Discipline of Biomedical Informatics and Digital Health, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
PLoS One. 2022 Oct 5;17(10):e0274644. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274644. eCollection 2022.
iEngage is a modular health education and behavioural change program designed to help adolescents increase moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). The program is delivered through the iEngage app which integrates activity trackers data (Misfit Ray©) within 10 interactive learning modules. Key features include guidance to set goals, self-monitor and assess achievements, and experiential learning via the connected activity trackers which allows for continuous steps recording during the program. iEngage was implemented in two schools over 5 weeks with 10-12 years old adolescents (n = 57) and PA outcomes compared to control group (n = 26). Results show that adolescents successfully set goals and self-assessed achievements during the program, progressing toward higher physical activity (PA) levels as shown by the 30% increase in daily steps through the program (+ 2647 steps/day, P < .001) with boys increasing goals and achievements faster than girls. The consistency in days totalling at least 11,000 steps/day increased from 35% at the start to 48% at the end of the program. The increase in PA is confirmed through the assessment of MVPA during schooldays pre- and post- program via research grade wrist accelerometers in both iEngage and control participants. Contrasting with the control group, MVPA was increased in the week following the program (~+5 min/day, P = .023) in short bouts, particularly during lunch time, recess and after school. This study shows that a digital program integrating activity trackers data, health education, goals setting and self-monitoring of PA, helped young adolescents enhance PA goals, improve achievements and increase MVPA.
iEngage 是一个模块化的健康教育和行为改变计划，旨在帮助青少年增加中等至剧烈体力活动（MVPA）。该计划通过 iEngage 应用程序实施，该应用程序整合了活动追踪器数据（Misfit Ray©），并包含 10 个互动学习模块。主要特点包括指导设定目标、自我监测和评估成就，以及通过连接的活动追踪器进行体验式学习，使参与者在整个计划过程中能够持续记录步数。iEngage 在两所学校进行了为期 5 周的实施，参与者为 10-12 岁的青少年（n = 57），与对照组（n = 26）进行 PA 结果比较。结果表明，青少年在计划期间成功设定目标并自我评估成就，朝着更高的身体活动水平前进，每天的步数增加了 30%（每天增加 2647 步，P <.001），男孩比女孩更快地提高目标和成就。每天至少达到 11000 步的天数比例从计划开始时的 35%增加到计划结束时的 48%。通过在 iEngage 和对照组参与者中使用研究级腕部加速度计，在计划前后的上学日评估 MVPA，证实了 PA 的增加。与对照组相比，在计划结束后的一周内（~+5 分钟/天，P =.023），MVPA 增加了，尤其是在午餐时间、课间休息和放学后的短时间内。这项研究表明，一个整合活动追踪器数据、健康教育、目标设定和 PA 自我监测的数字计划，帮助青少年提高了 PA 目标、改善了成就并增加了 MVPA。
