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Parental Perspectives of a Wearable Activity Tracker for Children Younger Than 13 Years: Acceptability and Usability Study

Kelly Mackintosh Orcid Logo, Stephanie E Chappel Orcid Logo, Jo Salmon Orcid Logo, Anna Timperio Orcid Logo, Kylie Ball Orcid Logo, Helen Brown Orcid Logo, Susie Macfarlane Orcid Logo, Nicola D Ridgers Orcid Logo

JMIR mHealth and uHealth, Volume: 7, Issue: 11, Start page: e13858

Swansea University Author: Kelly Mackintosh Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.2196/13858

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Background: There is increasing availability of, and interest in, wearable activity trackers for children younger than 13 years. However, little is known about how children and parents use these activity trackers or perceive their acceptability.Objective: This study primarily aimed to ascertain pare...

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Published in: JMIR mHealth and uHealth
ISSN: 2291-5222
Published: JMIR Publications Inc. 2019
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fullrecord <?xml version="1.0"?><rfc1807><datestamp>2023-03-14T10:49:51.6677767</datestamp><bib-version>v2</bib-version><id>51140</id><entry>2019-07-19</entry><title>Parental Perspectives of a Wearable Activity Tracker for Children Younger Than 13 Years: Acceptability and Usability Study</title><swanseaauthors><author><sid>bdb20e3f31bcccf95c7bc116070c4214</sid><ORCID>0000-0003-0355-6357</ORCID><firstname>Kelly</firstname><surname>Mackintosh</surname><name>Kelly Mackintosh</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author></swanseaauthors><date>2019-07-19</date><deptcode>STSC</deptcode><abstract>Background: There is increasing availability of, and interest in, wearable activity trackers for children younger than 13 years. However, little is known about how children and parents use these activity trackers or perceive their acceptability.Objective: This study primarily aimed to ascertain parental perspectives on the acceptability and usability of wearables designed to monitor children's physical activity levels. Secondary aims were to (1) identify practical considerations for future use in physical activity interventions and promotion initiatives; (2) determine use of different features and functions incorporated into the accompanying app; and (3) identify parents' awareness of their child's current physical activity levels.Methods: In total, 36 children (18 boys and 18 girls) aged 7-12 years were asked to wear a wrist-worn activity tracker (KidFit) for 4 consecutive weeks and to use the accompanying app with parental assistance and guidance. Each week, one parent from each family (n=25; 21 mothers and 4 fathers) completed a Web-based survey to record their child's activity tracker use, app interaction, and overall experiences. At the end of the 4-week period, a subsample of 10 parents (all mothers) participated in face-to-face interviews exploring perceptions of the acceptability and usability of wearable activity trackers and accompanying apps. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed descriptively and thematically, respectively. Thematic data are presented using pen profiles, which were constructed from verbatim transcripts.Results: Parents reported that they and their children typically found the associated app easy to use for activity tracking, though only step or distance information was generally accessed and some difficulties interpreting the data were reported. Children were frustrated with not being able to access real-time feedback, as the features and functions were only available through the app, which was typically accessed by, or in the presence of, parents. Parents identified that children wanted additional functions including a visual display to track and self-monitor activity, access to the app for goal setting, and the option of undertaking challenges against schools or significant others. Other barriers to the use of wearable activity trackers included discomfort of wearing the monitor because of the design and the inability to wear for water- or contact-based sports.Conclusions: Most parents reported that the wearable activity tracker was easy for their child or children to use and a useful tool for tracking their children's daily activity. However, several barriers were identified, which may impact sustained use over time; both the functionality and wearability of the activity tracker should therefore be considered. Overall, wearable activity trackers for children have the potential to be integrated into targeted physical activity promotion initiatives.</abstract><type>Journal Article</type><journal>JMIR mHealth and uHealth</journal><volume>7</volume><journalNumber>11</journalNumber><paginationStart>e13858</paginationStart><paginationEnd/><publisher>JMIR Publications Inc.</publisher><placeOfPublication/><isbnPrint/><isbnElectronic/><issnPrint/><issnElectronic>2291-5222</issnElectronic><keywords>Child, mobile applications, monitoring, ambulatory, physical activity, wearable electronic devices.