Background:

Older adults with lower levels of activity can be at risk of poor health outcomes. Wearable technology has improved the accept-ability and objectivity of measuring activity for older adults in high- income countries. Nevertheless, the technology is under-utilized in low-to-middle income countries. The aim was to explore feasibility, acceptability and utility of wearable technology to measure walking activity in rural-dwelling, older Tanzanians.

Methods:

A total of 65 participants (73.9 ± 11.2 years), 36 non-frail and 29 frail, were assessed. Free-living data were recorded for 7 days with an accelerometer on the lower back. Data were analyzed via an auto-matic cloud-based pipeline: volume, pattern and variability of walking were extracted. Acceptability questionnaires were completed. T-tests were used for comparison between the groups.

Results:

59/65 datasets were analyzed. Questionnaires indicated that 15/65 (23.0%) experienced some therapeutic benefit from the accel-erometer, 15/65 (23.0%) expected diagnostic benefit; 16/65 (24.6%) experienced symptoms while wearing the accelerometer (e.g. itching). Frail adults walked significantly less, had less variable walking patterns, and had a greater proportion of shorter walking bouts compared to the non-frail.

Conclusion:

This study suggests that important contextual and prac-tical limitations withstanding wearable technology may be feasible for measuring walking activity in older rural-dwelling adults in low- income settings, identifying those with frailty.