Using an Activity Tracker in Healthcare: Experiences of Healthcare Professionals and Patients

Darcy Ummels, Emmylou Beekman, Susy M. Braun and Anna J. Beurskens
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Darcy Ummels: Research Centre for Autonomy and Participation of Persons with a Chronic Illness, Academy for Speech and Language Therapy, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 550, 6400 AN Heerlen, The Netherlands
Emmylou Beekman: Research Centre for Autonomy and Participation of Persons with a Chronic Illness, Academy for Speech and Language Therapy, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 550, 6400 AN Heerlen, The Netherlands
Susy M. Braun: Research Centre for Nutrition, Lifestyle and Exercise, Academy for Physiotherapy, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 550, 6400 AN Heerlen, The Netherlands
Anna J. Beurskens: Department of Family Medicine, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 10, 1-19

Abstract: Despite the increased use of activity trackers, little is known about how they can be used in healthcare settings. This study aimed to support healthcare professionals and patients with embedding an activity tracker in the daily clinical practice of a specialized mental healthcare center and gaining knowledge about the implementation process. An action research design was used to let healthcare professionals and patients learn about how and when they can use an activity tracker. Data collection was performed in the specialized center with audio recordings of conversations during therapy, reflection sessions with the therapists, and semi-structured interviews with the patients. Analyses were performed by directed content analyses. Twenty-eight conversations during therapy, four reflection sessions, and eleven interviews were recorded. Both healthcare professionals and patients were positive about the use of activity trackers and experienced it as an added value. Therapists formulated exclusion criteria for patients, a flowchart on when to use the activity tracker, defined goals, and guidance on how to discuss (the data of) the activity tracker. The action research approach was helpful to allow therapists to learn and reflect with each other and embed the activity trackers into their clinical practice at a specialized mental healthcare center.

Keywords: activity tacker; eHealth; telehealth; implementation; experiences; meaningful use; clinical reasoning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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