Darcy Ummels

Patients’ experiences with commercially available activity trackers embedded in physiotherapy treatment | 57 3 became too active for their condition, which led to physical complaints. A few used the goals as a ‘brake’ to limit their physical activity. “Well it [step count goal] is not achievable. And you start to think, ‘I won’t make it anyway’, so it should be achievable goals” Female, 47 years, chronic pain Interest in feedback All participants, except one, perceived the feedback of the activity tracker as positive and pleasant. One perceived the feedback as negative, due to a decline in his health. They used the feedback as a motivator to reach their goals; almost all stated that they went for an extra walk or climbed some more stairs to achieve their target. However, it was demotivating when participants noticed that the activity trackers did not measure certain activities (cycling, walking stairs). “I started walking through the gallery and the living room just to… It really has been a challenge, but at some point it became obsessive. If I open that thing [activity tracker] at 22.00 and I thought, ‘Oh no, these are not a thousand steps, I should do a little more’. So I ran at the end of the day through my home just to make more steps.” Female, 73 years, cancer Participants also reported that they became more aware of their physical activity level in general. “I think when it [number of steps] is visible, it will motivate you to complete the task.” Male, 66 years, cancer The visual stimulant of achievement, for instance a growing flower or a smiley, was well received by almost all participants. It motivated them to gain a reward from the activity tracker (e.g., fully grown flower). Some appreciated that feedback was an objective measurement. “I think it [activity tracker] stimulates you to walk more because it is visible. If you don’t have it [activity tracker], then you don’t of course.” Female, 75 years, osteoarthritis Discussion The aim of this study was to describe how patients with a chronic disease experienced the use of commercially available activity trackers embedded in physiotherapy