Efficacy of digital interventions on physical activity promotion in individuals with noncommunicable diseases: an overview of systematic reviews

Physical inactivity is considered one of the main modifiable risk factors for noncommunicable diseases. It has been proven that an active lifestyle is an efficient means of preventing and managing noncommunicable diseases. Multiple barriers have been identified that hinder engagement in conventional physical activity programs and the achievement of physical activity recommendations. Digital interventions may expand opportunities to resolve these barriers and empower people with noncommunicable diseases to be physically active. This overview of systematic reviews aims to evaluate the efficacy of digital interventions on physical activity promotion among individuals with major noncommunicable diseases. A protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42022364350). A qualitative synthesis method was applied to summarize the efficacy data. The assessment of methodological quality using AMSTAR-2 for each systematic review was performed by two independent reviewers. Searches in nine databases resulted in seven systematic reviews for inclusion. Most of the primary studies included in these seven reviews were conducted in high-income countries. The reviews addressed five populations: participants with cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, type 2 diabetes, and osteoarthritis. Digital interventions were classified into two categories: interventions based on digital activity trackers and remote interventions via digital facilities. Additional components were identified in both categories of interventions such as motivational content, counseling, goal setting, tailored feedback/reminders, and other behavioral change techniques. The overall quality of the reviews ranged from critically low to low. The findings provided some evidence that both categories of interventions were effective in promoting physical activity. The findings of this overview suggest that some types of digital interventions, such as self-monitoring with digital activity trackers and remote interventions via digital facilities, may be effective means of promoting physical activity across major noncommunicable diseases. The findings should be interpreted cautiously since the methodological quality of the included reviews ranged from critically low to low, and there was no consistent assessment of the certainty of evidence. Further systematic reviews are required on efficacy of digital interventions with more rigorous conducting and reporting of systematic review methodologies.