Physical activity interventions delivered through digital health technology for improving workers' mental health symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: This study aimed to clarify the primary preventive effects of physical activity interventions delivered through digital health technology (DHT) on workers' mental health symptoms, and to examine the conditions of attrition and adherence in these interventions.

Methods: We examined randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that analyzed the effects of physical activity interventions delivered through DHT on workers' health outcomes. We included RCTs published in English or Japanese since 2010 and excluded studies that targeted specific diseases or secondary and tertiary prevention. We conducted the search on July 25, 2023, using Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Ichushi-Web, and citation searches. We assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool version 2, and data were integrated using a random-effects model. Attrition rates were averaged, and adherence was qualitatively reviewed.

Results: Eight studies were included in the systematic review, and 5 in the meta-analysis. Pooled effect sizes immediately after intervention were as follows: Cohen d = -0.51 (95% CI, -0.75 to -0.27) for depression and negative affect, and -0.36 (95% CI, -0.60 to -0.05) for perceived stress. The attrition rate was 16.8% and 12.4% for the control and intervention groups, with only 2 studies providing details on adherence.

Conclusions: Physical activity interventions delivered through DHT may moderately improve depression and negative affect, and slightly reduce perceived stress among workers. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to the limited number of studies and low evidence certainty. Future studies should explore long-term effects, additional mental health outcomes, and factors affecting adherence.