Evaluation of a mHealth app to promote physical activity in Out of School Hours Care
Abstract Overview
Background: The Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) setting provides opportunities for promoting child physical activity. An mHealth app was co-designed with OSHC stakeholders to promote physical activity and nutrition.
Purpose: To test the feasibility, acceptability and potential efficacy of The Eat Smart Play Smart app to support OSHC staff in the promotion of physical activity.
Methods: Using a pilot parallel-group cluster RCT, services were recruited from two Local Health Districts in New South Wales, Australia. Feasibility was determined by recruitment and attrition rates. Acceptability was assessed post-intervention via questionnaire and data analytics on app usage were captured. Potential efficacy was determined through validated observational tools of staff physical activity-promoting behaviours. Differences between groups in staff behaviours were analysed using linear mixed models.
Results: 15 OSHC services were randomly assigned to intervention (n=8) and control (n=7) groups. App installation instructions were sent to 34 OSHC educators and directors within the intervention group, and 24 participants (71%) downloaded the app. A 65% increase in app usage was noted on days push notifications were sent compared to other days. One-quarter of users accessed the app at least weekly. The acceptability questionnaire was completed by 65% of participants. Ninety-three percent found the app easy to use, trusted the information, and would recommend the app. Staff physical activity-promoting behaviors increased over time in both groups. There were no significant between-group differences.
Conclusions: Our evaluation showed high feasibility and acceptability and resulted in increased uptake of physical activity resources. While we did not find statistically significant results, there is a need for a fully powered RCT in future research.
Practical implications: An mHealth app for Australian OSHC services was beneficial for staff and can influence physical activity-promoting behaviors.
Funding: Supported by the Prevention Research Support Program, funded by the New South Wales Ministry of Health.
Additional Authors
Name: Linda Patel
Affiliation: Early Start, Faculty of the Arts Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Presenting Author: yes
Name: Megan Hammersley
Affiliation: Early Start, Faculty of the Arts Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Presenting Author: no
Name: Susan Furber
Affiliation: Health Promotion Service, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Warrawong, NSW, Australia
Presenting Author: no
Name: Jennifer Norman
Affiliation: Health Promotion Service, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Warrawong, NSW, Australia
Presenting Author: no
Name: Sarah Ryan
Affiliation: Early Start, Faculty of the Arts Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Presenting Author: no
Name: Andrew Woods
Affiliation: Early Start, Faculty of the Arts Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Presenting Author: no
Name: Anthony Okely
Affiliation: Early Start, Faculty of the Arts Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Presenting Author: no
Information
Study Type: Intervention
Subtheme: New Technology
Population Group: Children
Setting: School, Community, Family
Submitting Author
Linda Patel
PhD Candidate
University of Wollongong
Australia
