Darcy Ummels

54 | Chapter 3 “Especially number of steps and the walked distance, I had to search for the rest. You really had to look how to get more information. Sometimes I don’t feel like searching for it.” Male, 41 years, chronic pain The activity trackers measure several variables, and most participants were interested in their number of steps, calories, sleep pattern and walked distance. When specifically asked, some participants would have liked to have variables related to swimming, cycling, and a heart rate monitor. The option to register their food and liquid intake was hardly used. “It should register all kind of movement, such as cycling and walking, and I would like to measure my heartrate and blood pressure as well.” Female, 60, chronic pain Most participants used the interface of the activity tracker itself to check their data and to receive feedback, provided that the text on the activity tracker was legible. Participants checked their data regularly, varying from once a day to several times during the day. Some participants would have liked an overview of their physical activity during the week, in the form of a graph. Participants appreciated the visual stimulant. “I saw that I was above the line, which was enough for me. But it would be nice, not every day, but once a week for example that you can see the difference with yesterday in a simple way.” Female, 66 years, cardiovascular disease and cancer Most participants focused on the number of steps as a daily goal, while some used the number of calories, but the majority took the standard goal of the activity tracker, the 10,000 steps. For many, this standard goal was too high, though almost no one altered it. The most common personal health goal of the participants was to walk more or lose weight. Some participants mentioned they did not have a specific goal but wanted to gain insight into their physical activity or into the relationship between their physical activity and their chronic disease or rehabilitation process. “When I used to come home from the clinic where I was treated, I couldn’t do anything. I could walk three steps. That has a certain progression. I would have liked to oversee this whole process. What was I able to do yesterday and what am I able to do now?” Male, 62 years, osteoarthritis The preferred place to wear the activity tracker was a trouser pocket attached with a clip, though several women preferred wearing the activity tracker attached to their bra. “Yes, in my trouser pocket, always in my trouser pocket, like now. It doesn’t bother me at all, I just have to remember it when I change my trousers.” Male, 62 years, osteoarthritis