Effects of an activity tracker with feedback on physical activity in women after midline laparotomy: A randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: To investigate whether the use of an activity tracker with feedback increases physical activity and is safe in patients who underwent a midline laparotomy for gynecologic disorders.

Methods: Patients who were planned to undergo a midline laparotomy for gynecologic diseases wore an activity tracker at baseline and from postoperative days 1-6. Patients in the experimental arm could monitor their step counts and were encouraged to achieve the individualized step-count goal daily. In contrast, patients in the control arm did not monitor their step-counts and received the usual encouragement for ambulation. The primary endpoint was the percentage of the average step-count at postoperative days 4-5 divided by the baseline activity count.

Results: Seventy-three patients were randomized; 63 patients underwent a surgery and wore an activity tracker; 53 patients were evaluable for primary endpoint. The activity recovery rate was significantly higher in the experimental arm compared to the control arm (71% vs 41%, p < 0.01). However, the study arm was not significantly associated with the activity recovery rate in multivariate analysis. The brief pain inventory score, brief fatigue inventory score, day of first flatus, day of soft blend diet initiation, ileus incidence, and length of postoperative hospital stay were similar between arms. The incidence of wound dehiscence and other adverse events were similar between arms. There were no grade 3 of 4 adverse events.

Conclusion: The use of an activity tracker with feedback is safe and may increase physical activity in patients who have undergone major gynecologic surgery.