| Content Provider |
World Health Organization (WHO)-Global Index Medicus |
| Author |
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. |
| Spatial Coverage |
Ireland |
| Description |
Country affiliation: Ireland Author Affiliation: Glynn LG ( Discipline of General Practice, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.); Hayes PS ( Discipline of General Practice, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.); Casey M ( Discipline of General Practice, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.); Glynn F ( Graduate Entry Medical School, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.); Alvarez-Iglesias A ( Health Research Board Clinical Research Facility, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.); Newell J ( Health Research Board Clinical Research Facility, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.); OLaighin G ( National Centre for Biomedical Engineering and Science, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.); Heaney D ( Center for Rural Health, University of Aberdeen, Inverness, Scotland.); O'Donnell M ( Health Research Board Clinical Research Facility, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.); Murphy AW ( Discipline of General Practice, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.) |
| Abstract |
BACKGROUND: 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. AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of a smartphone application (app) to increase physical activity in primary care. DESIGN AND SETTING: An 8-week, open-label, randomised controlled trial in rural, primary care in the west of Ireland. METHOD: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSION: A simple smartphone app significantly increased physical activity over 8 weeks in a primary care population. |
| File Format |
HTM / HTML |
| ISSN |
09601643 |
| e-ISSN |
14785242 |
| DOI |
10.3399/bjgp14X680461 |
| Journal |
British Journal of General Practice |
| Issue Number |
624 |
| Volume Number |
64 |
| Language |
English |
| Publisher |
Royal College of General Practitioners |
| Publisher Date |
2014-07-01 |
| Publisher Place |
Great Britain (UK) |
| Access Restriction |
Open |
| Subject Keyword |
Blood Pressure Research Support, Non-u.s. Gov't Discipline Family Medicine Cell Phones Randomized Controlled Trial Monitoring, Physiologic Health Promotion Mobile Applications Telemedicine Multicenter Study Primary Health Care Physiology |
| Content Type |
Text |
| Resource Type |
Article |
| Subject |
Family Practice |
