Understanding User Perspectives to Inform Personalized Physical Activity Promotion in a Health Care App: Qualitative Focus Group Interview Study.

Health care app users were unfamiliar with the term 'physical activity' but recognized the importance of movement and reducing sedentary behavior.

• Eleven participants were interviewed in focus group interviews
• Participants were recruited regardless of age, sex, or body mass index
• Despite unfamiliarity with the formal term 'physical activity,' participants understood the concept through the lens of movement and avoiding sedentary behavior
• A thematic analysis was conducted using a combination of inductive and deductive approaches

Multiple motivating factors for engaging in physical activity were identified among health care app users.

• Motivators included improvements in mood and changes in physical appearance
• Social motivators included support from family
• Personal and behavioral motivators included alignment with personal routines and conditions such as goal setting, feedback, reminders, and praise
• Environmental and situational tailoring to physical condition, daily schedules, and weather were also identified as motivators
• Questions about motivating factors were analyzed deductively based on the social ecological model

Several barriers to engaging in physical activity were reported by health care app users.

• Reported barriers included time restrictions due to work and fatigue
• Weather was identified as an environmental barrier
• Remote work and social pressure in workplace settings were identified as contextual barriers
• Barrier questions were analyzed deductively based on the social ecological model

Most health care apps lack personalized features that promote physical activity despite its importance for health outcomes.

• Health care apps are widely used to support weight loss and lifestyle modification
• Many apps offer tailored feedback on dietary intake and nutritional behavior
• However, most lack personalized features that promote physical activity
• Physical activity is described as important for weight management, metabolic health, and chronic disease prevention

The study applied the social ecological model as a deductive framework for analyzing motivators and barriers to physical activity.

• Question 1 ('How do you perceive the importance of physical activity?') was analyzed inductively
• Questions 2 and 3 regarding motivating factors and barriers were analyzed deductively based on the social ecological model
• A combination of inductive and deductive thematic analysis approaches was used
• The study included 11 participants in focus group interviews