Impact of Electronic Feedback and Peer Comparisons on Residents' Physical Activity Level

Activity tracking devices can reinforce physical fitness and may be beneficial to resident physicians. To date, their use has not been evaluated.

To determine if use of an activity tracking device increases residents' activity, measured as steps per day.

A prospective, crossover study involved residents at 1 academic hospital system. Participants were weighed and completed a baseline survey. All participants were asked to wear an activity tracking device for 8 weeks. Residents were blinded to feedback from the device on activity level during the first 4 weeks. During the second 4-week period, participants were given access to data on activity level and were invited to join a voluntary activity tracking group.

Of 104 residents invited to participate, 86 enrolled. The majority of participants were female and did not have experience using activity trackers. Almost half (49%, 51 of 104) had a body mass index greater than 25 kg/m². The median steps per day of all participants during the blinded period was 7260. This increased to 8266 steps per day during the unblinded period. Surgical residents recorded significantly more steps than nonsurgical specialties (7938 versus 6724, P = .018). The 26 residents who joined the voluntary activity tracking group registered higher median steps per day, and wore their activity tracker more consistently.

Providing residents with activity trackers, increasing feedback, and providing comparisons to peers may enhance residents' physical activity levels.