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The validity and reliability of consumer-grade activity trackers in older, community-dwelling adults : A systematic review
Straiton, Nicola Alharbi, Muaddi Bauman, Adrian Neubeck, Lis Gullick, Janice Bhindi, Ravinay Gallagher, Robyn
Straiton, Nicola
Alharbi, Muaddi
Bauman, Adrian
Neubeck, Lis
Gullick, Janice
Bhindi, Ravinay
Gallagher, Robyn
Abstract
Objective
To understand the validity and reliability of consumer-grade activity trackers (consumer wearables) in older, community-dwelling adults.
Methods
A systematic review of studies involving adults aged over 65 years who underwent physical activity monitoring with consumer wearables. A total of 7 observational studies qualified, identified from electronic databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and others (2014–2018). Validity was interpreted using correlation coefficients (CC) and percentage error for agreement between reference devices or gold-standard validation methods Reliability was compared using mean differences or ranges (under- or overestimation) of step count and activity time.
Results
Total sample size was 290 adults, mean age of 70.2 ± 4.8 years and females constituting 46.7 ± 26.1%. The studies evaluated eight different consumer wearables used by community-dwelling adults with a range of co-morbidities. Daily step count for all consumer wearables correlated highly with validation criterion, especially the ActiGraph device: intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were 0.94 for Fitbit One, 0.94 for Zip, 0.86 for Charge HR and 0.96 for Misfit Shine. Slower walking pace and impaired ambulation reduced the levels of agreement. Daily step count captured by Fitbit Zip was on average 7117 (±5,880.6), which was overestimated by five of the eight consumer wearables compared with reference devices (range 167.6–2,690.3 steps/day). Measurement of activity duration was accurate compared with reference devices, yet less so than step count.
Conclusion
In older, community-dwelling adults, consumer wearables accurately measure step count and activity duration, as confirmed by reference devices and validation methods Further research is required to understand how co-morbidities, gait and activity levels interact with monitoring in free-living environments.
Keywords
older, physical activity, exercise, tracker, wearable, measure
Date
2018
Type
Journal article
Journal
Book
Volume
112
Issue
Page Range
85-93
Article Number
ACU Department
Nursing Research Institute
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Collections
Relation URI
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled
Open
Open
Notes
© 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.