The experiences of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using activity monitors in everyday life: an interpretative phenomenological study.

PURPOSE: Understanding the experiences of people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) using activity monitors in daily life could support the utilisation of technology within healthcare to increase physical activity and support self-management. This qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences of people with COPD using activity monitors at home in everyday life. METHODS: Semi-structured face-to-face or telephone interviews were conducted with seven people with COPD between August 2018 and June 2020. Participants had all used an activity monitor within the last year (Fitbit, Garmin, or Apple Watch). Interviews were analysed in-depth using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). RESULTS: Four themes, developed using IPA, highlight participants' engagement with activity monitors and integrating them into their lives: (1) Motivational features to monitor activity, (2) Importance of setting achievable goals, (3) Developing knowledge and awareness, and (4) Integration into everyday life for self-management. CONCLUSION: Activity monitors were perceived to be beneficial and useful to people with COPD, not just for monitoring their activity, but also helping to self-manage their condition. Activity monitors may be a useful tool within rehabilitation and healthcare services for COPD.

Activity monitors were beneficial for people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) to monitor their physical activity and support self-management of their COPD.People with COPD could see and make sense of their activity levels, set activity goals and increase their motivation from the objectively monitored activity.Activity monitors can help to support individual goal setting and facilitate ownership, but support is needed to set achievable and realistic goals.Healthcare practitioners need to be aware of the potential negative effects of using activity monitors on mental or physical health and wellbeing and support people with COPD to manage pressure and expectations of meeting their goals.

Systematic Review of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Sleep Among Adults Living with Chronic Respiratory Disease in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Abstract: Physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviour (SB) and sleep are important lifestyle behaviours associated with chronic respiratory disease (CRD) morbidity and mortality. These behaviours need to be understood in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) to develop appropriate interventions. Purpose: Where and how have free-living PA, SB and sleep data been collected for adults living with CRD in LMIC? What are the free-living PA, SB and sleep levels of adults living with CRD? Patients and Methods: The literature on free-living PA, SB and sleep of people living with CRD in LMIC was systematically reviewed in five relevant scientific databases. The review included empirical studies conducted in LMIC, reported in any language. Reviewers screened the articles and extracted data on prevalence, levels and measurement approach of PA, SB and sleep using a standardised form. Quality of reporting was assessed using bespoke criteria. Results: Of 89 articles, most were conducted in Brazil (n=43). PA was the commonest behaviour measured (n=66). Questionnaires (n=52) were more commonly used to measure physical behaviours than device-based (n=37) methods. International Physical Activity Questionnaire was the commonest for measuring PA/SB (n=11). For sleep, most studies used Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (n=18). The most common ways of reporting were steps per day (n=21), energy expenditure (n=21), sedentary time (n=16), standing time (n=13), sitting time (n=11), lying time (n=10) and overall sleep quality (n=32). Studies revealed low PA levels [steps per day (range 2669-7490steps/day)], sedentary lifestyles [sitting time (range 283-418min/day); standing time (range 139-270min/day); lying time (range 76-119min/day)] and poor sleep quality (range 33-100%) among adults with CRD in LMIC. Conclusion: Data support low PA levels, sedentary lifestyles and poor sleep among people in LMIC living with CRDs. More studies are needed in more diverse populations and would benefit from a harmonised approach to data collection for international comparisons.

Mobile health apps: An exploration of user-generated reviews in Google Play Store on a physical activity application.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate reviews that have been posted publicly on the app 'MapMyRun' to investigate which features were associated with usage of the app. A secondary aim was to determine whether MapMyRun consisted of specific behaviour change techniques that would have increased the likelihood of users being engaged with the app. METHODS: Reviews posted on MapMyRun by users between 1st May 2017- 30th April 2018 were extracted, coded and analysed using content analysis. RESULTS: Eleven behaviour change techniques were identified among the features of MapMyRun. A total of 3,253 reviews met the inclusion/exclusion criteria, and 12 codes were developed. The codes were grouped into 8 subthemes within 2 main themes: 'Effort' and 'Self-monitoring'. Consistent with previous literature, 'Goal-Setting' and 'Self-Monitoring of Behaviour' were two techniques included in MapMyRun. Social features of MapMyRun facilitated competition among users, their family, and friends. CONCLUSIONS: This was the first qualitative review to assess a single mobile health physical activity app and analyse it from the perspectives of the users. Creators of future mobile health apps should focus on user friendliness and the use of social features, as both may increase the chances of users' continued use with the app.

Developing a digital intervention for cancer survivors: an evidence-, theory- and person-based approach.

This paper illustrates a rigorous approach to developing digital interventions using an evidence-, theory- and person-based approach. Intervention planning included a rapid scoping review that identified cancer survivors' needs, including barriers and facilitators to intervention success. Review evidence (N = 49 papers) informed the intervention's Guiding Principles, theory-based behavioural analysis and logic model. The intervention was optimised based on feedback on a prototype intervention through interviews (N = 96) with cancer survivors and focus groups with NHS staff and cancer charity workers (N = 31). Interviews with cancer survivors highlighted barriers to engagement, such as concerns about physical activity worsening fatigue. Focus groups highlighted concerns about support appointment length and how to support distressed participants. Feedback informed intervention modifications, to maximise acceptability, feasibility and likelihood of behaviour change. Our systematic method for understanding user views enabled us to anticipate and address important barriers to engagement. This methodology may be useful to others developing digital interventions.

Apps and wearables for monitoring physical activity and sedentary behaviour: A qualitative systematic review protocol on barriers and facilitators.

OBJECTIVE: Monitoring of physical activity and sedentary behaviours by mobile phone applications (apps) and wearable technology (wearables) may improve these health behaviours. This systematic review aims to synthesise the qualitative literature on the barriers and facilitators of using apps and wearables for monitoring physical activity and/or sedentary behaviour in adults. METHODS: This review protocol is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42017070194). Scientific databases including CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, Cochrane Library and Scopus will be searched for relevant studies published from 1 January 2012 to the date the searches are conducted. Studies will be included if they incorporated adults who used an app or wearable for monitoring physical activity and/or sedentary behaviour; explored the barriers and/or facilitators of using an app and/or wearable; and were published in English. Following duplicate screening of titles and abstracts, full texts of potentially eligible papers will be screened to identify studies using qualitative approaches to explore barriers and facilitators of using apps and/or wearables for monitoring physical activity and/or sedentary behaviour. Discrepancies will be resolved through consensus or by consulting a third screener. Relevant excerpts (quotes and text) from the included papers will be extracted and analysed thematically. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Qualitative Research Checklist will be used to appraise included studies. CONCLUSION: The results of this work will be useful for those intending to monitor physical activity and/or sedentary behaviour using these technologies.