Buitenhuis, B.M. (Bart) (2019) Weekly Messaging to Increase Physical Activity in Lung Patients Wearing a Fitbit Step Counter : A Connecare H2020 Project. thesis, Medicine.
Full text available on request.Abstract
Background Physical activity is known to increase well-being in asthma and COPD patients. The Connecare H2020 project consortium, funded by the European Union, aims to develop a smart, adaptive integrated care system for chronic care management with a step counter (Fitbit) as add on. Purpose The primary aim of this study is to investigate the effects of informational messages on physical activity and health status using a Fitbit in chronic obstructive lung patients. The secondary aim is to evaluate the feasibility of the Connecare system. Methods Participants were randomly allocated to a control and intervention group. To evaluate health status at baseline and follow-up (three months) the Clinical COPD Questionnaire (CCQ), the Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test (CARAT) and the 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12) were used. While the Fitbit step counter was used to track the participant’s physical activity. The intervention group (n=21) received weekly informational messages whereas the control group (n=25) did not. Repeated measures ANOVA was performed to study the mean steps per day over time. At follow-up the opinions of the participants with regard to the use of the Connecare system were evaluated using the system usability scale. Together with the implementation log that was kept by the researcher the feasibility of the system was assessed. Results A total of 46 patients (mean age 60, range 31-82, 50% male, 30.4% asthma, 65.2% COPD, 4.3% ACO) completed the baseline assessment. Mean steps per day in both groups showed linear trends over time, downward for the control group and more or less flat for the intervention group. Trends were not significantly different between the groups F(4.80, 115.02) = 1.16, p = 0.333. Change in health status did not differ between groups, p > 0.05. The participants found the Connecare system easy to use and quite user friendly. Usability scored an average of 81.88% (Sd 15.58). Overall the implementation and instalment went smooth. Although some minor issues became apparent making widespread implementation a time-consuming effort at this stage. Conclusion No statistically significant differences were found between groups with regard to physical activity as well as health status. Fitbit data seems to show a slight linear downtrend in the control group not visible in the intervention group, supporting the idea that encouragement plays a key role to promote physical activity. The Connecare system has proven to be easy to use even for patients inexperienced with the use of smart devices, receiving overall positive feedback from participants.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Thesis) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Supervisor: and Metting, Esther I. PhD and University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG) and Groninger Research Institute for Asthma and COPD |
| Faculty: | Medical Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 25 Jun 2020 10:43 |
| Last Modified: | 25 Jun 2020 10:43 |
| URI: | https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/418 |
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