Increasing physical activity in older adults using STARFISH, an interactive smartphone application (app); a pilot study

Lorna Paul; Stephen Brewster; Sally Wyke; Angus K McFadyen; Naveed Sattar; Jason Mr Gill; Aleksandra Dybus; Cindy M Gray

doi:10.1177/2055668317696236

Increasing physical activity in older adults using STARFISH, an interactive smartphone application (app); a pilot study

J Rehabil Assist Technol Eng. 2017 Apr 5:4:2055668317696236. doi: 10.1177/2055668317696236. eCollection 2017 Jan-Dec.

Authors

Lorna Paul¹, Stephen Brewster², Sally Wyke³, Angus K McFadyen⁴, Naveed Sattar⁵, Jason Mr Gill⁵, Aleksandra Dybus¹, Cindy M Gray³

Affiliations

¹ School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian Univeristy, Glasgow UK.
² School of Computing Science, University of Glasgow, UK.
³ Institute for Health and Wellbeing, College of Social Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK.
⁴ AKM-STATS, Glasgow, UK.
⁵ BHF Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre, Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK.

Abstract

Background: Increasing physical activity in older adults has preventative and therapeutic health benefits. We have developed STARFISH, a smartphone application, to increase physical activity. This paper describes the features of STARFISH, presents the views of older users on the acceptability and usability of the app and reports the results of a six week pilot study of the STARFISH app in older adults.

Methods: The operationalisation of the behaviour change techniques (BCTs) within the STARFISH app was mapped against the BCT Taxonomy of Michie et al. Sixteen healthy older adults (eight women and eight men; age 71.1 ± 5.2 years) used the app, in groups of four, for six weeks. Focus groups explored the user experience and objective measure of steps per day recorded.

Results: Participants were very positive about using the STARFISH app, in particular the embedded BCTs of self-monitoring, feedback and social support (in the form of group rewards). Objective step data, available for eight participants, showed that step counts increased by an average of 14% (p = 0.077, d = 0.56).

Conclusion: The STARFISH app was acceptable and straightforward to use for older adults. STARFISH has potential to increase physical activity in older adults; however, a fully powered randomised controlled trial is required.

Keywords: Telehealth; ageing; assistive technology; design requirements; patient behaviour monitoring devices.