(1) Background: Interventions using activity trackers and smartphone apps have demonstrated their ability to increase physical activity in children and adults. However, they have not been tested in whole families. Further, few family-centered interventions have actively involved both parents and assessed physical activity effects separately for children, mothers and fathers. Objective: To examine the feasibility and short-term effects of an activity tracker and app intervention to increase physical activity in the whole family (children, mothers and fathers). (2) Methods: This was a single-arm feasibility study with pre-post intervention measures. Between 2017–2018, 40 families (58 children aged 6–10 years, 39 mothers, 33 fathers) participated in the 6-week Step it Up Family program in Queensland, Australia. Using commercial activity trackers combined with apps (Garmin Vivofit Jr for children, Vivofit 3 for adults; Garmin Australasia Pty Ltd., Sydney, Australia), the intervention included individual and family-level goal-setting, self-monitoring, performance feedback, family step challenges, family social support and modelling, weekly motivational text messages and an introductory session. Parent surveys were used to assess physical activity effects measured as pre-post intervention changes in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in children, mothers and fathers. Objective Garmin activity tracker data was recorded to assess physical activity levels (steps, active minutes) during the intervention. (3) Results: Thirty-eight families completed the post intervention survey (95% retention). At post intervention, MVPA had increased in children by 58 min/day (boys: 54 min/day, girls: 62 min/day; all p < 0.001). In mothers, MVPA increased by 27 min/day (p < 0.001) and in fathers, it increased by 31 min/day (p < 0.001). The percentage of children meeting Australia’s physical activity guidelines for children (≥60 MVPA min/day) increased from 34% to 89% (p < 0.001). The percentage of mothers and fathers meeting Australia’s physical activity guidelines for adults (≥150 MVPA min/week) increased from 8% to 57% (p < 0.001) in mothers and from 21% to 68% (p < 0.001) in fathers. The percentage of families with ‘at least one child and both parents’ meeting the physical activity guidelines increased from 0% to 41% (p < 0.001). Objective activity tracker data recorded during the intervention showed that the mean (SD) number of active minutes per day in children was 82.1 (17.1). Further, the mean (SD) steps per day was 9590.7 (2425.3) in children, 7397.5 (1954.2) in mothers and 8161.7 (3370.3) in fathers. (4) Conclusions: Acknowledging the uncontrolled study design, the large pre-post changes in MVPA and rather high step counts recorded during the intervention suggest that an activity tracker and app intervention can increase physical activity in whole families. The Step it Up Family program warrants further efficacy testing in a larger, randomized controlled trial.

中文翻译：

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活动追踪器和应用程序干预对增加整个家庭体力活动的影响——Step It Up 家庭可行性研究


(1) 背景：使用活动追踪器和智能手机应用程序的干预措施已证明其能够增加儿童和成人的身体活动。然而，它们还没有在整个家庭中进行过测试。此外，很少有以家庭为中心的干预措施让父母双方积极参与，并分别评估体育活动对儿童、母亲和父亲的影响。客观的： 研究活动追踪器和应用程序干预以增加整个家庭（儿童、母亲和父亲）身体活动的可行性和短期效果。 (2)方法： 这是一项采用前后干预措施的单臂可行性研究。 2017 年至 2018 年间，40 个家庭（58 名 6-10 岁儿童、39 名母亲、33 名父亲）参加了澳大利亚昆士兰州为期 6 周的Step it Up Family计划。使用商业活动跟踪器与应用程序（适用于儿童的 Garmin Vivofit Jr、适用于成人的 Vivofit 3；Garmin Australasia Pty Ltd.，澳大利亚悉尼）相结合的干预措施包括个人和家庭层面的目标设定、自我监控、表现反馈、家庭步数挑战、家庭社会支持和示范、每周励志短信和介绍课程。家长调查用于评估身体活动效果，以儿童、母亲和父亲干预前中度至剧烈身体活动（MVPA）的变化来衡量。目标 Garmin 活动追踪器数据被记录，以评估干预期间的身体活动水平（步数、活动分钟数）。 (3)结果： 38 个家庭完成了干预后调查（保留率为 95%）。 干预后，儿童的 MVPA 增加了 58 分钟/天（男孩：54 分钟/天，女孩：62 分钟/天；所有儿童 < 0.001）。在母亲中，MVPA 增加了 27 分钟/天 ( p < 0.001)，而父亲的时间增加了 31 分钟/天 ( p < 0.001）。符合澳大利亚儿童体力活动指南（≥60 MVPA 分钟/天）的儿童比例从 34% 增加到 89%（ p < 0.001）。符合澳大利亚成人身体活动指南（≥150 MVPA 分钟/周）的母亲和父亲的百分比从 8% 增加到 57%（ p < 0.001) 在母亲中，从 21% 到 68% ( p < 0.001) 在父亲中。 “至少有一个孩子和父母双方”符合体育活动指南的家庭百分比从 0% 增加到 41% ( p < 0.001）。干预期间记录的客观活动追踪数据显示，儿童每天的平均活动分钟数 ( SD ) 为 82.1 (17.1)。此外，儿童每天的平均步数 ( SD ) 为 9590.7 (2425.3)，母亲为 7397.5 (1954.2)，父亲为 8161.7 (3370.3)。 (4) 结论：承认不受控制的研究设计、MVPA 前后的巨大变化以及干预期间记录的相当高的步数表明活动追踪器和应用程序干预可以增加整个家庭的身体活动。 Step it Up Family计划需要在更大规模的随机对照试验中进行进一步的功效测试。