</keywords><publishedDay>4</publishedDay><publishedMonth>11</publishedMonth><publishedYear>2019</publishedYear><publishedDate>2019-11-04</publishedDate><doi>10.2196/13858</doi><url>http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/13858</url><notes/><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><department>Sport and Exercise Sciences</department><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><DepartmentCode>STSC</DepartmentCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><apcterm/><funders>SEC was supported by a Deakin University Postgraduate Research Scholarship. JS was supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Principal Research Fellowship (APP1026216) during this project. KB was supported by an NHMRC Principal Research Fellowship (APP1042442) AT was supported by a Future Leader Fellowship from the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Award ID 100046) during this project. NDR was supported by a Future Leader Fellowship from the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Award ID 101895).</funders><projectreference/><lastEdited>2023-03-14T10:49:51.6677767</lastEdited><Created>2019-07-19T09:27:40.0539355</Created><path><level id="1">Faculty of Science and Engineering</level><level id="2">School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences</level></path><authors><author><firstname>Kelly</firstname><surname>Mackintosh</surname><orcid>0000-0003-0355-6357</orcid><order>1</order></author><author><firstname>Stephanie E</firstname><surname>Chappel</surname><orcid>0000-0001-6559-8929</orcid><order>2</order></author><author><firstname>Jo</firstname><surname>Salmon</surname><orcid>0000-0002-4734-6354</orcid><order>3</order></author><author><firstname>Anna</firstname><surname>Timperio</surname><orcid>0000-0002-8773-5012</orcid><order>4</order></author><author><firstname>Kylie</firstname><surname>Ball</surname><orcid>0000-0003-2893-8415</orcid><order>5</order></author><author><firstname>Helen</firstname><surname>Brown</surname><orcid>0000-0002-5460-3654</orcid><order>6</order></author><author><firstname>Susie</firstname><surname>Macfarlane</surname><orcid>0000-0002-8904-8945</orcid><order>7</order></author><author><firstname>Nicola D</firstname><surname>Ridgers</surname><orcid>0000-0001-5713-3515</orcid><order>8</order></author></authors><documents/><OutputDurs/></rfc1807>
spelling 2023-03-14T10:49:51.6677767 v2 51140 2019-07-19 Parental Perspectives of a Wearable Activity Tracker for Children Younger Than 13 Years: Acceptability and Usability Study bdb20e3f31bcccf95c7bc116070c4214 0000-0003-0355-6357 Kelly Mackintosh Kelly Mackintosh true false 2019-07-19 STSC Background: There is increasing availability of, and interest in, wearable activity trackers for children younger than 13 years. However, little is known about how children and parents use these activity trackers or perceive their acceptability.Objective: This study primarily aimed to ascertain parental perspectives on the acceptability and usability of wearables designed to monitor children's physical activity levels. Secondary aims were to (1) identify practical considerations for future use in physical activity interventions and promotion initiatives; (2) determine use of different features and functions incorporated into the accompanying app; and (3) identify parents' awareness of their child's current physical activity levels.Methods: In total, 36 children (18 boys and 18 girls) aged 7-12 years were asked to wear a wrist-worn activity tracker (KidFit) for 4 consecutive weeks and to use the accompanying app with parental assistance and guidance. Each week, one parent from each family (n=25; 21 mothers and 4 fathers) completed a Web-based survey to record their child's activity tracker use, app interaction, and overall experiences. At the end of the 4-week period, a subsample of 10 parents (all mothers) participated in face-to-face interviews exploring perceptions of the acceptability and usability of wearable activity trackers and accompanying apps. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed descriptively and thematically, respectively. Thematic data are presented using pen profiles, which were constructed from verbatim transcripts.Results: Parents reported that they and their children typically found the associated app easy to use for activity tracking, though only step or distance information was generally accessed and some difficulties interpreting the data were reported. Children were frustrated with not being able to access real-time feedback, as the features and functions were only available through the app, which was typically accessed by, or in the presence of, parents. Parents identified that children wanted additional functions including a visual display to track and self-monitor activity, access to the app for goal setting, and the option of undertaking challenges against schools or significant others. Other barriers to the use of wearable activity trackers included discomfort of wearing the monitor because of the design and the inability to wear for water- or contact-based sports.Conclusions: Most parents reported that the wearable activity tracker was easy for their child or children to use and a useful tool for tracking their children's daily activity. However, several barriers were identified, which may impact sustained use over time; both the functionality and wearability of the activity tracker should therefore be considered. Overall, wearable activity trackers for children have the potential to be integrated into targeted physical activity promotion initiatives. Journal Article JMIR mHealth and uHealth 7 11 e13858 JMIR Publications Inc. 2291-5222 Child, mobile applications, monitoring, ambulatory, physical activity, wearable electronic devices. 4 11 2019 2019-11-04 10.2196/13858 http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/13858 COLLEGE NANME Sport and Exercise Sciences COLLEGE CODE STSC Swansea University SEC was supported by a Deakin University Postgraduate Research Scholarship. JS was supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Principal Research Fellowship (APP1026216) during this project. KB was supported by an NHMRC Principal Research Fellowship (APP1042442) AT was supported by a Future Leader Fellowship from the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Award ID 100046) during this project. NDR was supported by a Future Leader Fellowship from the National Heart Foundation of Australia (Award ID 101895). 2023-03-14T10:49:51.6677767 2019-07-19T09:27:40.0539355 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences Kelly Mackintosh 0000-0003-0355-6357 1 Stephanie E Chappel 0000-0001-6559-8929 2 Jo Salmon 0000-0002-4734-6354 3 Anna Timperio 0000-0002-8773-5012 4 Kylie Ball 0000-0003-2893-8415 5 Helen Brown 0000-0002-5460-3654 6 Susie Macfarlane 0000-0002-8904-8945 7 Nicola D Ridgers 0000-0001-5713-3515 8
