A comparative study of portable body sensing technology and a physical activity log, in a physical activity adherence programme

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to compare the impact of portable body sensing technology (SW3 Armband) and a physical activity log. Participants’ physical activity adherence levels were recorded over a six month period. The primary research involved a six month physical activity programme, entitled, ‘Get Started and Stick with it’, the programme commenced in October 2010 and finished in April 2011. Females (n=30) were recruited via a local newspaper and a radio advertisement. Participants were randomised to an Intervention Group (a), (n=15) or an Intervention Group (b), (n=15). The Intervention Group (a) (IGa) had the use of the SW3 Armband and a logbook, while the Intervention Group (b) (IGb) had the use of a logbook only for the duration of the study. To be eligible to participate in the study the following criteria applied: (1) age range: 30-50 years, (2) gender: female, (3) location: live in the Letterkenny or surrounding area, (4) physical activity levels: did not meet the World Health Organisations (WHO, 2011) minimum recommendations for physical activity, (5) have access to windows XP. Baseline characteristics for participants in the IGa showed that 53% were sedentary and 47% were irregularly active, while 33% of participants in the IGb were sedentary and 67% were irregularly active. Participants were assessed at Time 1 (T1), Time 2 (T2) and Time 3 (T3) regarding the amount of physical activity minutes accumulated and were also required to complete a stage of change (SOC) questionnaire, self-efficacy (SE) questionnaire, social support (SS) questionnaire and an enjoyment scale at each of the three time periods. The results of this study specify that the IGb performed a greater amount of moderate and vigorous intensity minutes of weekly physical activity compared to the IGa. At the end of T3, the IGb (Mean = 227.75) accumulated nearly three times more moderate and vigorous minutes of weekly physical activity than that of the IGa (Mean = 90.50). Therefore, a logbook has proved to be an effective method in promoting physical activity adherence in comparison to the SW3 Armband.