{"title":"Associations of Early Childhood Correlates With Device-Measured Physical Activity in the First Years of Life: Findings From the 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Study.","authors":"Debora Tornquist, Luciana Tornquist, Inácio Crochemore-Silva, Grégore Iven Mielke, Ulf Ekelund, Pedro Curi Hallal, Marlos Rodrigues Domingues","doi":"10.1123/jpah.2024-0565","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2024-0565","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The study aimed to examine the associations between breastfeeding, home environmental and childcare characteristics, and maternal and child behaviors and physical activity (PA) in the first years of life in the 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>PA was measured with wrist accelerometers at 1 (n = 2974), 2 (n = 2645), and 4 years (n = 2955), and PA trajectories were estimated using group-based trajectory modeling (n = 1798).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>At the age of 1 year, partially breastfed children had higher levels of PA, whereas children with excessive screen time had lower PA. At 2 years, children whose mothers went for leisure walks had higher levels of PA, and children who attended childcare had lower levels of PA. At 4 years, higher PA was associated with breastfeeding for >6 months, maternal leisure-time PA, and having ≥2 siblings, whereas attendance at public childcare was associated with lower PA. Attendance at childcare in at least one follow-up and public childcare reduced the probability of the child presenting a trajectory of high PA in the early years. Children of mothers who performed some leisure-time PA and other leisure-time PA (except walking) in more than 1 follow-up were more likely to present a high PA trajectory.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Breastfeeding, childcare, number of siblings, maternal PA, and screen time were shown to be correlates of PA levels in early childhood.</p>","PeriodicalId":16812,"journal":{"name":"Journal of physical activity & health","volume":" ","pages":"1-14"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144560407","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lisan M Hidding, Mai J M Chinapaw, Catharina Brindley, Yolanda Demetriou, Anna Dzielska, Zdenek Hamrik, Dorota Kleszczewska, Marek Maracek, Adilson Marques, Miguel Peralta, Dorothea M I Schönbach, Teatske M Altenburg
{"title":"Perspectives From Adolescents, Parents, and Teachers on Barriers and Facilitators for European Adolescents to Cycle to and From School: A Concept Mapping Study.","authors":"Lisan M Hidding, Mai J M Chinapaw, Catharina Brindley, Yolanda Demetriou, Anna Dzielska, Zdenek Hamrik, Dorota Kleszczewska, Marek Maracek, Adilson Marques, Miguel Peralta, Dorothea M I Schönbach, Teatske M Altenburg","doi":"10.1123/jpah.2024-0508","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2024-0508","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Active travel to/from school can contribute to adolescents' overall physical activity. This study aimed to examine factors that stimulate or discourage 12- to 15-year-old adolescents' cycling to/from school from the perspective of adolescents, parents, and teachers in 5 European countries.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted concept mapping sessions with 437 secondary school students, 89 parents, and 72 teachers. Participants generated ideas regarding the needs of adolescents to cycle daily to/from school, individually sorted all ideas (on self-perceived similarity), and rated their importance (for being able to cycle to/from school) and feasibility on a 5-point Likert-scale. Clusters representing potential determinants were created using multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis and categorized according the Model of Children's Active Travel.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants identified 30 different potential determinants, of which 28 were by adolescents, 26 were by parents, and 26 were by teachers. Fifteen potential determinants were categorized in the \"objective\" environmental domain of Model of Children's Active Travel (eg, \"A good and safe cycling infrastructure\"); 10 in the child perceptions domain (eg, \"A sense of safety\"); 4 in the \"objective\" child, parent, and family characteristics domain (eg, \"Skills & knowledge\"); and 1 in the parents' perceptions domain (ie, \"Parents support & perceptions\"). Potential determinants considerably differed across stakeholder groups and countries.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Adolescents, parents, and teachers identified a wide range of potential determinants for cycling to/from school in adolescents. Our findings indicate that future interventions might benefit from including the perspectives of adolescents, parents, and teachers, focusing on determinants from all domains of the Model of Children's Active Travel model.</p>","PeriodicalId":16812,"journal":{"name":"Journal of physical activity & health","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144560408","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shreya Raval, Francesco Acciai, Kylie Wilson, Allison Poulos, Punam Ohri-Vachaspati
