2021 Volume 29 Issue 3 Pages 254-265
Objective: To identify the nudges, a behavioral economics term, used in a series of prompts “tools” to promote physical activity using applications available for handheld communication devices.
Methods: In this study, we used Scopus, Pubmed, Web of Science, and CiNii article databases and extracted randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of physical activity promotion that used various tools. We classified the elements according to the nudge checklist MINDSPACE for each tool. Cases of physical activity promotion in Japan were extracted from newspaper articles, and their nudge elements were also classified using MINDSPACE.
Results: All RCTs were from overseas, with a total of 32 tools observed and 4.2 nudge elements on average (range 0-9) per tool. The most frequently used elements were “Priming” (n=30, 93.8%), “Ego” (n=26, 81.3%), “Norms” (n=17, 53.1%), and “Commitments” (n=15, 46.9%). For domestic cases, with a total of 36 tools observed and an average of 1.4 nudge elements (range 0-9) per tool, “Incentives” (n=31, 86.1%) were most common.
Conclusion: “Priming,” “Ego,” “Norms,” and “Commitments,” which were elements frequently used in tools tested by RCTs overseas, were not used often in domestic cases of physical activity promotion. In the future, it is desirable to take these factors into consideration when developing or operating a tool intended to promote physical activity.
