Health on the move—can we keep up? Activity tracker performance test to measure data and strategic skills

This study examined data and strategic skill-related problems that activity tracker users experience and the extent to which these problems vary by gender, age and educational attainment. A performance test (<i>N</i> = 100) was conducted to study problems experienced during actual use of activity trackers. Video data of participants’ screen actions were analyzed by coding for skill-related problems regarding data retrieval and interpretation, and goal setting and decision making. The results revealed that both data and strategic skill-related problems are experienced by all users, but are particularly prominent amongst elderly and less educated users. Problems were mostly related to retrieving the correct data. Additionally, substantial problems were experienced in every facet of strategic use. Altogether, data and strategic skills are underdeveloped for the beneficial use of activity trackers. Moreover, the differences in the problems experienced among users cause widening digital inequalities.