title Parental Perspectives of a Wearable Activity Tracker for Children Younger Than 13 Years: Acceptability and Usability Study
spellingShingle Parental Perspectives of a Wearable Activity Tracker for Children Younger Than 13 Years: Acceptability and Usability Study
Kelly Mackintosh
title_short Parental Perspectives of a Wearable Activity Tracker for Children Younger Than 13 Years: Acceptability and Usability Study
title_full Parental Perspectives of a Wearable Activity Tracker for Children Younger Than 13 Years: Acceptability and Usability Study
title_fullStr Parental Perspectives of a Wearable Activity Tracker for Children Younger Than 13 Years: Acceptability and Usability Study
title_full_unstemmed Parental Perspectives of a Wearable Activity Tracker for Children Younger Than 13 Years: Acceptability and Usability Study
title_sort Parental Perspectives of a Wearable Activity Tracker for Children Younger Than 13 Years: Acceptability and Usability Study
author_id_str_mv bdb20e3f31bcccf95c7bc116070c4214
author_id_fullname_str_mv bdb20e3f31bcccf95c7bc116070c4214_***_Kelly Mackintosh
author Kelly Mackintosh
author2 Kelly Mackintosh
Stephanie E Chappel
Jo Salmon
Anna Timperio
Kylie Ball
Helen Brown
Susie Macfarlane
Nicola D Ridgers
format Journal article
container_title JMIR mHealth and uHealth
container_volume 7
container_issue 11
container_start_page e13858
publishDate 2019
institution Swansea University
issn 2291-5222
doi_str_mv 10.2196/13858
publisher JMIR Publications Inc.
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences
url http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/13858
document_store_str 0
active_str 0
description Background: There is increasing availability of, and interest in, wearable activity trackers for children younger than 13 years. However, little is known about how children and parents use these activity trackers or perceive their acceptability.Objective: This study primarily aimed to ascertain parental perspectives on the acceptability and usability of wearables designed to monitor children's physical activity levels. Secondary aims were to (1) identify practical considerations for future use in physical activity interventions and promotion initiatives; (2) determine use of different features and functions incorporated into the accompanying app; and (3) identify parents' awareness of their child's current physical activity levels.Methods: In total, 36 children (18 boys and 18 girls) aged 7-12 years were asked to wear a wrist-worn activity tracker (KidFit) for 4 consecutive weeks and to use the accompanying app with parental assistance and guidance. Each week, one parent from each family (n=25; 21 mothers and 4 fathers) completed a Web-based survey to record their child's activity tracker use, app interaction, and overall experiences. At the end of the 4-week period, a subsample of 10 parents (all mothers) participated in face-to-face interviews exploring perceptions of the acceptability and usability of wearable activity trackers and accompanying apps. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed descriptively and thematically, respectively. Thematic data are presented using pen profiles, which were constructed from verbatim transcripts.Results: Parents reported that they and their children typically found the associated app easy to use for activity tracking, though only step or distance information was generally accessed and some difficulties interpreting the data were reported. Children were frustrated with not being able to access real-time feedback, as the features and functions were only available through the app, which was typically accessed by, or in the presence of, parents. Parents identified that children wanted additional functions including a visual display to track and self-monitor activity, access to the app for goal setting, and the option of undertaking challenges against schools or significant others. Other barriers to the use of wearable activity trackers included discomfort of wearing the monitor because of the design and the inability to wear for water- or contact-based sports.Conclusions: Most parents reported that the wearable activity tracker was easy for their child or children to use and a useful tool for tracking their children's daily activity. However, several barriers were identified, which may impact sustained use over time; both the functionality and wearability of the activity tracker should therefore be considered. Overall, wearable activity trackers for children have the potential to be integrated into targeted physical activity promotion initiatives.
published_date 2019-11-04T04:02:54Z
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score 11.035634

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