ArticleJMIR mHealth and uHealth2018
Wearable Activity Tracker Use Among Australian Adolescents: Usability and Acceptability Study.
Article in JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 53 papers, 4 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
53 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Adherence to Actigraphic Devices in Elementary School-Aged Children: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Pooled it
- The Effectiveness of Wearable Devices as Physical Activity Interventions for Preventing and Treating Obesity in Children and Adolescents: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2022Pooled it
- The Acceptability, Feasibility, and Effectiveness of Wearable Activity Trackers for Increasing Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Pooled it
- Clinical Applications of Mobile Health Wearable-Based Sleep Monitoring: Systematic Review.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2020Pooled it
- Deconstructing Fitbit to Specify the Effective Features in Promoting Physical Activity Among Inactive Adults: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2024Trial
- Engagement, acceptability, usability and satisfaction with Active for Life, a computer-tailored web-based physical activity intervention using Fitbits in older adults.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2023Trial
- Mediators of Effects on Physical Activity and Sedentary Time in an Activity Tracker and Behavior Change Intervention for Adolescents: Secondary Analysis of a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2022Trial
- Acceptability, usefulness, and satisfaction with a web-based video-tailored physical activity intervention: The TaylorActive randomized controlled trial.Journal of sport and health science · 2022Trial
- Effect of commercial wearables and digital behaviour change resources on the physical activity of adolescents attending schools in socio-economically disadvantaged areas: the RAW-PA cluster-randomised controlled trial.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2021Trial
- Identifying Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity Participation Among Adolescents With CKD: A Qualitative Study Using Semi-Structured Interviews.Kidney medicine · 2026Article
- Evaluation of Wellby, a Cocreated Mobile App and Wearable to Support Stress Management and Overall Well-Being: Mixed Methods Acceptability and Usability Study.JMIR human factors · 2026Article
- Feasibility, Barriers, and Facilitators of Long-Term Physical Activity Tracking During Treatment: Interview Study Among Childhood Cancer Patients.JMIR pediatrics and parenting · 2025Article
- Usefulness of the LAVITA Telemonitoring System in Patients With Heart Failure - A Feasibility Study.Circulation reports · 2025Article
- Development of a 24-hour movement index: exploring acceptability among Canadian parents.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2025Article
- Article
- Development and Delivery of an Integrated Digital Health Care Approach for Children With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Usability Study.JMIR pediatrics and parenting · 2024Article
- Design and usability evaluation of a mobile application for self-care among Iranian adolescents.BMC public health · 2024Article
- Physical activity and mental health in school-aged children: a prospective two-wave study during the easing of the COVID-19 restrictions.Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health · 2024Article
- Ambient Teens Sleep Study: Protocol for a co-produced feasibility study in adolescents using a contactless radar-based sleep sensor.PloS one · 2024Article
- The effect of behavioral activation play therapy in adolescents with depression: A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.PloS one · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundWearable activity trackers have the potential to be integrated into physical activity interventions, yet little is known about how adolescents use these devices or perceive their acceptability.
objectiveThe aim of this study was to examine the usability and acceptability of a wearable activity tracker among adolescents. A secondary aim was to determine adolescents' awareness and use of the different functions and features in the wearable activity tracker and accompanying app.
methodsSixty adolescents (aged 13-14 years) in year 8 from 3 secondary schools in Melbourne, Australia, were provided with a wrist-worn Fitbit Flex and accompanying app, and were asked to use it for 6 weeks. Demographic data (age, sex) were collected via a Web-based survey completed during week 1 of the study. At the conclusion of the 6-week period, all adolescents participated in focus groups that explored their perceptions of the usability and acceptability of the Fitbit Flex, accompanying app, and Web-based Fitbit profile. Qualitative data were analyzed using pen profiles, which were constructed from verbatim transcripts.
resultsAdolescents typically found the Fitbit Flex easy to use for activity tracking, though greater difficulties were reported for monitoring sleep. The Fitbit Flex was perceived to be useful for tracking daily activities, and adolescents used a range of features and functions available through the device and the app. Barriers to use included the comfort and design of the Fitbit Flex, a lack of specific feedback about activity levels, and the inability to wear the wearable activity tracker for water-based sports.
conclusionsAdolescents reported that the Fitbit Flex was easy to use and that it was a useful tool for tracking daily activities. A number of functions and features were used, including the device's visual display to track and self-monitor activity, goal-setting in the accompanying app, and undertaking challenges against friends. However, several barriers to use were identified, which may impact on sustained use over time. Overall, wearable activity trackers have the potential to be integrated into physical activity interventions targeted at adolescents, but both the functionality and wearability of the monitor should be considered.
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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.