{"id":10754,"date":"2023-09-04T06:00:23","date_gmt":"2023-09-04T05:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/?p=10754"},"modified":"2023-09-01T15:55:30","modified_gmt":"2023-09-01T14:55:30","slug":"can-digital-health-help-solve-the-global-pandemic-of-physical-inactivity-and-chronic-conditions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/2023\/09\/04\/can-digital-health-help-solve-the-global-pandemic-of-physical-inactivity-and-chronic-conditions\/","title":{"rendered":"Can digital health help solve the global pandemic of physical inactivity and chronic conditions?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Unveiling the pros and cons of digital health interventions for people with one or more chronic conditions<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This blog summarises a recent systematic review published in <\/span>the Journal of Medical Internet Research titled <\/span>Benefits and Harms of Digital Health Interventions Promoting Physical Activity in People With Chronic Conditions<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/h6>\n

The problem<\/h4>\n

We face a pressing challenge with chronic conditions imposing a significant global health burden. This burden is linked with a substantial negative impact on the individual and escalating healthcare costs (1,2). Engaging in regular physical activity can greatly benefit physical and mental health without additional risks (3). However, many people living with chronic conditions fail to meet recommended activity levels due to various barriers such as lack of time, social support, safety concerns, and cost (4).<\/span><\/p>\n

The possible solution<\/h4>\n

To address this, personalised and accessible health care is crucial. Digital health interventions offer promising solutions through various platforms like websites, mobile apps, or wearables (5). The convenience and potential for personalised care have driven the growth of digital health interventions in recent years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic (6). However, the effectiveness of these interventions to improve health remains unclear. Thus, this blog provides a comprehensive overview of our latest paper on the benefits and harms of digital health interventions promoting physical activity in people with one or more chronic conditions (multimorbidity) (7). This can help guide clinicians and decision-makers in implementing effective digital health interventions.<\/span><\/p>\n

What did we do?<\/h4>\n

We performed a systematic review on digital health interventions promoting physical activity in people (\u2265 18 years old) with one or more of the following conditions: depression or anxiety (mental health condition), heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, osteoarthritis of the hip or knee, hypertension, or type 2 diabetes (7). These conditions were selected due to their high prevalence globally and association with physical inactivity and systemic low-grade inflammation (2, 8, 9). This review included randomized controlled trials that compared interventions with a digital health component versus standard care. Digital health interventions were defined as interventions that used technology (e.g., websites, apps, wearables) to promote physical activity with or without healthcare-provided support (10).<\/span><\/p>\n

What did we find?<\/h4>\n

Our findings revealed several favourable, but small, effects of digital health interventions on various health outcomes, particularly at the end of the interventions, while only a few were sustained over time (see Infographic). Notably:<\/span><\/p>\n