Self-monitoring and feedback
DNM, ’d
The Fitbit provided self-monitoring and real-time feedback deemed motivational: ‘There were days where I wouldn’t look until 4pm and I would have only 3000 and I’d think I’ve got to go for an hour-long walk’ (Andrea, 64 >PA and M); ‘[The Fitbit] would say I had 8000 steps, so I would go around the block just to get 10000’ (Julie, 67 >PA and M). Participants who were more successful also reviewed their progress: ‘Fitbit would send you the weekly report and how you compared to last week. I looked at that and thought oh well this is what I’ve got to do’ (Julie, 67 >PA and M).It is important to note that self-monitoring was the primary technique used by participants and that few engaged in or were willing to do formal action-planning despite action-planning being a core component of the intervention: ‘Action-planning doesn’t really work for me, I’m a list person…it has to something really simple and measurable…a tick on the calendar’ (Andrea, 64 >PA and M.). Most preferred to keep a diary as a self-monitoring tool: ‘I keep a diary…I would always write in my diary what I had done…walk lake, walk beach’ (Rachel, 76 >PA and DNM).