Gamified Health Intervention Improves Postpartum Physical Activity: JAMA

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, yet few interventions have targeted this population to decrease long-term risk. Therefore, Dr Jennifer Lewey and her team conducted a study to determine whether a digital health intervention improves the physical activity in postpartum individuals with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

In this 12-week randomized trial, the researcher enrolled 127 postpartum individuals who delivered at the University of Pennsylvania and had a hypertensive disorder during pregnancy. The patients received a wearable activity tracker, established a baseline step count, selected a step goal greater than baseline, and were randomly assigned to control or intervention. Patients in the control arm (n=64) received daily feedback on goal attainment. Meanwhile, patients in the intervention arm (n=63) were placed on virtual teams and enrolled in a game with points and levels for daily step goal achievement and informed by principles of behavioural economics. The major outcome assessed was a change in mean daily step count from baseline to 12-week follow-up. They also assessed the proportion of participant-days that step goal was achieved.

Key findings of the study:

• The researchers noted that the mean (SD) baseline step count was similar in the control and intervention arms (6042 [2270] vs 6175 [1920] steps, respectively).
• After adjustment for baseline steps and calendar month, they found that the participants in the intervention arm had a significantly greater increase in mean daily step steps from baseline compared with the control arm (647 steps).
• Compared with the control arm, they observed that the participants in the intervention arm achieved their steps goals on a greater proportion of participant-days during the intervention period (0.47 vs 0.38; adjusted difference 0.11).

The authors concluded, "In this study, a digital health intervention using remote monitoring, gamification, and social incentives among postpartum individuals at elevated cardiovascular risk significantly increased physical activity throughout 12 weeks."

For further information:

DOI: 10.1001/jamacardio.2022.0553

Keywords:

Postpartum health, Digital health interventions, Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, physical activity, remote monitoring, gamification, social incentives, Women's health, lifestyle behaviour, Pregnancy, hypertension, Healthcare delivery model, JAMA Cardiology.