The Effect of Wearable Activity Monitors and Visual Feedback on Ambulation and Fitness in Patients Undergoing Transplantation.

BACKGROUND

Patients with multiple myeloma undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation are vulnerable to physical deconditioning during hospitalization.

OBJECTIVES

This randomized controlled pilot study evaluated the effect of real-time feedback on inpatient ambulation using wearable activity monitors on step counts and fitness at discharge.

METHODS

Patients received wearable activity monitors to measure step counts and completed the 6-Minute Walk Test and SF-36® pre- and postadmission. Patients were randomized to the feedback group (N = 11) that received real-time televised feedback on step counts or the control group (N = 9) that received standard care.

FINDINGS: Patients in the feedback group had higher average daily step counts. Each additional access of the ambulation dashboard correlated with an increase of 137 steps per day, suggesting that consistent feedback could potentially improve ambulation after transplantation.