Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39830161›Full record

SynthesisInternational journal of public health2024

Digital Health Interventions to Promote Physical Activity in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Semiquantitative Analysis.

M Di Pumpo, A Miatton, M T Riccardi, E A Graps, V Baldo, A Buja, G Damiani

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in International journal of public health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
16citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

16 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. Similar exercise adherence and physical fitness outcomes are observed across distinct motivation profiles in older adults participating in a home-based structured exercise programme.European review of aging and physical activity : official journal of the European Group for Research into Elderly and Physical Activity · 2026
    Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Observational
  8. Article
  9. Review
  10. Review
  11. Article
  12. Experiences of technology for increasing physical activity of older adults: a qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis.European review of aging and physical activity : official journal of the European Group for Research into Elderly and Physical Activity · 2025
    Review
  13. Multidimensional determinants of active and healthy aging trajectories: a position paper from the Age-It Research Program.The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences · 2025
    Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

M Di Pumpo *Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
A Miatton *Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences, and Public Health, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padua, Italy.
M T RiccardiCancer Screening Coordination Unit, Local Health Unit Roma 2, Rome, Italy.
E A GrapsAgenzia Regionale per la Salute ed il Sociale ARESS, Bari, Italy.
V BaldoDepartment of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences, and Public Health, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padua, Italy.
A Buja *Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences, and Public Health, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padua, Italy.
G Damiani *Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objectives: Physical activity (PA) is crucial for older adults' wellbeing. Digital health interventions (DHIs) are important, however a synthesis aimed at healthy community-dwelling OA is lacking. This study aims to synthesize DHIs effect on PA levels among community-dwelling 60-year-old adults or older. Methods: A systematic review was performed. DHIs using eHealth/mHealth tools, apps and text messaging were included. Primary outcomes were daily steps, moderate-to-vigorous PA and sedentary time. Quality was assessed via Cochrane risk-of-bias tools. Study-reported effect, study quality, sample size, study duration and dropout rate were semi-quantitatively synthesized to determine the overall category effect. Results: 12 studies were included. 75% were low-quality, sample size was 16-18,080, study duration was 3-18 weeks, average dropout rate was 4.2%-46.7%. The synthesis of "motivational reminders" and "dynamic exercise programs" showed an overall positive effect, of "PA self-monitoring" showed mixed results and "exercise digital coaching" showed a non-positive effect. Discussion: Motivational reminders and dynamic exercise programs proved more effective in increasing PA in older adults than other interventions and should be more embedded in structured public health programs.

Indexed as

ExerciseHealth PromotionIndependent LivingAgedDigital HealthFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedMobile ApplicationsMotivationSedentary BehaviorTelemedicineText Messagingageingdigital healthexercisehealthy lifestylephysical fitness

Identifiers

PMID39830161
PMCPMC11738617

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.