Analysing Digital Platforms and Online Communities for Promoting Physical Activity

Jennifer Hachiya

2025

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyse existing digital platform (DP) characteristics of online communities (OC) to promote physical activity (PA). Previously DP identified in our previous scoping review were matched against our inclusion criteria. DP were included if mainly used to promote PA and were free of access. In addition to the general attributes of each DP, data was retrieved on user engagement strategies, BCT, and platform credibility. A total of 50 DP were found in our Google search. Fourteen OC from the Google search and 3 OC from our previous scoping review (n=17) were included in this study. Most DP (13; 64.70%) use an activity tracker—either external or internal—to support users on PA self-monitoring, almost all DP (16; 94.12%) included GPS connectivity features, and about half of selected DP (9; 52.94%) had a forum for community interaction. We found references to 26 (92.86%) of the 28 strategies used for analysis. While research on OC to promote PA and DP characteristics has been growing, existing DP does not provide detailed information on its attributes, nor comprehensive, specific data on engagement strategies and BCT.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Hachiya J. (2025). Analysing Digital Platforms and Online Communities for Promoting Physical Activity. In Proceedings of the 18th International Joint Conference on Biomedical Engineering Systems and Technologies - Volume 2: HEALTHINF; ISBN 978-989-758-731-3, SciTePress, pages 433-440. DOI: 10.5220/0013121500003911

in Bibtex Style

@conference{healthinf25,
author={Jennifer Hachiya},
title={Analysing Digital Platforms and Online Communities for Promoting Physical Activity},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 18th International Joint Conference on Biomedical Engineering Systems and Technologies - Volume 2: HEALTHINF},
year={2025},
pages={433-440},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0013121500003911},
isbn={978-989-758-731-3},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 18th International Joint Conference on Biomedical Engineering Systems and Technologies - Volume 2: HEALTHINF
TI - Analysing Digital Platforms and Online Communities for Promoting Physical Activity
SN - 978-989-758-731-3
AU - Hachiya J.
PY - 2025
SP - 433
EP - 440
DO - 10.5220/0013121500003911
PB - SciTePress