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The Association Between Logging Steps Using a Website, App, or Fitbit and Engaging With the 10,000 Steps Physical
Anna T Rayward1,2, Corneel Vandelanotte1, Anetta Van Itallie1
1School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Australia.
Journal of Medical Internet Research
|June 18, 2021
Summary
Using a Fitbit with a physical activity program significantly boosted user engagement compared to manual data entry. Combining devices like Fitbit with apps or websites enhances participation and long-term adherence.
Area of Science:
- Digital Health
- Behavioral Science
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- User engagement is crucial for the effectiveness of digital health interventions.
- The impact of automatically synchronized tracking devices versus manual data entry on engagement is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare engagement levels across different step-logging methods in the 10,000 Steps program.
- To analyze how age and gender influence these engagement differences.
- To identify which logging methods are associated with higher program engagement.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 22,142 users of the 10,000 Steps program, categorized by step-logging method (Website Only, App Only, Fitbit Only, Web and App, Fitbit Combination).
- Generalized linear regression and binary logistic regression were used to assess engagement and participation parameters.
- Cox proportional hazards regression analyzed time to nonusage attrition.
Main Results:
- App Only users were younger; Fitbit users had more women. Fitbit Combination users showed significantly higher engagement (more sessions, more minutes per session, more step entries) compared to Website Only users.
- App Only and Fitbit Only groups had lower daily step counts and fewer website sessions.
- Web and App and Fitbit Combination groups demonstrated longer adherence, with higher time to nonusage attrition.
Conclusions:
- Integrating automatically synchronizing tracking devices, such as Fitbit, enhances engagement in physical activity programs.
- Combined use of tracking devices with digital platforms (app/website) is a viable strategy to improve user engagement and adherence.
