Physical activity of any intensity helps prevent chronic disease and improve health. Despite this, many adults and adolescents do not reach recommended levels of physical activity. The aim of the study, titled "Effects of Gamified Smartphone Applications on Physical Activity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine by Yanxiang Yang, Huijun Hu, and Prof. Dr. Jörg Königstorfer, all members of the Chair of Sport and Health Management, investigates the effects of gamified smartphone app interventions on physical activity.
Background and objectives of the study
Technology-based tools have been developed to help individuals initiate and maintain physical activity. Smartphone apps are particularly promising in this context. Yet, strategies are needed to increase the effectiveness of physical activity interventions delivered by smartphone apps. Gamification is a prominently used design strategy in promoting physical activity. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to synthesize the effects of gamified smartphone app-delivered interventions on physical activity in both RCTs and single-arm pre-to-post interventions.
Design and results
A total of 19 studies with 24 gamified applications were considered. Standalone gamified applications had a small-to-moderate effect on physical activity in both the between-group RCTs (n=12 applications, standardized mean difference= 0.34, 95% CI=0.06, 0.62, I2=72%, p<0.01; Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation: moderate) and the within-group pre-to-post interventions (n=18 applications, standardized mean difference=0.38, 95% CI=0.17, 0.59, I2=74%, p<0.01; Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation: very low). Leave-one-out sensitivity analyses sustained the main effects with lower heterogeneity (I2 of 31.0% and 47.8%, respectively).
The main finding of this systematic review and meta-analysis — the positive impacts of standalone gamified smartphone apps on physical activity — supports the potential relevance of the WHO’s strategy of promoting the development and implementation of digital technologies to improve physical activity around the world. Gamified apps help people make the experience enjoyable and maintain their physical activity levels over time.
Implications
The results have important implications for health professionals. They may design effective unsupervised gamified digital interventions in free-living conditions. Furthermore, the findings are important for gamification research on physical activity. Future research could investigate the impacts of gamified applications on physical activity by isolating the role of specific single or clustered groups of application features.
Contact
Department of Sport and Health Management
Prof. Dr. Jörg Königstorfer
Uptown München Campus D
Georg-Brauchle-Ring 60/62
80992 München
Tel. +49.89.289.24558
Fax +49.89.289.24642
www.sg.tum.de/mgt