title: Assessing the Influence of a Fitbit Physical Activity Monitor on the Exercise Practices of Emergency Medicine Residents: A Pilot Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Targeted interventions have improved physical activity and wellness of medical residents. However, no exercise interventions have focused on emergency medicine residents.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to measure the effectiveness of a wearable device for tracking physical activity on the exercise habits and wellness of this population, while also measuring barriers to adoption and continued use.
  
  
  METHODS
  This pre-post cohort study enrolled 30 emergency medicine residents. Study duration was 6 months. Statistical comparisons were conducted for the primary end point and secondary exercise end points with nonparametric tests. Descriptive statistics were provided for subjective responses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The physical activity tracker did not increase the overall self-reported median number of days of physical activity per week within this population: baseline 2.5 days (interquartile range, IQR, 1.9) versus 2.8 days (IQR 1.5) at 1 month (P=.36). There was a significant increase in physical activity from baseline to 1 month among residents with median weekly physical activity level below that recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at study start, that is, 1.5 days (IQR 0.9) versus 2.4 days (IQR 1.2; P=.04), to 2.0 days (IQR 2.0; P=.04) at 6 months. More than half (60%, 18/30) of participants reported a benefit to their overall wellness, and 53% (16/30) reported a benefit to their physical activity. Overall continued use of the device was 67% (20/30) at 1 month and 33% (10/30) at 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The wearable physical activity tracker did not change the overall physical activity levels among this population of emergency medicine residents. However, there was an improvement in physical activity among the residents with the lowest preintervention physical activity. Subjective improvements in overall wellness and physical activity were noted among the entire study population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors.forename: Justin David
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2291-8640
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Schrager
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5470-3236
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shayne
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8548-6764
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors.forename: Shamie
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7766-3468
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors.forename: Rachel Elizabeth
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2573-9963
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Patzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5558-9946
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors.forename: Sheryl
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9987-2073
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heron
keywords: activity trackers; medical residency; mobile health; personal fitness trackers; physical fitness trackers; wellness programs