IntroductionInsufficient physical activity is one of the most important risk factors for non-communicable diseases. Physical activity should therefore be intensively promoted in all age groups. Several trials suggest that it can be effectively increased through smartphone interventions.However, few of the smartphone-interventions available on the market have been scientifically evaluated. Therefore, the described study aims to assess the short-term and long-term effects of the smartphone intervention ‘VIDEA bewegt’ to increase physical activity. The trial is designed as a single-armed observational trial to assess effects under real-life conditions.Methods and analysisThe intervention consists of the smartphone-application ‘VIDEA bewegt’, which is a video-based preventative programme to improve physical activity in everyday life. The application contains several features and components including educational videos, documentation of activity and motivational exercises. A sample size of at least 106 participants is aimed for.The primary objective of this study is to determine the effect of the application on physical activity in German adults. Secondary objectives are to evaluate the self-efficacy, health-related quality of life and usability of ‘VIDEA bewegt’.Data collection is based on online questionnaires, as well as system-internal recorded data.Changes of outcomes from baseline to programme completion and follow-up will be calculated.Ethics and disseminationThe Ethics Committee of the Technical University Dresden approved the study on 25 May 2019 (EK 272062019). All data are processed anonymously and stored on servers only accessible by authorised personnel. The results of the study and the results of the usability test are aimed to be published in a scientific journal.Trial registration numberGerman Clinical Trials Registry (DRKS00017392).
ObjectivesThe primary objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the video-based smartphone app ‘VIDEA bewegt’ over eight programme weeks on physical activity in German adults.DesignThe study used a single-arm observational design, assessing the app’s effectiveness under real-life conditions. Data were collected from July 2019 to July 2020.SettingThe app is enabling users to access video-based educational content via their smartphone. A clinical visit or in-person contact was not required.ParticipantsAll individuals registered in the freely available app were invited to take part in the study.InterventionsThe app aims to increase physical activity in everyday life. It combines educative videos on lifestyle-related benefits and instructional videos of strength and endurance exercises to do at home with motivational components like goal setting, documentation of progress and personalised messages.Primary and secondary outcome measuresPrimary outcomes were physical activity based one MET minutes per week (metabolic equivalent) and step numbers.Secondary outcomes included physical self-efficacy (motivational, maintenance, recovery self-efficacy), health-related quality of life: Mental Health Component Summary score and Physical Health Component Summary score.ResultsOf 97 people included in the data analysis, 55 successfully completed the programme and all questionnaires. Significant increases over eight programme weeks (between T0 and T2) were observed in physical activity based on MET minutes per week, health-related quality of life, and recovery self-efficacy. Time spent sitting and body mass index significantly decreased for those completing the programme.ConclusionsAlthough significant benefits of physical activity were observed following a complete-case analysis, results should be dealt with caution. Studies with a larger and less heterogeneous sample and robust study designs able to measure causal effects would be desirable.Trial registration numberDRKS00017392.
Background Insufficient physical activity is one of the most important risk factors for non-communicable diseases and should therefore be intensively prevented in all age groups. According to several trials, activity can be effectively increased by smartphone-based interventions. However, the use of digital applications depends on many factors such as user acceptance and intuitive operability. Therefore, usability testing has proven to be important for the successful development of digital interventions. Thus, the German app “VIDEA bewegt” was tested on its usability in order to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the product and to improve of the app.Methods In April 2019 ten interviews were conducted using the think-aloud method and following a standardised protocol. The adult participants were confronted with “VIDEA bewegt” for the first time and had to perform pre-defined tasks covering the main features of the app. Demographics of the participants and their expectations towards an app were collected. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. The analysis of the transcripts was performed independently by two team members following the deductive qualitative content analysis according to Mayring.Results The app was rated positively in terms of design, basic registration process and the largely self-explanatory navigation. Users found the app lacked an explanation of the included components and the basic structure of the programme. Several problems with the usability were described, including technical errors and problems with understanding individual control elements. Four of the ten participants could imagine using the app in the future.Conclusions All test participants were able to use the app independently to a large extent and most of the a priori defined goals were achieved successfully. With certain minor changes, the usability can therefore be assessed as good.Trial registration The performed usability test is the basis of a study named “Evaluation of an app-based activity intervention for statutory health insured people” which is registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS). DRKS-ID: DRKS00017392 (14 June 2019)
Background Insufficient physical activity is one of the most important risk factors for non-communicable diseases and should therefore be intensively prevented in all age groups. According to several trials, activity can be effectively increased by smartphone-based interventions. However, the use of digital applications depends on many factors such as user acceptance and intuitive operability. Therefore, usability testing has proven to be important for the successful development of digital interventions. Thus, the German app “VIDEA bewegt” was tested for its usability in order to assess strengths and weaknesses and to improve the app. Methods In April 2019, ten interviews were conducted using the think-aloud method and following a standardised protocol. The adult participants were confronted with “VIDEA bewegt” for the first time and had to perform pre-defined tasks covering the main features of the app. Demographics of the participants and their expectations towards the app were collected. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. The analysis of the transcripts was performed independently by two team members following the deductive qualitative content analysis according to Mayring. Results The app was rated positively in terms of design, basic registration process and the largely self-explanatory navigation. Users missed an explanation of the basic structure and included components of the programme. Several usability problems were described, including technical errors and problems with understanding individual control elements. Four of ten participants could imagine using the app in the future. Conclusions All test participants were able to use the app independently to a large extent and most of the a priori defined goals were achieved successfully. With certain minor changes, the usability can therefore be assessed as good. Trial registration The performed usability test is the basis of a study named “Evaluation of an app-based activity intervention for statutory health insured people” which is registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS). DRKS-ID: DRKS00017392 (14 June 2019)
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.