Accepted for/Published in: JMIR mHealth and uHealth
Date Submitted: May 25, 2021
Date Accepted: Dec 14, 2021
Promoting Physical Activity and Weight Loss with mHealth Intervention among Workers: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
ABSTRACT
Background:
Physical activity is a vital factor for promoting health in the workforce. In workplace health promotion, mobile technology has recently emerged as an effective strategy to mediate change in health behaviors among workers; however, the effectiveness of mobile health intervention in promoting physical activity and weight loss for the workers is unclear.
Objective:
This study aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of current evidence on the effectiveness of mHealth interventions in promoting physical activity and weight loss among workers.
Methods:
We searched relevant databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL complete, and the Cochrane Library, for publications on mHealth interventions in English and Korean languages from inception to December 2020. Randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effectiveness of mHealth in improving physical activity and weight reduction in a control group were retrieved. A meta-analysis with a random-effect model and subgroup analyses were performed on physical activity types and mHealth intervention characteristics.
Results:
A total of eight studies were included in this analysis. More than half of the studies were identified as having a high risk of bias. The mHealth intervention group showed a significant improvement in physical activity (standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.03 to 0.41, p<.001, I2=78.0%). No significant difference in weight loss was observed compared with the control groups (SMD 0.02, 95% CI -0.07 to 0.10, p=.479, I2=0.0%). Subgroup analysis was also performed: walking activity (SMD 0.70, 95% CI 0.21 to 1.19, p<.001, I2=83.3%), multi-component program (SMD 0.19, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.33, p=.029, I2=57.4%), objective measurement (SMD 0.58, 95% CI 0.05 to 1.10; p<.001, I2=87.3%), and two or more delivery modes (SMD 0.44, 95% CI -0.01 to 0.87; p<.001, I2=85.1%) showed a significant enhancement of physical activity.
Conclusions:
This study suggests that mHealth interventions are effective for improving physical activity among workers. Future studies that assess long-term efficacy with a larger population are recommended.
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