identified statistically significant subgroup analyses main outcome measures physical activity daily step counts minweek moderatetovigorous physical activity weekly days exercised minweek total physical activity metabolic equivalents results thirtyfive studies met inclusion criteria 28 included metaanalysis n7454 participants 28 women metaanalysis showed smalltomoderate positive effect physical activity measures sdm 0350 95 ci 0236 0465 2 69 2 0051 corresponding 1850 steps per day 95 ci 1247 2457 interventions including textmessaging personalisation features significantly effective subgroup analyses metaregression conclusion interventions using apps trackers seem effective promoting physical activity longer studies needed assess impact different intervention components longterm engagement effectiveness