Table 3.

Lessons learned and changes made for testing PA technology in broader community-based populations.

Theme and subthemes		Changes made
Feedback
	Desire for immediate device feedback	Taught participants how to use the wristband’s colored lights to monitor activity minutes (ie, lights progress through series of colors as participant approaches 30 minutes of vigorous activity) Red=less than 50% of goal Yellow= 50-75% of goal Green=75-99% of goal Blue=100% or above goal
	Accessibility of feedback about PA	Provided clear definition of vigorous activity in both the training and instruction manual (ie, activities that require hard physical effort and cause large increases in breathing or heart rate, eg, running, aerobics, using the elliptical machine, with arms, or playing a sport like football, basketball, soccer, or tennis)
Design of PA monitor
	Physical discomfort	Informed participants about wristband-related skin irritation during device training and in the instruction manual Instructed participants to wear the wristband loosely if irritation is likely Ensured that participants latched wristband properly during device training
	Features	Incorporated detailed section on the wristband’s colored lights during device training and on the “Helpful Hints” for at-home reference
Ambiguity over project goals		Redesigned education component to explicitly state project goals (ie, participants should continue with routine PA and not change behavior) Explicitly stated project goals in written instruction materials Developed two instructional training videos on device and hub usage that were used during device training and made publically available after the event for participant reference Incorporated more hands-on in-person training where participants could use the website, test wristband lights, and upload wristband data
Recording PA		Instructed participants to test sleep mode during device training Educated participants on the use of sleep mode, but purposefully did not emphasize its use Tested website to manually input sleep and PA during device training Developed instructional video on recording PA that was used during hub and device training and was made publically available during the study for participant reference
Issues about hub		Corresponded weekly with device company and participants to identify and troubleshoot hub issues Incorporated troubleshooting report sheet next to hub for streamlined reporting Provided participants with a schedule of “hub hours” and the option to synchronize wristbands at any of the participating churches Identified a point-person within church community to aid in troubleshooting minor hub issues
Website for supporting PA monitors		Incorporated website Q&A and an opportunity to log-in during device training Corresponded regularly with participants to troubleshoot website challenges
Feasibility of using PA-monitoring system		Chose hub locations within churches that were accessible for all participants
Suggestions for improvement		Identified point-person within church community to aid in troubleshooting and correspondence between participants and research team during study period