engleski

Effects of mobile application-delivered intervention to increase physical activity levels and reduce sedentary behavior

Introduction: The use of mobile applications to promote healthy diet, increased physical activity, weight control and water consumption is increasing. There are thousands of applications available today and as it is estimated that by 2020, 90% of world’s population aged over 6 will have a mobile phone the number of applications will only grow. It is of vital importance that these applications contain and promote research-based content to utilize positive influence on users’ perceptions, habits and actions. The aim of present research is to explore the effects of online software for personal training adapted for use within educational system on physical activity (PA) levels and sedentary behavior. Methods/Methodology: A convenience sample of 104 high school students (mean age 16.45±0.95, F 71.2%, M 28.8%) were included in the study after signing informed consent and divided into control (49, 47.1%) and experimental (55, 52.9%) groups. Research-based and professionally supervised exercise program was created by Physical Education (PE) teacher and delivered to students in experimental group via dedicated mobile application. Students were instructed to follow the program in the afternoon or evening, outside school hours for 12 weeks. Both groups participated in standard PE classes two times per week and were encouraged to engage in everyday leisure-time physical activity. The Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A) was used to assess students’ physical activity levels. A Mann-Whitney U test was run to determine if there were differences in PAQ-C items’ scores between control and experimental groups. Results: Thirteen (23.6%), 40 (72.7%) and 2 (3.6%) experimental group students participated in the program once/week, 2-3/week and every day, respectively. Total PA levels were moderate for both groups with experimental group having somewhat higher result (median 2.9 ; mean rank 57.94) than control group (median 2.7 ; mean rank 46.4) and the difference between groups approaching significant level (U = 1.646, z = 1.952, p = .051). Significantly higher (U = 1.884, z = 3.632, p = .000) moderate-to-high PA was reported during evenings for experimental group (median 4.0 ; mean rank 41.54) than moderate PA in control group (median 3.0 ; mean rank 62.26). Experimental group also reported higher PA during each day last week (median 3.3 ; mean rank 58.46) than control group (median 2.9 ; mean rank 45.81) with significant between-groups difference (U = 1.675, z = 2.139, p = .032). Discussion & Conclusion: Recent review addressing technologies to promote health and lifestyle changes states that digital health technologies will play a prominent role in future cardiovascular disease management, risk management and delivery of care. At the same time, a review of the most popular commercial applications for weight management indicate that these applications are associated with behavior change but “more attention to information quality and evidence-based content are warranted to improve their quality”. The content of mobile application used in this study is created by University professors and implemented and supervised by PE teachers. It aims to provide individualized content based on student’s personal preferences. It is a tool for PE teachers to reach their students during leisure time, monitor their progress, provide feedback and effective real-time communication. It can be used to create exercise programs but also to increase students’ motor skills and address healthy eating habits and lifestyle choices.

mobile application ; physical activity ; usage

nije evidentirano