Darcy Ummels

128 | Chapter 6 Skills and beliefs Most patients and all therapists found themselves skilled enough to use the activity tracker without any support. Already during the first reflection session, therapists indicated that they believed the activity tracker could be of added value for daily clinical practice. They thought that an activity tracker could be more useful than some questionnaires they used since the activity tracker provided them with objective data about their patients’ physical activity level. However, during a later iteration session, therapists expressed that the combination of an activity tracker and questionnaire was particularly useful when diagnosing a coping mechanism of a patient. ‘I had the opportunity to create insight, it is a nice measurement tool, clients like it in general, it can be motivating, and I like the app.’ Therapist 2 (reflection session) Patients found it convenient that the activity tracker measures all their activities since they mostly were not aware of every single activity they performed and therefore did not note them in their diary. Patients expressed the convenience of the visual results of the activity tracker (i.e., data graphs); without it, they would have found it difficult to explain the physical activity level to their therapists. Patients mainly valued the assessment period; they liked the activity tracker as a tool to gain insight into their physical activity, and it confronted them with their own behavior. Other patients believed that the activity tracker data made it easier to show their therapists their physical activity level. Moreover, they also thought it was fun to use the activity tracker. During the intervention period, some patients experienced a positive stimulation from the activity tracker while others thought that the data from the activity tracker resulted in negative pressure. ‘I really valued that I could see how my physical activity is related to my pain and fatigue.’ Patient 9, female, 25 years (semi ‐ structured interview) ‘I have to remember keeping my diary and, apparently, I am more active than I thought based on the activity tracker. I think I wouldn’t write all the activities in my diary. For example, when I run out of toilet paper, I walk to my basement to get some new rolls. I wouldn’t write that down as an activity.’ Patient 1, female, 35 years (semi ‐ structured interview) Goal of the activity tracker and use of the activity tracker Therapists were positive about the objective insight they got from an activity tracker during the assessment and intervention period. During the assessment period, they noticed that, in general, there was a mismatch between the experienced physical activity level and the actual physical activity level of their patient. During the last reflection session, they discussed how the use of an activity tracker can support them with