Determinants for Sustained Use of an Activity Tracker: Observational Study

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Behavioral Science
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Physical inactivity causes 6% of global deaths.
• Wearable activity trackers show potential for promoting physical activity.
• Limited research exists on long-term adherence to activity trackers.

Purpose of the Study:

• Identify determinants of sustained activity tracker use in the first year.
• Assess the relative importance of various predictors (demographic, psychological, technical, etc.).
• Examine the effect of these predictors on physical activity levels.

Main Methods:

• 711 participants used a Fitbit Zip activity tracker for 320 days.
• Web-based questionnaires measured determinants at baseline, 98, and 232 days.
• Random Forest analysis determined predictor importance for tracker use and physical activity.

Main Results:

• Activity tracker use showed a slow exponential decay; 16.0% tracked after 320 days.
• Average use was 129 days; common reasons for discontinuation were technical issues.
• Most influential determinants included age, user experience, mobile phone type, and goal-related factors.

Conclusions:

• Activity tracker use decays exponentially but slower than anticipated.
• Technical condition, age, user experience, and goal-related factors are key to sustained use.
• Activity tracking may benefit diverse groups, emphasizing the need for improved technical and user experience aspects.