@Article{info:doi/10.2196/31352,
author="Alley, Stephanie J
and van Uffelen, Jannique
and Schoeppe, Stephanie
and Parkinson, Lynne
and Hunt, Susan
and Power, Deborah
and Waterman, Natasha
and Waterman, Courtney
and To, Quyen G
and Duncan, Mitch J
and Schneiders, Anthony
and Vandelanotte, Corneel",
title="The Effectiveness of a Computer-Tailored Web-Based Physical Activity Intervention Using Fitbit Activity Trackers in Older Adults (Active for Life): Randomized Controlled Trial",
journal="J Med Internet Res",
year="2022",
month="May",
day="12",
volume="24",
number="5",
pages="e31352",
keywords="internet; online; activity trackers; activity monitors; wearables; physical activity; mobile phone",
abstract="Background: Physical activity is an integral part of healthy aging; yet, most adults aged ≥65 years are not sufficiently active. Preliminary evidence suggests that web-based interventions with computer-tailored advice and Fitbit activity trackers may be well suited for older adults. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of Active for Life, a 12-week web-based physical activity intervention with 6 web-based modules of computer-tailored advice to increase physical activity in older Australians. Methods: Participants were recruited both through the web and offline and were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 trial arms: tailoring+Fitbit, tailoring only, or a wait-list control. The computer-tailored advice was based on either participants' Fitbit data (tailoring+Fitbit participants) or self-reported physical activity (tailoring-only participants). The main outcome was change in wrist-worn accelerometer (ActiGraph GT9X)--measured moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) from baseline to after the intervention (week 12). The secondary outcomes were change in self-reported physical activity measured by means of the Active Australia Survey at the midintervention point (6 weeks), after the intervention (week 12), and at follow-up (week 24). Participants had a face-to-face meeting at baseline for a demonstration of the intervention and at baseline and week 12 to return the accelerometers. Generalized linear mixed model analyses were conducted with a $\gamma$ distribution and log link to compare MVPA and self-reported physical activity changes over time within each trial arm and between each of the trial arms. Results: A total of 243 participants were randomly assigned to tailoring+Fitbit (n=78, 32.1{\%}), tailoring only (n=96, 39.5{\%}), and wait-list control (n=69, 28.4{\%}). Attrition was 28.8{\%} (70/243) at 6 weeks, 31.7{\%} (77/243) at 12 weeks, and 35.4{\%} (86/243) at 24 weeks. No significant overall time by group interaction was observed for MVPA (P=.05). There were no significant within-group changes for MVPA over time in the tailoring+Fitbit group (+3{\%}, 95{\%} CI --24{\%} to 40{\%}) or the tailoring-only group (--4{\%}, 95{\%} CI --24{\%} to 30{\%}); however, a significant decline was seen in the control group (--35{\%}, 95{\%} CI --52{\%} to --11{\%}). The tailoring+Fitbit group participants increased their MVPA 59{\%} (95{\%} CI 6{\%}-138{\%}) more than those in the control group. A significant time by group interaction was observed for self-reported physical activity (P=.02). All groups increased their self-reported physical activity from baseline to week 6, week 12, and week 24, and this increase was greater in the tailoring+Fitbit group than in the control group at 6 weeks (+61{\%}, 95{\%} CI 11{\%}-133{\%}). Conclusions: A computer-tailored physical activity intervention with Fitbit integration resulted in improved MVPA outcomes in comparison with a control group in older adults. Trial Registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12618000646246; https://anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?ACTRN=12618000646246 ",
issn="1438-8871",
doi="10.2196/31352",
url="https://www.jmir.org/2022/5/e31352",
url="https://doi.org/10.2196/31352",
url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35552166"
}