As the two prime examples of sport light, running and walking have become very popular sports activities in the past decades. There are references in the literature of similarities between both sports, however these parallels have never been studied. In addition, the current digitalisation of society can have important influences on the further diversification of profiles. Data of a large-scale population survey among runners and walkers (n = 4913) in Flanders (Belgium) were used to study their sociodemographic, sports related and attitudinal characteristics, and wearable usage. The results showed that walkers are more often female, older, lower educated, and less often use wearables. To predict wearable usage, sports-related and attitudinal characteristics are important among runners but not among walkers. Motivational variables to use wearables are important to predict wearable usage among both runners and walkers. Additionally, whether or not the runner or walker registers the heart rate is the most important predictor. The present study highlights similarities and differences between runners and walkers. By adding attitudinal characteristics and including walkers this article provides new insights to the literature, which can be used by policymakers and professionals in the field of sport, exercise and health, and technology developers to shape their services accordingly.
Background: Effective telemonitoring is possible through repetitive collection of electronic patient-reported outcome measures (ePROMs) in patients with chronic diseases. Low adherence to telemonitoring may have a negative impact on the effectiveness, but it is unknown which factors are associated with adherence to telemonitoring by ePROMs. The objective was to identify factors associated with adherence to telemonitoring by ePROMs in patients with chronic diseases. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Library up to 8 June 2021. Eligibility criteria were: (1) interventional and cohort studies, (2) patients with a chronic disease, (3) repetitive ePROMs being used for telemonitoring, and (4) the study quantitatively investigating factors associated with adherence to telemonitoring by ePROMs. The Cochrane risk of bias tool and the risk of bias in nonrandomized studies of interventions were used to assess the risk of bias. An evidence synthesis was performed assigning to the results a strong, moderate, weak, inconclusive or an inconsistent level of evidence. Results: Five studies were included, one randomized controlled trial, two prospective uncontrolled studies and two retrospective cohort studies. A total of 15 factors potentially associated with adherence to telemonitoring by ePROMs were identified in the predominate studies of low quality. We found moderate-level evidence that sex is not associated with adherence. Some studies showed associations of the remaining factors with adherence, but the overall results were inconsistent or inconclusive. Conclusions: None of the 15 studied factors had conclusive evidence to be associated with adherence. Sex was, with moderate strength, not associated with adherence. The results were conflicting or indecisive, mainly due to the low number and low quality of studies. To optimize adherence to telemonitoring with ePROMs, mixed-method studies are needed.
