From the summary article: Mobile devices have increasingly penetrated our life and have become one of the study subjects in clinical informatics. Well-designed randomized trials are rarely used for these studies. A recent publication in the telemedicine journal and e-health tested the utility of Fitbit, a wearable device, in comparison with SMS messaging in prompting overweight and obese adults to increase their physical activity [5]. Sixty-seven adults enrolled in the study. The results suggest that a Fitbit and SMS mixed approach achieves a small increase in moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity at a 6-week follow-up, and SMS reminders are insufficient in increasing physical activity beyond 1 week.

From the article objective: "The main objective was to examine the short- and long-term effects of SMS text messaging on exercise frequency in older adults. Secondary objectives were to investigate how SMS text messages impact study participants’ exercise frequency and the effects of the intervention on secondary outcomes."

mFHAST Implication: Opportunity to use SMS to motivate older adults who do not exercise regularly to exercise.

From the PubMed abstract: "Mobile technology has the potential to deliver behavior change interventions (mHealth) to reduce coronary heart disease (CHD) at modest cost. Previous studies have focused on single behaviors; however, cardiac rehabilitation (CR), a component of CHD self-management, needs to address multiple risk factors."

mFHAST Implications: Opportunity for SMS interventions to increase adherence behavior changes needed to reduce coronary heart disease

From the PubMed Abstract: "Studies have shown self-monitoring can modify health behaviors, including physical activity (PA). This study tested the utility of a wearable sensor/device (Fitbit® One™; Fitbit Inc., San Francisco, CA) and short message service (SMS) text-messaging prompts to increase PA in overweight and obese adults."

mFHAST Implications: Opportunity for wearable device SMS messages to have an impact on physical activity

 

From the PubMed abstract: "Participants enrolled in a 2x2 factorial RCT and were assigned to one of four semi-automated, text message-based walking interventions. Experimental components included adaptive versus static steps/day goals, and immediate versus delayed reinforcement. Principles of percentile shaping and behavioral economics were used to operationalize experimental components. A Fitbit Zip measured the main outcome: participants' daily physical activity (steps and cadence) over the 4-month duration of the study. Secondary outcomes included self-reported PA, psychosocial outcomes, aerobic fitness, and cardiorespiratory risk factors assessed pre/post in a laboratory setting. Participants were recruited through email listservs and websites affiliated with the university campus, community businesses and local government, social groups, and social media advertising."

mFHAST Implications: Opportunity for text-message based reinforcement to increase effectiveness of a behavioral intervention (encouraging increased walking habits)