ArticleJMIR mHealth and uHealth2020
Engagement Features in Physical Activity Smartphone Apps: Focus Group Study With Sedentary People.
Article in JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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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.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Potential associations between behavior change techniques and engagement with mobile health apps: a systematic review.Frontiers in psychology · 2023Pooled it
- Efficacy of a theory-based and tailored mHealth intervention promoting walking behavior: a preliminary randomized controlled trial.Scientific reports · 2025Trial
- Effectiveness of a tailored communication intervention to improve physical activity in hypertensive patients: a twelve-month randomized controlled trial.BMC cardiovascular disorders · 2024Trial
- Promoting Hand Hygiene During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Parallel Randomized Trial for the Optimization of the Soapp App.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2023Trial
- Walking and Daily Affect Among Sedentary Older Adults Measured Using the StepMATE App: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2021Trial
- Co-designing a culturally appropriate mHealth physical activity intervention for midlife women experiencing menopause in Saudi Arabia: stakeholder recommendations.BMC public health · 2026Article
- Preadolescent Children Using Real-Time Heart Rate During Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity: A Feasibility Study.JMIR human factors · 2025Article
- Perceptions of self-monitoring dietary intake according to a plate-based approach: A qualitative study.PloS one · 2023Article
- Co-Produce, Co-Design, Co-Create, or Co-Construct-Who Does It and How Is It Done in Chronic Disease Prevention? A Scoping Review.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Methods for Human-Centered eHealth Development: Narrative Scoping Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2022Article
- Effect of Weight Goals on Sitting and Moving During a Worksite Sedentary Time Reduction Intervention.Translational journal of the American College of Sports Medicine · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundEngagement with physical activity mobile apps has been reported to be a core precondition for their effectiveness in digital behavior change interventions. However, to date, little attention has been paid to understanding the perspectives, needs, expectations, and experiences of potential users with physical activity mobile apps.
objectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the features that are judged to be important for engagement with a physical activity mobile app and the reasons for their importance.
methodsA qualitative focus-group methodology with elements of co-design was adopted in this study. Participants reporting sedentary lifestyles and willingness to improve their physical activity behavior through mobile technology were recruited. The focus group sessions consisted of 13 participants (8 men and 5 women, mean [SD] age 41.9 [7.1] years). Two researchers conducted the data analysis independently by using the inductive thematic approach.
resultsFour main themes emerged in relation to the research question and were named as follows: "physical activity participation motives," "autonomy and self-regulation," "need for relatedness," and "smart." Additionally, 2 subthemes originated from "physical activity participation motives" (ie, "medical guidance" and "weight loss and fitness for health") and "smart" (ie, "action planning" and "adaptable and tailored").
conclusionsFeatures enhancing autonomy and self-regulation and positively affecting health and physical well-being as well as the need for relatedness, adaptability, and flexibility should be considered as core elements in the engagement of potential users with physical activity mobile apps. The emerged findings may orient future research and interventions aiming to foster engagement of potential users with physical activity apps.
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