The cost of delivering an Accredited Exercise Physiologist led activity tracker-based intervention

Introduction & Aims: Activity trackers are effective at improving and maintaining physical activity levels in a range of populations, including older adults. However, the costs associated with delivering an activity tracker-based intervention have not been explored. This study compared the costs of delivering a 12-month, accredited exercise physiologist (AEP) led activity tracker intervention with telephone counselling to assist maintenance of activity levels following a structured lifestyle intervention.Methods: Data from participants who completed the activity tracker (n=37) and telephone counselling (n=38) interventions of a randomised controlled trial were included in the cost analysis. Participants in the Activity Tracker group received a Jawbone UP24 and weekly text messages from an AEP offering encouragement. Those in the Telephone Counselling group received 16 phone calls from an AEP over the 12-month intervention period. Costs were calculated for all participants dependent on the portion of the intervention completed.Results: The costs of delivering an AEP-led Activity Tracker intervention to maintain daily step counts over a 12-month period was $234 per participant. If participants were to provide their own activity tracker, cost per participant was reduced to $145. The cost of delivering the Telephone Counselling intervention was $195 per participant.Conclusion: Costs are comparable between both the activity tracker and telephone counselling interventions to assist older adults to maintain daily steps over the 12-months following a structured lifestyle intervention. As such, an activity tracker may provide an alternative to tradition methods of providing feedback such as telephone counselling