Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Education, University of Newcastle , Callaghan, NSW , Australia.
Faculty of Science and Information Technology, School of Design Communication and Information Technology, University of Newcastle , Callaghan, NSW , Australia.
Front Public Health. 2014 May 20;2:42. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2014.00042. eCollection 2014.
To describe the development and implementation of a smartphone application (app) designed to promote physical activity and reduce screen-time in adolescent boys considered "at-risk" of obesity.
An app was developed to support the delivery of a face-to-face school-based obesity prevention program known as the "Active Teen Leaders Avoiding Screen-time" (ATLAS) program. ATLAS was guided by self-determination theory and social cognitive theory and evaluated using a cluster randomized controlled trial with 361 boys (12.7 ± 0.5 years) in 14 secondary schools. Following the completion of the study, participants in the intervention group completed a process evaluation questionnaire and focus groups were conducted with 42 students to explore their general perceptions of the ATLAS program and their experience with the smartphone app. Barriers and challenges encountered in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the app are also described.
Participation in the study was not contingent on ownership of a smartphone, but 70% of participants in the intervention group reported having access to a smartphone or tablet device. Focus group participants reported an enjoyment of the program, and felt that it had provided them with new skills, techniques, and routines for the future. However, their engagement with the smartphone app was limited, due to a variety of reasons. Barriers to the implementation and evaluation of the app included limited access to smartphone devices, technical problems with the push notifications, lack of access to usage data, and the challenges of maintaining participants' interest in using the app.
Although participants reported high levels of satisfaction with the ATLAS program in general, the smartphone app was not used extensively. Additional strategies and features may be needed to enhance engagement in adolescent boys.
描述一款智能手机应用程序（app）的开发和实施情况，该应用程序旨在促进被认为肥胖风险较高的青少年男孩进行身体活动和减少屏幕时间。
开发了一款 app，以支持一种名为“积极少年领袖避免屏幕时间”（ATLAS）的基于面对面的学校肥胖预防计划的实施。ATLAS 计划以自我决定理论和社会认知理论为指导，并使用 14 所中学的 361 名男孩（12.7±0.5 岁）进行的集群随机对照试验进行评估。在研究完成后，干预组的参与者完成了一个过程评估问卷，并对 42 名学生进行了焦点小组讨论，以探讨他们对 ATLAS 计划的总体看法以及他们对智能手机应用程序的体验。还描述了在开发、实施和评估应用程序中遇到的障碍和挑战。
参与研究并不取决于拥有智能手机，但干预组的 70%的参与者表示他们可以使用智能手机或平板电脑。焦点小组参与者报告说他们喜欢该计划，并认为该计划为他们提供了未来新的技能、技巧和日常习惯。然而，由于各种原因，他们对智能手机应用程序的参与程度有限。该应用程序实施和评估的障碍包括智能手机设备的有限访问、推送通知的技术问题、缺乏对使用数据的访问以及维持参与者使用应用程序的兴趣的挑战。
尽管参与者总体上报告对 ATLAS 计划的满意度很高，但智能手机应用程序的使用并不广泛。可能需要额外的策略和功能来增强青少年男孩的参与度。
