Commercial app use linked with sustained physical activity in two Canadian provinces: a 12-month quasi-experimental study.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Top tier commercial physical activity apps rarely undergo peer-reviewed evaluation. Even fewer are assessed beyond six months, the theoretical threshold for behaviour maintenance. The purpose of this study was to examine whether a multi-component commercial app rewarding users with digital incentives for walking was associated with an increase in physical activity over one year. METHODS:This 12-month quasi-experimental study was conducted in two Canadian provinces (n = 39,113 participants). Following a two-week baseline period, participants earned digital incentives ($0.04 CAD/day) every day they reached a personalized daily step goal. Mixed-effects models estimated changes in weekly mean daily step count between the baseline period and the last two recorded weeks. Models were f

SUBMITTER: Mitchell M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7043029 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature