Using mobile technologies and personalisation to promote health behaviours

Abstract

Current health behaviour interventions have limited reach and scalability, and lack ongoing support. Mobile technologies such as mobile applications (apps) and fitness trackers can deliver continuous support and be personalised to increase intervention efficacy and engagement. To date, little is known about the feasibility and efficacy of personalised mobile technologies in improving health behaviours. The overarching aim of this thesis is to evaluate the efficacy of mobile apps and fitness trackers for health behaviour change, specifically examine the role of personalisation and the feasibility of different personalisation approaches, and the impact of other modifiers such as the sudden environmental changes from COVID-19. To achieve this, the thesis used different methods: 1) a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the efficacy of personalised mobile technologies on health behaviours and to identify personalisation moderators associated with higher efficacy, (2) a mixed-methods experimental trial to evaluate the feasibility of a personalised physical activity mobile app, and (3) a cross-sectional survey to analyse the feasibility of using mobile technologies to support health behaviours during COVID-19. Overall, the thesis found preliminary evidence of efficacy of personalised mobile apps and fitness trackers, and revealed the feasibility of different personalisation approaches, such as using system-captured data or dynamically including users’ preferences into personalisation algorithms. Under pandemic conditions, mobile technologies were also a feasible approach to support health behaviours; however, they should be more adaptable to changes in context and users’ circumstances. Future research should investigate the long-term effectiveness of mobile apps and fitness trackers, and identify intervention moderators associated with better health outcomes.