ReviewJournal of medical Internet research2014
Behavior change techniques implemented in electronic lifestyle activity monitors: a systematic content analysis.
Review in Journal of medical Internet research, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 260 papers, 23 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
260 citing papers in PubMed, 23 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Effects of Multicomponent Digital Health Interventions on Multidimensional Physical Activity in Older Adults: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Meta-Regression of Randomized Controlled Trials.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Pooled it
- Effects of digital multimodal interventions on objectively measured physical activity in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in public health · 2026Pooled it
- Effects of physical activity-promoting wearable devices on blood pressure in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Hypertension research : official journal of the Japanese Society of Hypertension · 2025Pooled it
- Interventions on Barriers to the Participation of Adolescents in Physical Activity: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Pooled it
- Use of Behavior Change Techniques in Digital HIV Prevention Programs for Adolescents and Young People: Systematic Review.JMIR public health and surveillance · 2025Pooled it
- Wearable Activity Tracker-Based Interventions for Physical Activity, Body Composition, and Physical Function Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Pooled it
- Could the use of web-based applications assist in neuropsychiatric treatment? An umbrella review.BMC psychology · 2025Pooled it
- Effectiveness of wearable activity trackers on physical activity among adolescents in school-based settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC public health · 2025Pooled it
- The Importance of Activating Factors in Physical Activity Interventions for Older Adults Using Information and Communication Technologies: Systematic Review.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2023Pooled it
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- Effectiveness of eHealth Interventions Targeting Employee Health Behaviors: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2023Pooled it
- The effectiveness of physical activity interventions using activity trackers during or after inpatient care: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2022Pooled it
- The Effects of mHealth-Based Gamification Interventions on Participation in Physical Activity: Systematic Review.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2022Pooled it
- Pooled it
- The effectiveness of digital interventions for increasing physical activity in individuals of low socioeconomic status: a systematic review and meta-analysis.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2021Pooled it
- Fitbit-Based Interventions for Healthy Lifestyle Outcomes: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of medical Internet research · 2020Pooled it
- Effectiveness of Wearable Trackers on Physical Activity in Healthy Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2020Pooled it
- Consumer-Based Wearable Activity Trackers Increase Physical Activity Participation: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2019Pooled it
- The State of Behavior Change Techniques in Virtual Reality Rehabilitation of Neurologic Populations.Frontiers in psychology · 2019Pooled it
- The impact of wearable motion sensing technology on physical activity in older adults.Experimental gerontology · 2018Pooled it
200 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundElectronic activity monitors (such as those manufactured by Fitbit, Jawbone, and Nike) improve on standard pedometers by providing automated feedback and interactive behavior change tools via mobile device or personal computer. These monitors are commercially popular and show promise for use in public health interventions. However, little is known about the content of their feedback applications and how individual monitors may differ from one another.
objectiveThe purpose of this study was to describe the behavior change techniques implemented in commercially available electronic activity monitors.
methodsElectronic activity monitors (N=13) were systematically identified and tested by 3 trained coders for at least 1 week each. All monitors measured lifestyle physical activity and provided feedback via an app (computer or mobile). Coding was based on a hierarchical list of 93 behavior change techniques. Further coding of potentially effective techniques and adherence to theory-based recommendations were based on findings from meta-analyses and meta-regressions in the research literature.
resultsAll monitors provided tools for self-monitoring, feedback, and environmental change by definition. The next most prevalent techniques (13 out of 13 monitors) were goal-setting and emphasizing discrepancy between current and goal behavior. Review of behavioral goals, social support, social comparison, prompts/cues, rewards, and a focus on past success were found in more than half of the systems. The monitors included a range of 5-10 of 14 total techniques identified from the research literature as potentially effective. Most of the monitors included goal-setting, self-monitoring, and feedback content that closely matched recommendations from social cognitive theory.
conclusionsElectronic activity monitors contain a wide range of behavior change techniques typically used in clinical behavioral interventions. Thus, the monitors may represent a medium by which these interventions could be translated for widespread use. This technology has broad applications for use in clinical, public health, and rehabilitation settings.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.