ArticleJMIR formative research2021
A Novel Mobile App ("CareFit") to Support Informal Caregivers to Undertake Regular Physical Activity From Home During and Beyond COVID-19 Restrictions: Co-design and Prototype Development Study.
Article in JMIR formative research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 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
13 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 21 citations in OpenAlex.
- Co-created Technological Solutions for Caregivers in Health Care: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2023Pooled it
- Social media use facilitating family caregivers' positive aspects of caregiving: a perspective of media system dependency.BMC geriatrics · 2026Article
- The Development and Protocol for Testing a Co-Created Digital Intervention (Sentinel) to Improve Mental Well-Being and Help Manage and Prevent Trauma in First Responders.JMIR research protocols · 2026Article
- Enhancing Caregivers' Quality of Life Through a Web-Based Person-Centered Solution (TechQoL4Carers): Protocol for a Mixed Methods Pilot Trial.JMIR research protocols · 2026Article
- A Mobile App (CareFit) Supporting Physical Activity for Informal Carers of People With Dementia: Mixed Methods Feasibility and Adaptation Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- Medicaid Education and Eligibility Planning for Caregivers: Website Usability and Validation Study.JMIR aging · 2025Article
- Designing and Evaluating IT Applications for Informal Caregivers: Scoping Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2024Article
- Physical Activity Mobile App (CareFit) for Informal Carers of People With Dementia: Protocol for a Feasibility and Adaptation Study.JMIR research protocols · 2024Article
- Artificial Intelligence Support for Informal Patient Caregivers: A Systematic Review.Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
- Depression, Anxiety and Antidepressants and Anxiolytics Use in Spanish Informal Caregivers according to the Physical Activity Frequency: EHSS 2014-2020.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- How a co-design process led to more contextually relevant family planning interventions in emerging urban settings in Eastern Uganda.PLOS global public health · 2023Article
- Supporting Physical Activity for Informal Caregivers during and beyond COVID-19: Exploring the Feasibility, Usability and Acceptability of a Digital Health Smartphone Application, 'CareFit'.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Counseling for Physical Activity in Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scope Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundInformal caregivers, or carers (unpaid family members and friends), are instrumental to millions worldwide for the ongoing delivery of health and well-being needs. The risk of crisis points (eg, hospitalizations) for caregivers increases with the absence of physical activity. The COVID-19 pandemic is highly likely to have increased the risk of crisis points for caregivers by increasing the amount of time spent indoors due to shielding and lockdown restrictions. Thus, accessible evidence-based tools to facilitate physical activity for caregivers indoors are urgently needed.
objectiveThe aim of this study was to co-design and develop a novel mobile app to educate and support carers in the undertaking of regular physical activity at home during and beyond COVID-19 restrictions via integration of the transtheoretical model of behavior change and UK physical activity guidelines.
methodsWe co-designed a mobile app, "CareFit," by directly involving caregivers, health care professionals, and social care professionals in the requirements, capturing, and evaluation phases of three Agile Scrum design and development sprints. Seven participants representing multistakeholder views took part in three co-design sessions, each of which was followed by a development sprint. Requirements for CareFit were grounded in a combination of behavioral change science and UK government guidelines for physical activity.
resultsParticipants identified different barriers and enablers to physical activity, such as a lack of time, recognition of existing activities, and concerns regarding safely undertaking physical activity. Requirements analysis highlighted the importance of simplicity in design and a need to anchor development around the everyday needs of caregivers (eg, easy-to-use video instructions). Our final prototype app integrated guidance for undertaking physical activity at home through educational, physical activity, and communication components.
conclusionsIntegrating government guidelines with models of behavioral change into a mobile app to support the physical activity of carers is novel. We found that integrating core physical activity guidelines into a co-designed smartphone app with functionality such as a weekly planner and educational material for users is feasible. This work holds promise to fill the gap of effective physical activity solutions for caregivers both during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Further work is now needed to explore the feasibility, acceptability, and usability of the approach in real-world settings.
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