{"title":"Longitudinal Analysis of Shared Use of School Physical Activity Facilities in 4 Low-Income Cities in New Jersey From 2010 to 2020.","authors":"Shreya Raval, Francesco Acciai, Kylie Wilson, Allison Poulos, Punam Ohri-Vachaspati","doi":"10.1123/jpah.2024-0810","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2024-0810","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>US physical activity (PA) guidelines promote community-level initiatives like shared use of recreational facilities to support PA. \"Shared use\" occurs when entities, like schools, allow community access to their facilities. Despite its benefits, comprehensive data tracking prevalence of these initiatives over time is lacking. This study examines the trends of shared use of PA facilities in public schools in 4 New Jersey cities between 2010 and 2020 and the school-level factors associated with it.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data on community access to school indoor and outdoor PA facilities were collected through surveys of school personnel from K-12 public schools (n = 94-124) from school year 2010-2011 to 2019-2020 (N = 1096 surveys). School demographics data were drawn from the National Center for Education Statistics. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusting for repeated measurements within schools were used to examine the prevalence of shared use.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Over the study period, shared use of school PA facilities declined significantly, for both indoor (66.2% to 46.3%) and outdoor (46.1% to 31.6%) facilities (P = .002, for both). The number of school PA facilities available was associated with higher odds of having a shared use (P < .001). Primary schools had a significantly higher prevalence of shared use of indoor (55.7%) facilities compared with secondary schools (49.8%) over the 10-year study period.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The study highlights decline in shared use of school PA facilities from school years 2010-2011 to 2019-2020. Further research is needed to understand this decline and develop strategies to promote adoption of shared use.</p>","PeriodicalId":16812,"journal":{"name":"Journal of physical activity & health","volume":" ","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144475677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rodrigo Siqueira Reis, Ana Luiza Favarão Leão, Adriano Akira Ferreira Hino, Alexandre Augusto de Paula da Silva, Carla Elane Silva Dos Santos, Cassiano Ricardo Rech, Inácio Crochemore-Silva, Maryse Rios-Hernandez, RIcardo Brandão de Oliveira, Rogério César Fermino, Viviane Nogueira de Zorzi, Alex Antonio Florindo
{"title":"Advancing Research and Practice in People, Health, and Place in Brazil: Using Community-Based System Dynamics to Identify Physical Activity Research Priorities.","authors":"Rodrigo Siqueira Reis, Ana Luiza Favarão Leão, Adriano Akira Ferreira Hino, Alexandre Augusto de Paula da Silva, Carla Elane Silva Dos Santos, Cassiano Ricardo Rech, Inácio Crochemore-Silva, Maryse Rios-Hernandez, RIcardo Brandão de Oliveira, Rogério César Fermino, Viviane Nogueira de Zorzi, Alex Antonio Florindo","doi":"10.1123/jpah.2024-0902","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2024-0902","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Brazil has made significant strides in promoting physical activity through research, policy, and large-scale programs. However, physical inactivity persists as a major risk factor for noncommunicable diseases, disproportionately affecting women, older adults, and low-income populations. Addressing this issue requires evidence-based approaches rooted in social justice, particularly within Brazil's complex social, economic, and spatial inequalities.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study applied community-based system dynamics to engage health, urban planning, and social equity researchers to identify research priorities for promoting physical activity. Participants collaboratively developed causal loop diagrams using group model-building workshops to map the factors influencing physical activity across leisure and transport domains.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>These causal loop diagrams highlighted macro determinants, including public policies, urban infrastructure, and climate resilience, as key drivers of health equity. Through iterative refinement and expert consultation, the study identified 6 priority areas: monitoring inequalities, understanding social and environmental influences, assessing climate change impacts, evaluating policy and infrastructure effects, examining health impacts, and enhancing research methods. Participants prioritized these areas based on feasibility and importance, revealing the need for actionable research on health outcomes and practical interventions.