Are Wearables Effective in LMICs?

Abstract

Objectives: To provide an overview of research conducted in low- and middle-income countries that present the impact of wearables on non-communicable diseases' health outcomes, and factors that influence the adoption of wearables in these countries.

Methods: We conducted a scoping review following the Arksey and O'Malley framework. Two databases, PubMed and Web of Science, were searched for relevant articles published between January 2010 and June 2023. We included studies set in low- and middle-income countries that focused either on the impact of wearables on changes in body mass index, blood pressure, and glycated hemoglobin levels or on the factors influencing wearables adoption.

Results: A total of seventeen studies were included in the review out of the 890 identified during the search. Our findings suggest that wearables might be effective in improving health outcomes, such as body-mass-index and diastolic blood pressure, especially when used in conjunction with other health interventions.

Conclusion: Wearables such as pedometers can be effective in improving health outcomes. Their widespread use in low- and middle-income countries is limited by different factors, including technological literacy, network coverage, and cultural considerations.

Keywords: LMICs; non-communicable diseases; pedometers; smartwatches; wearables.

FIGURE 1

PRISMA chart depicting the study selection process (Scoping review, low-and-middle income countries, 2010–2023).

FIGURE 2

Forest plots illustrating the impact of the interventions on the four key health outcomes - (A): HbA1c; (B): Body-Mass Index; (C): Systolic Blood Pressure; (D): Diastolic Blood Pressure (Scoping review, low-and-middle income countries, 2010–2023).

FIGURE 3

Summary of barriers to adoption of wearables in low-and-middle-income countries (Scoping review, low-and-middle income countries, 2010–2023).