Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34805390›Full record

ArticlemHealth2021

Using an activity tracker to increase motivation for physical activity in patients with type 2 diabetes in primary care: a randomized pilot trial.

Cynthia Pelletier, Marie-Pierre Gagnon, Natalie Alméras, Jean-Pierre Després, Paul Poirier, Angelo Tremblay, Christian Chabot, Caroline Rhéaume

Open access · diamondAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in mHealth, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
1.2field-weighted citation impact, top 22% of its field
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 14 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. 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 · 2025
    Pooled it
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Cynthia PelletierDepartment of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
Marie-Pierre GagnonVITAM - Centre de recherche en santé durable, CIUSSS-Capitale-Nationale, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
Natalie AlmérasCentre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Québec, Canada.
Jean-Pierre DesprésVITAM - Centre de recherche en santé durable, CIUSSS-Capitale-Nationale, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
Paul PoirierCentre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Québec, Canada.
Angelo TremblayVITAM - Centre de recherche en santé durable, CIUSSS-Capitale-Nationale, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
Christian ChabotVITAM - Centre de recherche en santé durable, CIUSSS-Capitale-Nationale, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
Caroline RhéaumeDepartment of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec · CAUniversité Laval · CACentres Intégré Universitaires de Santé et de Services Sociaux · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAdopting healthy lifestyle habits reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its complications. The use of an activity tracker to monitor physical activity (PA) could favor behavior changes in patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes. The aims of this study were: (I) to evaluate the impact of an activity tracker on PA and cardiometabolic risk variables in patients with T2D; (II) to assess the feasibility of its implantation in a primary care setting.

methodsThis 3-month study was a pilot randomized controlled trial of 30 patients with T2D followed at a university-affiliated Family Medicine Group. Patients were randomly assigned to either: (I) control group, including a PA promotion intervention supported by a kinesiologist or (II) intervention group, including a PA promotion intervention supported by a kinesiologist with the addition of an activity tracker (Fitbit). Cardiometabolic risk variables, PA and motivation were assessed at baseline and after three months. Satisfaction and acceptability of wearing the activity tracker were measured in the intervention group.

resultsPA assessed by questionnaires increased in both groups, change being greater in the intervention group (P<0.05). Autonomous motivation in both groups was higher than controlled motivation (P<0.001). Eighty-six percent of the participants in the intervention group were satisfied with their activity tracker use and the compliance remained high. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased in the intervention group and decreased in the control group (P=0.014). Resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased over time in both groups (P<0.05) whereas glycated hemoglobin tended to decrease in both groups (P=0.080). Significant correlations were observed between average steps per day and changes in waist circumference (pre: -0.721, P=0.044; post: -0.736, P=0.038), body mass index (pre: -0.764, P=0.010; post: -0.771, P=0.009) and fat percentage (pre: -0.654, P=0.040; post: -0.686, P=0.028) in the intervention group.

conclusionsOur pilot study shows that the use of an activity tracker improves cardiometabolic risk variables in patients with T2D and could potentially be a motivation tool to increase PA in primary care setting.

Indexed as

Activity trackermotivation behaviorphysical activity (PA)type 2 diabetes (T2D)

Identifiers

PMID34805390
PMCPMC8572757
OpenAlexW3162846250

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.