Engagement Features in Physical Activity Smartphone Apps: Focus Group Study With Sedentary People.
BACKGROUND
Engagement with physical activity mobile apps has been reported to be a core precondition for their effectiveness in digital behavior change interventions. However, to date, little attention has been paid to understanding the perspectives, needs, expectations, and experiences of potential users with physical activity mobile apps.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the features that are judged to be important for engagement with a physical activity mobile app and the reasons for their importance.


METHODS
A qualitative focus-group methodology with elements of co-design was adopted in this study. Participants reporting sedentary lifestyles and willingness to improve their physical activity behavior through mobile technology were recruited. The focus group sessions consisted of 13 participants (8 men and 5 women, mean [SD] age 41.9 [7.1] years). Two researchers conducted the data analysis independently by using the inductive thematic approach.


RESULTS
Four main themes emerged in relation to the research question and were named as follows: "physical activity participation motives," "autonomy and self-regulation," "need for relatedness," and "smart." Additionally, 2 subthemes originated from "physical activity participation motives" (ie, "medical guidance" and "weight loss and fitness for health") and "smart" (ie, "action planning" and "adaptable and tailored").


CONCLUSIONS
Features enhancing autonomy and self-regulation and positively affecting health and physical well-being as well as the need for relatedness, adaptability, and flexibility should be considered as core elements in the engagement of potential users with physical activity mobile apps. The emerged findings may orient future research and interventions aiming to foster engagement of potential users with physical activity apps.
["D'Addario|Marco|M|0000-0002-7659-885X", 'Baretta|Dario|D|0000-0002-2866-3290', 'Zanatta|Francesco|F|0000-0002-6995-4190', 'Greco|Andrea|A|0000-0002-8086-2801', 'Steca|Patrizia|P|0000-0002-1373-5802']
D000328:Adult D015444:Exercise D005260:Female D017144:Focus Groups D006801:Humans D008297:Male D063731:Mobile Applications D057185:Sedentary Behavior D000068997:Smartphone
engagement physical activity smartphone app co-design mobile phone thematic analysis