Post-intervention durability of standalone digital behavior change interventions for physical activity in adults: a focused mini review and quantitative synthesis.

BACKGROUND

Standalone digital behavior change interventions (DBCIs) are increasingly used to promote physical activity (PA), but their post-intervention durability remains unclear. This focused mini review with quantitative synthesis examined maintenance and attenuation of standalone DBCI effects on PA in adults.

METHODS

PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection, and SPORTDiscus were searched without date restrictions, with the final search conducted on 3 May 2026. Eligible studies were randomized controlled studies involving adults, standalone DBCIs targeting PA, a comparator not receiving the target structured DBCI, and PA outcomes assessed post-intervention and at ≥1 follow-up. Random-effects meta-analyses used Hedges' g, with the longest follow-up used for the primary maintenance analysis.

RESULTS

Seventeen studies involving 8,990 participants were included in the review, of which 13 contributed effect sizes to the primary quantitative synthesis. Standalone DBCIs showed a small, non-significant effect at the longest follow-up (g = 0.13; p = 0.066; I 2 = 64.2%), with low-certainty evidence. Time-window analyses showed a small significant post-intervention effect (g = 0.14; p = 0.048), whereas follow-up effects were small and non-significant. Meta-regression showed no clear progressive attenuation.

CONCLUSION

Standalone DBCIs showed small positive post-intervention point estimates, but evidence remains insufficient to establish reliable maintenance after active support is reduced or withdrawn. Future studies should use repeated follow-ups and report engagement, continued tool access, and post-intervention support.