The experience and impact of a Fitbit-based physical activity and sleep hygiene intervention for older adults experiencing cognitive decline

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to understand the experience and impact of a physical activity and sleep wrist-worn tracker (Fitbit)-based healthy lifestyle intervention for older patients attending a memory assessment service, who are experiencing cognitive impairment but do not receive a dementia diagnosis. Methods: A qualitative design was employed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposeful sample of thirteen participants recruited from a memory assessment service. Thematic analysis, that was data driven and inductive, was undertaken to analyse the data. Results: Two global themes were developed. “Understanding exercise and sleep as part of my lifestyle” was made up of themes representing how participants viewed exercise and sleep as part of their lifestyles in terms of acknowledging the positive impacts and the barriers to exercise and sleep. The second global theme “Understanding my experience of the healthy lifestyle intervention” was made up of themes that identified the positive impact of the intervention regarding improving health and wellbeing, enabling validation of proactive behaviours and motivation to engage in healthy lifestyle behaviours, so promoting positive behaviour change. Conclusion: Patients experiencing age-related cognitive impairment, applied and benefited from a healthy lifestyle Fitbit-based intervention to facilitate and promote physical activity, better sleep hygiene and healthy lifestyles.