Feasibility and acceptability of longitudinal measurement of 24-hour movement profiles across pregnancy using research-grade devices paired with sleep diaries

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive assessment of 24-hour movement profiles can reveal patterns of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep across pregnancy. To fully capture sleep health, assessments should combine subjective measures (e.g. sleep diaries) with objective wearable data. However, collecting such data throughout pregnancy can be burdensome. This study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of using a research-grade accelerometer and daily sleep diaries longitudinally. METHODS: Ten pregnant individuals were recruited at 10 weeks' gestation and followed until 35 weeks. Participants wore the ActiGraph CentrePoint Insight accelerometer continuously and completed daily sleep diaries one week per month. Feasibility was based on adherence (≥ 4 valid accelerometer wear days ≥ 10 h/day and ≥ 4 completed diaries per week). Acceptability was evaluated via participant-reported ease of use and comfort with the accelerometer and sleep diaries in a feedback questionnaire at 35 weeks. RESULTS: Nine participants provided ≥ 4 valid accelerometer days per week for a mean of 15 weeks (range: 10-23; median: 15). Ten participants completed ≥ 4 days of text-based sleep diaries during assigned diary weeks for a mean of 5 months (range: 3-6, median: 6). Most (78%) found the sleep diaries easy to respond to and the watch comfortable, though several described the band as bulky. One-third (n = 3) experienced device issues, partially resolved through troubleshooting or replacement. CONCLUSIONS: Longitudinal 24-hour movement assessment using research-grade accelerometers paired with daily sleep diaries was feasible and acceptable for 90% of participants, though technical issues reduced wear time. Future studies should address comfort, anticipate device problems, and use reminders and text-based diaries to improve adherence.