Evidence mapPaperPMID 41397249Full record

Trial reportJMIR mHealth and uHealth2025

A Refined Mobile Health Intervention (SMARTFAMILY2.0) to Promote Physical Activity and Healthy Eating in a Family Setting: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Janis Fiedler, Kathrin Wunsch, Sebastian Hubenschmid, Harald Reiterer, Britta Renner, Alexander Woll

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. 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

6 authors.

Janis Fiedler *Institute of Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9291-2191
Kathrin Wunsch *Institute of Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9400-4130
Sebastian HubenschmidDepartment of Computer and Information Science, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8704-8503
Harald ReitererDepartment of Computer and Information Science, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8528-8928
Britta RennerDepartment of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8385-2839
Alexander WollInstitute of Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5736-2980

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMany mobile health (mHealth) apps focus on promoting physical activity (PA) and healthy eating (HE). However, there is limited empirical evidence regarding their effectiveness in initiating and sustaining behavior change, particularly among children and adolescents. Considering that behavior is influenced by social contexts, it is essential to take core settings like family dynamics into account when designing mHealth apps.

objectiveThe purpose of this study was to further develop and refine the SMARTFAMILY (SF) app targeting PA and HE in a collective family-based setting by enhancing design and usability, as well as by adding gamification aspects, health literacy, and just-in-time adaptive interventions to the first version of the app.

methodsThe SF2.0 app, based on behavior change theories and techniques, was developed, implemented, and evaluated. The app was used in a collective family setting, with family members using it individually and cooperatively. In a cluster-randomized controlled trial, the intervention group (IG) used the app for 3 consecutive weeks, while the control group (CG) received no treatment. Primary outcomes included PA measured through self-reports and accelerometry, as well as self-reported fruit and vegetable intake (FVI) for HE. Secondary outcomes included intrinsic motivation, behavior-specific self-efficacy, and the Family Health Climate. A follow-up assessment (T

resultsOverall, 55 families (28 CG, 105/209; 27 IG, 104/209 participants) were recruited for the study. In total, 3 families (3 CG, n=12) chose to drop out of the study due to personal reasons before T

conclusionsThe SF2.0 trial evaluated an mHealth intervention designed to promote PA and HE within families. Despite incorporating a theoretical foundation, several behavior change techniques based on family life, and gamification and just-in-time adaptive intervention features, the intervention did not significantly increase PA levels among physically active participants. FVI, joint PA, and joint meals were improved within the IG. Previous studies on digital health interventions have produced mixed results, and family-based mHealth interventions remain rare, with limited focus on whole-family behavior and randomized controlled trials. To enhance intervention effectiveness, future app development could consider incorporating even more advanced features and should focus on inactive participants. Further research is needed to better understand intervention engagement and tailor mHealth approaches for primary prevention efforts.

trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register DRKS00010415; https://www.drks.de/search/en/trial/DRKS00010415. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR2-10.2196/20534.

Indexed as

Diet, HealthyExerciseHealth PromotionMobile ApplicationsAccelerometryAdolescentAdultChildFemaleHumansMaleTelemedicineaccelerometerbehavior changedietdigital interventionexercisefamilyfood and nutritionhealth behaviorjust-in-time adaptive interventionmobile appprimary preventionrandomized controlled trialsocial-cognitive determinantstelemedicinewearable electronic devices

Identifiers

PMID41397249
PMCPMC12750077

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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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.