scholarly journals Let’s build an app for that

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Ester ◽  
Julianna Dreger ◽  
Utkarsh Subnis ◽  
Shaneel Pathak ◽  
S.Nicole Culos-Reed
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Behavior Change Interventions ◽  
Improvement Process ◽  
Activity Behavior ◽  
Exercise Oncology ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior Change

The promotion of physical activity behavior change among adults with cancer is a research priority. Within this field, increasing attention is being devoted to the use of health technology, which includes mobile phones and applications, or apps, to support and deliver physical activity behavior change interventions. While building a mobile app is a popular proposal among exercise oncology researchers, little practical information exists on how this process should be done or what considerations researchers should take in collaboration with participants and industry. The present article provides an overview of recent experiences with app development in exercise oncology and outlines several recommendations for future research. Methods and Results: After forming an interdisciplinary team of researchers, industry partners, and exercise oncology program participants, an iterative, user-centered app improvement process was followed to collect feedback and make meaningful changes to an existing mobile health app for its use in exercise oncology. Participant feedback was summarized and addressed collaboratively via open discussion and detailed action plans. Changes made include enhanced introductory materials for the app and improvements to usability and personalization. Some requests remain to be addressed in future updates. Two challenges identified during the app improvement process were balancing the unique needs and priorities of all parties, as well as addressing the variable feedback from a variable population of adults with cancer. Conclusions and significance: A multidisciplinary participant-oriented app improvement process led to meaningful updates to the mobile application of interest, preparing researchers to carry out an evaluation of its effectiveness within exercise oncology. Furthermore, based on lessons learned, the research team present key recommendations to consider in future mobile app research before, during, and after the development process.

Physical Activity Behavior Change Interventions Based on the Transtheoretical Model: A Systematic Review

2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 829-845 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Hutchison ◽  
Jeff D. Breckon ◽  
Lynne H. Johnston
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Transtheoretical Model ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior ◽  
Behavior Change Interventions ◽  
Sample Characteristics ◽  
Activity Behavior ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior Change

This review critically examines Transtheoretical Model (TTM)—based interventions for physical activity (PA) behavior change. It has been suggested that the TTM may not be the most appropriate theoretical model for applications to PA behavior change. However, previous reviews have paid little or no attention to how accurately each intervention represents the TTM. Findings comprise two sections: sample characteristics of each intervention reviewed and a summary outlining the use of the TTM to develop the interventions. Results reveal numerous inconsistencies regarding the development and implementation/application of TTM-based interventions. Specifically, the majority of interventions reported to be based on the TTM fail to accurately represent all dimensions of the model. Therefore, until interventions are developed to accurately represent the TTM, the efficacy of these approaches and the appropriateness of the underpinning theoretical model cannot be determined.

Physical activity behavior change: Issues in adoption and maintenance.

2000 ◽  
Vol 19 (1, Suppl) ◽  
pp. 32-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bess H. Marcus ◽  
LeighAnn H. Forsyth ◽  
Elaine J. Stone ◽  
Patricia M. Dubbert ◽  
Thomas L. McKenzie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior ◽  
Activity Behavior ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior Change

A Review of Physical Activity Interventions Delivered via Facebook

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 823-833 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Ferrer ◽  
Rebecca Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Delivery Method ◽  
Physical Activity Interventions ◽  
Activity Behavior ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior Change

Background:The use of social networking sites to deliver behavioral interventions is becoming more prevalent. The purpose of this review was to systematically evaluate the published research to determine the effectiveness of Facebook-delivered interventions for promoting physical activity behavior change.Methods:A search of interventions delivered via Facebook (as the primary delivery method or part of a multifaceted intervention) in which physical activity was the primary or secondary outcome resulted in 8 studies for review.Results:Overall, 87.5% of the Facebook interventions reported some type of significant physical activity behavior change (ie, interactions, main effects for time, differences between conditions); however, only 2 of these interventions found this change to be significantly better for the treatment group than the control group.Conclusion:Future researchers are encouraged to test the effectiveness of Facebook-delivered physical activity interventions with additional control groups that receive no aspects of the intervention within experimental study designs, more diverse samples, theory-based content with assessment of mediators of behavior change, direct observations of physical activity, and long-term follow-ups. Although based on a small sample of studies, Facebook appears to be a promising delivery method for physical activity interventions.

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