Background Rapid developments in technology have
encouraged the use of smartphones in physical activity
research, although little is known regarding their effectiveness
as measurement and intervention tools.
Objective This study systematically reviewed evidence
on smartphones and their viability for measuring and
influencing ...»»»»
Background Rapid developments in technology have
encouraged the use of smartphones in physical activity
research, although little is known regarding their effectiveness
as measurement and intervention tools.
Objective This study systematically reviewed evidence
on smartphones and their viability for measuring and
influencing physical activity.
Data Sources Research articles were identified in September
2013 by literature searches in Web of Knowledge,
PubMed, PsycINFO, EBSCO, and ScienceDirect.
Study Selection The search was restricted using the terms
(physical activity OR exercise OR fitness) AND (smartphone*
OR mobile phone* OR cell phone*) AND (measurement
OR intervention). Reviewed articles were
required to be published in international academic peerreviewed
journals, or in full text from international scientific
conferences, and focused on measuring physical
activity through smartphone processing data and influencing people to be more active through smartphone
applications.
Study Appraisal and Synthesis Methods Two reviewers
independently performed the selection of articles and
examined titles and abstracts to exclude those out of scope.
Data on study characteristics, technologies used to objectively
measure physical activity, strategies applied to
influence activity; and the main study findings were
extracted and reported.
Results A total of 26 articles (with the first published in
2007) met inclusion criteria. All studies were conducted in
highly economically advantaged countries; 12 articles
focused on special populations (e.g. obese patients). Studies
measured physical activity using native mobile features,
and/or an external device linked to an application. Measurement
accuracy ranged from 52 to 100 % (n = 10
studies). A total of 17 articles implemented and evaluated
an intervention. Smartphone strategies to influence physical
activity tended to be ad hoc, rather than theory-based
approaches; physical activity profiles, goal setting, realtime
feedback, social support networking, and online
expert consultation were identified as the most useful
strategies to encourage physical activity change. Only five
studies assessed physical activity intervention effects; all
used step counts as the outcome measure. Four studies
(three pre–post and one comparative) reported physical
activity increases (12–42 participants, 800–1,104 steps/
day, 2 weeks–6 months), and one case-control study
reported physical activity maintenance (n = 200 participants;[
10,000 steps/day) over 3 months.
Limitations Smartphone use is a relatively new field of
study in physical activity research, and consequently the
evidence base is emerging.
Conclusions Few studies identified in this review considered
the validity of phone-based assessment of physical activity. Those that did report on measurement properties
found average-to-excellent levels of accuracy for different
behaviors. The range of novel and engaging intervention
strategies used by smartphones, and user perceptions on
their usefulness and viability, highlights the potential such
technology has for physical activity promotion. However,
intervention effects reported in the extant literature are
modest at best, and future studies need to utilize randomized
controlled trial research designs, larger sample sizes,
and longer study periods to better explore the physical
activity measurement and intervention capabilities of
smartphones.^^^^
