Using mHealth interventions to increase patients' physical activity may not be as effective as recent studies have suggested, according to a literature review in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.
Researchers examined 20 articles reflecting 15 trials published between 2000 and 2012, and evaluated the results of each for their ability to be applied to a larger, generalized population.
While the majority of the studies showed the use of mHealth could effectively increase physical activity in patients, few were conducted with populations conducive to generalization and few reported on implementation or maintenance practices. The researchers suggest further study is needed on this topic.
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