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- Title
Effectiveness of a smartphone application to promote physical activity in primary care: the SMART MOVE randomised controlled trial.
- Authors
Glynn, Liam G; Hayes, Patrick S; Casey, Monica; Glynn, Fergus; Alvarez-Iglesias, Alberto; Newell, John; OLaighin, Gearóid; Heaney, David; O'Donnell, Martin; Murphy, Andrew W
- Abstract
<bold>Background: </bold>Physical inactivity is a major, potentially modifiable, risk factor for cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases. Effective, simple, and generalisable interventions that will increase physical activity in populations are needed.<bold>Aim: </bold>To evaluate the effectiveness of a smartphone application (app) to increase physical activity in primary care.<bold>Design and Setting: </bold>An 8-week, open-label, randomised controlled trial in rural, primary care in the west of Ireland.<bold>Method: </bold>Android smartphone users >16 years of age were recruited. All participants were provided with similar physical activity goals and information on the benefits of exercise. The intervention group was provided with a smartphone app and detailed instructions on how to use it to achieve these goals. The primary outcome was change in physical activity, as measured by a daily step count between baseline and follow-up.<bold>Results: </bold>A total of 139 patients were referred by their primary care health professional or self-referred. In total, 37 (27%) were screened out and 12 (9%) declined to participate, leaving 90 (65%) patients who were randomised. Of these, 78 provided baseline data (intervention = 37; control = 41) and 77 provided outcome data (intervention = 37; control = 40). The mean daily step count at baseline for intervention and control groups was 4365 and 5138 steps per day respectively. After adjusting, there was evidence of a significant treatment effect (P = 0.009); the difference in mean improvement in daily step count from week 1 to week 8 inclusive was 1029 (95% confidence interval 214 to 1843) steps per day, favouring the intervention. Improvements in physical activity in the intervention group were sustained until the end of the trial.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>A simple smartphone app significantly increased physical activity over 8 weeks in a primary care population.
- Publication
British Journal of General Practice, 2014, Vol 64, Issue 624, pe384
- ISSN
0960-1643
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.3399/bjgp14X680461