Table 1 Characteristics of included studies
Study | Population | N (randomized)/mean age (years)/sex (% female) | Intervention | Behaviour change techniques | Duration of intervention | Control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Li et al. [43] | Patients with knee osteoarthritis, > 50 years of age | 34/55.5/82 | Individualized PA goals Group education session and weekly telephone counselling by a physiotherapist Fitbit Flex activity tracker synchronized with an online dashboard | Self-monitoring Intention formation Specific goal setting Feedback on performance Review of behaviour goals | 1 month | Waiting list (same intervention with 1-month delay) |
Lyons et al. [44] | Overweight, inactive adults, aged 55–79 years | 40/61.5/85 | Daily and weekly step goals Instruction visit and weekly telephone counselling Jawbone Up24 and jawbone UP app | Self-monitoring Intention formation Specific goal setting Feedback on performance Review of behaviour goals | 12 weeks | Waiting list (full intervention after final assessment) |
Bickmore et al. [36] | Community-dwelling inactive adults, ≥ 65 years of age | 263/71.3/61 | Individualized short- and long-term PA goals Wearing pedometer ECA (computer-animated virtual exercise coach) on a tablet for 2 months ECA access in clinic waiting room for the following 10 months | Self-monitoring Intention formation Specific goal setting Feedback on performance Review of behaviour goals | 12 months (2 months intervention phase + 10 months maintenance phase) | Wearing pedometer |
Allen et al. [35] | Overweight adults, aged 21–65 years | 34/44.9/78 | PA goal of ≥ 150 min/week of MVPA Intensive counselling Lose it! weight loss application | Self-monitoring Intention formation Specific goal setting Feedback on performance Review of behaviour goals | 6 months | Intensive counselling |
Demeyer et al. [37] | COPD patients, > 40 years of age, smoking history ≥ 10 pack-years, stable or having an exacerbation in the last month | 343/67/36 | Individualized daily PA (step) goals Introduction visit, brochure and booklet containing home exercises Weekly group text message Fitbug Air step counter with Fitbug application and a project-tailored Proactive Linkcare coaching application | Self-monitoring Intention formation Specific goal setting Feedback on performance Review of behaviour goals | 12 weeks | Usual care (standard leaflet explaining the importance of PA, information about PA recommendations) |
Shin et al. [49] | Overweight Korean male university students, aged 19–45 years | 70/27.8/0 | Individualized PA goal to lose weight Brief education sessions on diet and exercise and education materials Fitmeter accelerometer and accompanying smartphone application (customized for the intervention) | Self-monitoring Intention formation Specific goal setting | 12 weeks | Brief education sessions on diet and exercise and education materials |
Recio-Rodriguez et al. [47] | Adults, ≤ 70 years of age, from Spanish primary care centres | 833/51.9/62 | Standardized counselling in PA and the Mediterranean diet EVIDENT II mobile phone app (designed for this study) | Self-monitoring Intention formation Specific goal setting Feedback on performance Review of behaviour goals | 3 months | Standardized counselling |
Uhm et al. [50] | Patients, aged 20–70 years, who completed primary breast cancer treatment | 356/50.3/100 | PA goal of ≥ 150 min/week of MVPA Home-based exercise programme Smart After Care exercise application and pedometer | Self-monitoring Intention formation Feedback on performance | 12 weeks | PA goal of ≥ 150 min/week of MVPA Home-based exercise programme Exercise brochure |
Glynn et al. [39] | Primary care patients | 90/44.1/64 | PA goal of 10,000 steps/day Accupedo Pro Pedometer App | Self-monitoring Intention formation Specific goal setting Feedback on performance Review of behaviour goals | 8Â weeks | PA goal of 30Â min walking/day |
Fukuoka et al. [38] | Overweight, inactive adults, ≥ 35 years of age, at risk for diabetes | 61/55.2/77 | Long-term PA goal of 12,000 steps/day In-person sessions Pedometer and Mobile phone-based Diabetes Prevention Program (mDPP) mobile app | Self-monitoring Intention formation Specific goal setting Feedback on performance Review of behaviour goals | 5 months | Wore pedometer, displaying step count |
Safran Naimark et al. [48] | Healthy adults interested in a healthy lifestyle | 99/47.9/64 | Presentation on healthy lifestyle eBalance application to promote a healthy lifestyle | Self-monitoring Intention formation Feedback on performance | 14Â weeks | Presentation on a healthy lifestyle |
Martin et al. [45] | Adults visiting a cardiovascular disease prevention centre | 32/58.0/46 | PA goal of 10,000 steps/day First phase of unblinded digital activity tracking with Fitbug app Second phase with three automated, personalized, smartphone-delivered coaching messages per day | Self-monitoring Intention formation Specific goal setting Feedback on performance Review of behaviour goals | 4Â weeks (2Â weeks phase 1 and 2Â weeks phase 2) | Blinded digital activity tracking |
Walsh et al. [52] | Young adults, aged 17–26 years, using a mobile phone | 58/20.5/73 | PA goal of 10,000 steps/day Information regarding the benefits of exercise Accupedo-Pro Pedometer App and accompanying pedometer | Self-monitoring Intention formation Specific goal setting Feedback on performance Review of behaviour goals | 5 weeks | Education regarding PA goal of 30 min walking/day and benefits |
Hartman et al. [41] | Middle-aged and older overweight women with elevated breast cancer risk | 55/59.5/100 | Weight loss intervention with MyFitnessPal and Fitbit app PA goal of ≥ 150 min/week of MVPA Twelve standardized coaching calls | Self-monitoring Intention formation Specific goal setting Feedback on performance Review of behaviour goals | 6 months | Usual care (dietary guidelines) Two brief calls |
Harries et al. [40] | Healthy males, aged 22–40 years | 110/NA/0 | Smartphone app recording steps and providing feedback Motivational text messages | Self-monitoring Intention formation Feedback on performance | 6 weeks (plus 2 weeks run-in) | Carries smartphone to record steps with a built-in accelerometer |
Vorrink et al. [51] | Patients with COPD, GOLD stage 2 or 3, ≥ 40 years of age | 183/63.0/50 | Individualized PA goal Smartphone application and built-in accelerometer Website for physiotherapist to monitor patient and provide feedback | Self-monitoring Intention formation Specific goal setting Feedback on performance Review of behaviour goals | 12 months | Usual care |
King et al. [42] | Underactive adults, ≥ 45 years of age, with no prior smartphone experience | 49/60.0/75 | Daily PA goal of 30 min/day of MVPA Smartphone app recording steps and providing feedback | Self-monitoring Intention formation Specific goal setting Feedback on performance Review of behaviour goals | 8 weeks | Non-physical, diet-tracking control app (Calorific) |
Paul et al. [46] | Stroke survivors | 24/56.0/52 | Individualized PA step goals, increased during the intervention period STARFISH smartphone app Extra research centre visit | Self-monitoring Specific goal setting Feedback on performance Review of behaviour goals | 6Â weeks | Usual care (wore ActivPAL before start intervention and during last week) |