Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42577435›Full record

ReviewFrontiers in public health2026

Post-intervention durability of standalone digital behavior change interventions for physical activity in adults: a focused mini review and quantitative synthesis.

Jian Zeng, Hansen Li, Xing Zhang

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

3 authors.

Jian ZengMianyang Teachers' College, Mianyang, Sichuan, China.
Hansen LiSchool of Physical Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.
Xing ZhangDepartment of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Standalone digital behavior change interventions (DBCIs) are increasingly used to promote physical activity (PA), but their post-intervention durability remains unclear. This focused mini review with quantitative synthesis examined maintenance and attenuation of standalone DBCI effects on PA in adults. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection, and SPORTDiscus were searched without date restrictions, with the final search conducted on 3 May 2026. Eligible studies were randomized controlled studies involving adults, standalone DBCIs targeting PA, a comparator not receiving the target structured DBCI, and PA outcomes assessed post-intervention and at ≥1 follow-up. Random-effects meta-analyses used Hedges' g, with the longest follow-up used for the primary maintenance analysis. Results: Seventeen studies involving 8,990 participants were included in the review, of which 13 contributed effect sizes to the primary quantitative synthesis. Standalone DBCIs showed a small, non-significant effect at the longest follow-up ( Conclusion: Standalone DBCIs showed small positive post-intervention point estimates, but evidence remains insufficient to establish reliable maintenance after active support is reduced or withdrawn. Future studies should use repeated follow-ups and report engagement, continued tool access, and post-intervention support.

Indexed as

Behavior TherapyExerciseHealth BehaviorHealth PromotionAdultDigital HealthDigital MediaHumansdigital interventionsexercisemobile applicationsphysical activitywearable devices

Identifiers

PMID42577435
PMCPMC13454421

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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.