Exploring the Feasibility of Accelerometer-Based Mobile Health Apps to Enhance Physical Activity in Western Rajasthan

Background: Physical inactivity is a prominent global health issue that accounts for many non-communicable diseases and premature mortality. mHealth technologies can be effective in increasing physical activity by offering personalized guidance, reminders, feedback, in addressing barriers like accessibility and motivation. Objective: This study aims to develop and evaluate the feasibility of an open source accelerometer-based m-health application for testing an intervention protocol designed to enhance physical activity in Western Rajasthan. Methods: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of two mHealth tools developed using open-source applications, designed to promote increased physical activity among patients with sedentary lifestyles. The applications were tested with 10 participants between the age group of 30 to 45 years visiting clinicians for treatment of non-communicable diseases in the western part of Rajasthan. The mixed method research was used to analyze the issues encountered while collecting the data, the effect of the mHealth application interventions, and suggested changes. Findings: A total number of 10 participants walking less than 1000 steps with an average of less than 15 minutes of Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) per day were enrolled for the study using pre-tested Sedentary Lifestyle Assessment Tool. At the end of the observation period, an increase of up to 4500 steps and 45 minutes of MVPA was observed. The mean duration of the registration process was around 316 seconds, and the physical activity tool was around 2700 seconds. During the testing of the intervention, a few of the participants had difficulties in entering the app credentials, writing phone numbers, installing the applications, and using the app to capture physical activity-related data. Novelty: The study found positive participant experiences with the accelerometer-based mHealth app, emphasizing ease of use and motivation. However, installation and data capture issues were noted, requiring improvement for future implementation and adoption. Keywords: mHealth, Physical Activity, Technology Interventions, Remote monitoring, Sensor data