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings underscore the importance of systems-oriented, place-based approaches to physical activity promotion. Addressing systemic inequalities, fostering equitable urban environments, and integrating health and climate goals are essential for advancing policies that support physical activity as a fundamental right in Brazil. This study provides a framework for aligning research, policy, and practice to promote physical activity, improve health equity, and enhance climate resilience.</p>","PeriodicalId":16812,"journal":{"name":"Journal of physical activity & health","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144475676","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Where do People Engage in Physical Activity? A Visualization Approach to the Domain Composition of Population Physical Activity.","authors":"Narumi Fujioka, Yuki Hayashi, I-Min Lee, Masamitsu Kamada","doi":"10.1123/jpah.2025-0053","DOIUrl":"10.1123/jpah.2025-0053","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Effective physical activity promotion requires a comprehensive understanding of physical activity across work, household, travel, and recreation domains. Although previous studies have assessed the relative contributions of each domain to total physical activity using averages, the distribution among diverse individuals remains unclear. We aimed to develop a visualization approach to assess the distribution of the relative contributions of each domain to physical activity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used nationally representative data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2018 for the United States and 2020 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey for Japan; both utilized the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. We calculated each domain's relative contribution to total physical activity and created histograms of ternary plots.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The distribution of each domain's relative contributions to total physical activity demonstrated that most participants from the United States and Japan concentrated their activity in 1 or 2 domains. However, clusters of domain composition differed between the 2 countries. In the United States, work/household contributions were highest (50.6%), with fewer individuals having high travel contributions. In Japan, travel contributed the most (41.7%), with many clusters showing low work/household contributions. The average total moderate and vigorous physical activity in both countries was higher among those with greater work/household contributions.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our novel visualization approach demonstrated that most participants concentrate their physical activity in 1 or 2 domains. Given the diverse ways to meet physical activity guidelines, it is crucial to adopt a systems approach that considers each domain, from enhancing active transportation to promoting recreational physical activity.</p>","PeriodicalId":16812,"journal":{"name":"Journal of physical activity & health","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144333371","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
El Zahraa Majed, Jenna Abdel-Jalil, Lucie Lévesque
{"title":"The Effectiveness of Interventions to Improve Movement Behaviors Over the 24-Hour Day Among Immigrants: A Systematic Review.","authors":"El Zahraa Majed, Jenna Abdel-Jalil, Lucie Lévesque","doi":"10.1123/jpah.2024-0534","DOIUrl":"10.1123/jpah.2024-0534","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Achieving a healthy balance of 24-hour movement behaviors-physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, and sleep-represents a public health imperative to promote health among immigrants. Effective interventions that target movement behaviors over the 24-hour day must be evidence based.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To systematically review and assess the strategy (ie, content and delivery) and effectiveness of interventions targeting movement behaviors among adult immigrants in immigrant-adopting countries.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and Cochrane processes guided this review. Six databases were searched for studies published up until February 2025 about interventions to engage immigrant adults in at least one movement behavior. Two independent reviewers used Covidence software to screen and extract data according to inclusion criteria. Evidence was graded using the Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development, and Evaluation framework. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute's critical appraisal tools for quality assessment.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The search yielded a total of 27 relevant studies. Of these, 4 studies reported on interventions targeting PA and sedentary behavior, and the remaining studies targeted PA only. No studies targeted sleep. Most interventions were educational. All interventions were culturally tailored, and some interventions effectively improved at least one of the targeted movement behaviors.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There is evidence to suggest that interventions targeting PA and sedentary behavior among immigrants are effective, but there is no published evidence about interventions to promote sleep in this group. Further research is needed to inform interventions to promote movement behaviors over the 24-hour day among immigrants.</p>","PeriodicalId":16812,"journal":{"name":"Journal of physical activity & health","volume":" ","pages":"1-25"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144333370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anna K Jansson, Sam Beacroft, Viola Mattern, Ronald C Plotnikoff
