Wearable activity trackers and health awareness: Nursing implications.
Karen-Leigh Edward, Loretta Garvey, Muhammad Aziz Rahman
PMID 32685614WHAT IT FOUND
Healthy adults who already wore a tracker were more likely to report changing activity levels and doing regular exercise.
The study compared existing users with non-users, so it cannot show that the tracker caused this.
Key findings
01Tracker users were more likely than non-users to report changing activity levels and doing regular exercise.
02The survey as a whole was not dependable, and only questions 5 and 10 were kept for analysis.
03Tracker use was associated with having a TAFE certificate or diploma and with having a bachelor's degree.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study compared people who already wore a tracker with people who did not, so it cannot show that wearing one caused higher activity or awareness. The survey as a whole was not dependable; only questions 5 and 10 were kept for analysis. Participants were healthy adults in the community, not patients with chronic conditions, so it may not apply to people nurses are treating. Tracker use was associated with having a TAFE certificate or diploma and a bachelor's degree, so people who wore trackers may differ in education or motivation. No objective activity or awareness data were collected; answers were self-reported.
Declared interests
No funding was received for this project.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that wearing a tracker improves health awareness or activity. The study compared adults who already wore a tracker with adults who did not, and the survey was weak, so it shows an association, not a cause.