Effects of a dog activity tracker on owners’ walking: a community-based randomised controlled trial
Abstract Objective A promising strategy to increase population physical activity is through promotion of dog walking. Informed by multi-process action control and nascent dog-walking theory, we examined the effectiveness of a 3-month technology-based (dog tracker) 2-arm randomised controlled dog-wal...
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| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Research Notes |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-024-06989-0 |
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| author | Matthew N. Ahmadi Raaj Kishore Biswas Lauren Powell Adrian Bauman Cathie Sherrington Anthony Podberscek Paul McGreevy Ryan E. Rhodes Emmanuel Stamatakis |
| author_facet | Matthew N. Ahmadi Raaj Kishore Biswas Lauren Powell Adrian Bauman Cathie Sherrington Anthony Podberscek Paul McGreevy Ryan E. Rhodes Emmanuel Stamatakis |
| author_sort | Matthew N. Ahmadi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective A promising strategy to increase population physical activity is through promotion of dog walking. Informed by multi-process action control and nascent dog-walking theory, we examined the effectiveness of a 3-month technology-based (dog tracker) 2-arm randomised controlled dog-walking intervention to increase dog-owner daily physical activity in the general community in Sydney, Australia. Results 37 participants were allocated to the intervention group (mean age = 43.2 [SD 11.9]) and 40 to the control group (mean age = 42.3 [SD 11.9]). Both groups averaged more than 10,500 steps/day at baseline. There was no evidence of within- or between-group physical activity differences across timepoints. The results remained consistent after exclusion of participants who had data collected during COVID-19 lockdowns. Compared with baseline, both groups had significant increases in sedentary time during the post-intervention, and 6 month follow-up. The absence of significant differences between-group physical activity differences may be attributable to the ceiling effect of both groups already being sufficiently active. These results provide useful guidance to future studies intended to assess the efficacy of technology-based dog-walking interventions. Future dog-walking interventions should specifically target physically inactive dog owners. Trial Registration: ACTRN12619001391167 (10/10/2019); Retrospectively registered. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-16563e2ec07942d1b2013cdfc81015f3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1756-0500 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Research Notes |
| spelling | doaj-art-16563e2ec07942d1b2013cdfc81015f32024-11-17T12:08:16ZengBMCBMC Research Notes1756-05002024-11-011711610.1186/s13104-024-06989-0Effects of a dog activity tracker on owners’ walking: a community-based randomised controlled trialMatthew N. Ahmadi0Raaj Kishore Biswas1Lauren Powell2Adrian Bauman3Cathie Sherrington4Anthony Podberscek5Paul McGreevy6Ryan E. Rhodes7Emmanuel Stamatakis8Hub D17, Charles Perkins Centre L6 West, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of SydneyHub D17, Charles Perkins Centre L6 West, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of SydneySchool of Veterinary Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaCharles Perkins Centre, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of SydneySydney Musculoskeletal Health and School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, University of SydneyUniversity of SydneySchool of Environmental and Rural Science, Faculty of Science, Agriculture, Business and Law, University of New EnglandSchool of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, University of VictoriaHub D17, Charles Perkins Centre L6 West, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of SydneyAbstract Objective A promising strategy to increase population physical activity is through promotion of dog walking. Informed by multi-process action control and nascent dog-walking theory, we examined the effectiveness of a 3-month technology-based (dog tracker) 2-arm randomised controlled dog-walking intervention to increase dog-owner daily physical activity in the general community in Sydney, Australia. Results 37 participants were allocated to the intervention group (mean age = 43.2 [SD 11.9]) and 40 to the control group (mean age = 42.3 [SD 11.9]). Both groups averaged more than 10,500 steps/day at baseline. There was no evidence of within- or between-group physical activity differences across timepoints. The results remained consistent after exclusion of participants who had data collected during COVID-19 lockdowns. Compared with baseline, both groups had significant increases in sedentary time during the post-intervention, and 6 month follow-up. The absence of significant differences between-group physical activity differences may be attributable to the ceiling effect of both groups already being sufficiently active. These results provide useful guidance to future studies intended to assess the efficacy of technology-based dog-walking interventions. Future dog-walking interventions should specifically target physically inactive dog owners. Trial Registration: ACTRN12619001391167 (10/10/2019); Retrospectively registered.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-024-06989-0Physical activityDog-walkingTrackerDaily stepsCommunity |
| spellingShingle | Matthew N. Ahmadi Raaj Kishore Biswas Lauren Powell Adrian Bauman Cathie Sherrington Anthony Podberscek Paul McGreevy Ryan E. Rhodes Emmanuel Stamatakis Effects of a dog activity tracker on owners’ walking: a community-based randomised controlled trial BMC Research Notes Physical activity Dog-walking Tracker Daily steps Community |
| title | Effects of a dog activity tracker on owners’ walking: a community-based randomised controlled trial |
| title_full | Effects of a dog activity tracker on owners’ walking: a community-based randomised controlled trial |
| title_fullStr | Effects of a dog activity tracker on owners’ walking: a community-based randomised controlled trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of a dog activity tracker on owners’ walking: a community-based randomised controlled trial |
| title_short | Effects of a dog activity tracker on owners’ walking: a community-based randomised controlled trial |
| title_sort | effects of a dog activity tracker on owners walking a community based randomised controlled trial |
| topic | Physical activity Dog-walking Tracker Daily steps Community |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-024-06989-0 |
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