{"title":"Characteristics of Outdoor Gym Interventions Promoting Physical Activity: A Systematic Review Toward Guiding Scalable, Population-Based Programs.","authors":"Anna K Jansson, Sam Beacroft, Viola Mattern, Ronald C Plotnikoff","doi":"10.1123/jpah.2025-0021","DOIUrl":"10.1123/jpah.2025-0021","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Scalable physical activity interventions are crucial in addressing the widespread issue of global physical inactivity. Outdoor gyms present as a promising setting to deliver physical activity interventions that can be scaled to engage significant proportions of the population. This systematic review aims to analyze how interventions conducted in outdoor gym settings to date have been delivered, identify their target populations, and describe the types of equipment and exercises used.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic search of peer-reviewed English-language articles was conducted using the following databases: EBSCO, Embase, MEDLINE, ProQuest, Scopus, and Web of Science. Studies that employed experimental pre-post designs, including randomized controlled trials and single-group designs, and promoted physical activity through outdoor gyms were eligible for inclusion.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria for this review. Most interventions were fully supervised by exercise professionals, with a primary focus on older adults. Although males and females were equally targeted in most studies, female participants tended to be overrepresented. Variability existed in terms of intervention dosage, with session frequency ranging from fortnightly to 3 each week. Studies often only included 1 outdoor gym location, with the amount and type of equipment available varying between studies.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>More robust experimental trials using appropriate frameworks are required to guide scalable, population-based programs. This review aids researchers, practitioners, and planners by mapping program characteristics, providing evidence, and identifying gaps for future large-scale studies and initiatives.</p>","PeriodicalId":16812,"journal":{"name":"Journal of physical activity & health","volume":" ","pages":"1-20"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144333369","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Callum Regan, Maria Hagströmer, Frida Bergman, Maria Bäck, Isabel Drake, Henrik Johansson, Jenny Rossen, Philip von Rosen
{"title":"Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Individuals With and Without Chronic Diseases: Cross-Sectional Results of 27,890 Adults From the Swedish CArdioPulmonary BioImage Study Cohort.","authors":"Callum Regan, Maria Hagströmer, Frida Bergman, Maria Bäck, Isabel Drake, Henrik Johansson, Jenny Rossen, Philip von Rosen","doi":"10.1123/jpah.2024-0771","DOIUrl":"10.1123/jpah.2024-0771","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study compared levels of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) in adults with and without chronic diseases or multimorbidity, acknowledging sociodemographic factors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional analysis was conducted with data from 27,890 participants (52% women), aged 50-64, from the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study cohort. Over 1500 chronic diseases were included and categorized into chronic disease and multimorbidity groups. Chronic diseases were retrieved from national registries, using International Classification of Disease codes. PA and SB were measured with a triaxial hip-worn accelerometer, over 7 consecutive days. General linear models were used to calculate estimated means for daily time spent in light-intensity PA (LIPA), moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA and SB.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Time spent in LIPA, moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA, and SB did not differ between individuals in a chronic disease group and individuals without chronic diseases. Individuals living with any multimorbidity spent less time in moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA than participants without chronic diseases. Individuals living with 4 or more chronic diseases spent more time sedentary than individuals without chronic diseases. Women spent more time in LIPA and less time in SB than men, regardless of chronic disease or multimorbidity. Individuals with less education spent more time in LIPA and less time in SB than individuals with more education, regardless of chronic disease or multimorbidity.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>When using an extensive set of chronic diseases, marginal differences in PA and SB were seen between individuals living with and without chronic diseases. PA and SB seem to significantly differ by sex and education, rather than living with chronic disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":16812,"journal":{"name":"Journal of physical activity & health","volume":" ","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144333368","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Iván Clavel, Jaume García, Xián Mayo, Jorge García-Unanue, Eliseo Iglesias-Soler, Jose Luis Felipe, Leonor Gallardo
