Knowledge, usability, and impact of wearable fitness devices among community exercisers in Ghana

Abstract

There has been a rapid evolution of wearable technologies such as wearable fitness devices (WFDs) in recent years globally. The continuous release of upgraded WFDs with diverse qualities presents new opportunities for research into their knowledge, usability, and impact in developed countries. Although few studies have separately examined the knowledge, usability, and impact of WFDs in Sub-Saharan Africa, more information is needed on combined knowledge, usability, and impact of smart WFDs among Ghanaians. The present study (1) assessed the knowledge, usability, and impact of WFDs among healthy community exercisers, and (2) investigated the factors that affect the usage and barriers to the use of WFDs in Ghana. The quantitative descriptive design study had 152 healthy community exercisers (mean age = 23.37 ± 5.18 years) as participants. Self-structured questionnaire and System Usability Scale were administered. There were more non-users of WFDs (73.7%) than users (26.3%). Knowledge on WFDs among participants was high, usability was poor (mean SUS score = 66.87 ± 13.67) among users, and a positively fair impact on users was obtained. Performance expectancy was among the other factors that affected the usage of WFDs and price value was among the significant barriers identified. There are more non-users of WFDs than users. Knowledge on WFDs among participants was high, usability was poor among users with positively fair impact on users.