{"title":"Prediction of Dropout in Physical Activity: The Effect of Time.","authors":"Iván Clavel, Jaume García, Xián Mayo, Jorge García-Unanue, Eliseo Iglesias-Soler, Jose Luis Felipe, Leonor Gallardo","doi":"10.1123/jpah.2024-0777","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2024-0777","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Leisure-time physical activity is the preferred domain by the population to follow physical activity recommendations, helping to maintain a healthy lifestyle. However, the main issue in this type of physical activity intervention is massive dropout.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using monthly data from 20,908 leisure/fitness center members (2011-2016), we estimate a discrete-time duration model to examine how membership duration influences dropout probability, addressing cross-sectional limitations. Additionally, we assess the explanatory power of different covariate groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Dropout probability follows a seasonal pattern, peaking within the first 3 months before declining and stabilizing over time. Short-term memberships and low attendance frequency significantly increase dropout risk, confirming that membership conditions and time-related variables are key predictors of retention. Additionally, macroeconomic factors particularly unemployment play a crucial role in increasing dropout probability.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These results could help both recreational facility managers and policymakers to design strategies to reduce dropout among physical activity practitioners, in particular, in the current situation generated by the COVID-19 crisis.</p>","PeriodicalId":16812,"journal":{"name":"Journal of physical activity & health","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144225790","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Corneel Vandelanotte, Carol Maher, Danya Hodgetts, Tasadduq Imam, Mamunur Rashid, Quyen G To, Stewart Trost
{"title":"Impact of Iterative Development and Beta-Testing on the Usability and Acceptability of a Novel Just-in-Time Adaptive Digital Physical Activity Intervention.","authors":"Corneel Vandelanotte, Carol Maher, Danya Hodgetts, Tasadduq Imam, Mamunur Rashid, Quyen G To, Stewart Trost","doi":"10.1123/jpah.2025-0107","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2025-0107","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The search for cost-effective population-based physical activity interventions continues. Therefore, we developed a novel just-in-time adaptive digital assistant supported by machine learning (ie, MoveMentor). Beta-testing is essential to evaluate both technical performance and user acceptance. The aim of this study was to assess app usability, acceptability, and technical performance through iterative rounds of beta-testing.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Insufficiently active people (age: 39.8 [10.2]; 86% female) participated in 2 rounds of beta-testing (round 1, n = 112; round 2, n = 41). Participants downloaded the digital assistant app onto their phone to use during the study period (round 1: 12 wk, round 2: 4 wk). Participants were asked complete at least 4 educational and 5 chat conversations, rate over 50 notifications, and complete an online follow-up survey at week 4 examining aspects of app usability and acceptability. Descriptive statistics and t tests were used to analyze outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Across both rounds, the app demonstrated good overall usability scores (System Usability Scale: 75.3 out of 100) but lower usefulness ratings. Round 2 participants showed increased engagement with features including action plans (P < .001), educational conversations (P < .001), and personalization features (P < .001), and they appreciated the educational conversations more (P < .05). Technical issues including data syncing problems and chat limitations persisted across both rounds. The notification system received mixed feedback, though customization options in round 2 reduced complaints (12.2%-7.3%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The app demonstrated good acceptability and usability but low usefulness. The iterative beta-testing successfully identified areas for improvement and enabled meaningful enhancements to content and user engagement features. While some technical challenges persisted, the beta-testing provided clear direction for ongoing improvements.</p>","PeriodicalId":16812,"journal":{"name":"Journal of physical activity & health","volume":" ","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144225789","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}