Effectiveness Review
The following outlines the search strategy used for systematic reviews of digital health and telephone interventions in community settings, worksites, and institutions of higher education.
Database: Ovid MEDLINE
1 exp "Physical Education and Training"/ or exp Sports/ or exp Exercise/ or exp Physical Fitness/ or exp Exercise Therapy/ or exp Motor Activity/
2 ((((sedentary adj2 behavior*) or (physical adj2 activi*) or (physical adj2 inactivi*) or sport* or exercis* or (muscle adj2 stretch*) or (resistance adj2 training) or walk* or bicycle* or cycling or swim* or running or jogging or gymnastic* or yoga or dancing or pilates or gardening or (physical adj2 conditioning) or circuit-based or endurance or high-intensity) adj2 interval) or "HIIT" or plyometric* or resistance or running or jogging or swimming or walking or sports or stair climbing or (cardiorespiratory adj2 fitness) or (motion adj2 therapy) or (physical adj2 (education or training or fitness)) or (motor adj2 activity) or (active adj2 living)).ti,ab.
3 1 OR 2
4 exp Diet/
5 (nutrition or diet* or (intake adj2 (calorie or caloric or restriction*)) or fasting or (mindful adj2 eating) or (healthy adj2 diet*) or (healthy adj2 eating) or (vending adj2 machine*) or (eating adj2 behavior*) or candy or candies or sweet* or fruit* or vegetable* or vegetarian* or vegan* or sweetened drink* or sugar sweetened beverage* or soda* or carbonated or low-fat or gluten-free or water or food* or pop or dessert* or cake* or cookie* or brownie* or (baked adj2 goods*) or carbohydrate* or sugar* or soft drink* or soda*).ti,ab.
6 4 OR 5
7 3 AND 6
8 exp Body Weight Maintenance/
9 exp Obesity Management/
10 exp Weight Reduction Programs/
11 exp body weight changes/
12 OR/8-11
13 ((Weight adj2 (program or loss or reduction or maintenance or maintain* or management or trajector*)) or body-weight).ti,ab.
14 12 OR 13
15 exp Feedback/
16 exp Health Education/
17 exp Teaching/
18 exp Reminder Systems/
19 Goals/
20 Intention/
21 Mentoring/
22 Counseling/
23 Social Support/
24 OR/15-23
25 (self-monitor* or (goal* adj2 setting) or intention* or track* or behavior or behaviour or coach* or mentor* or counsel* or (social adj2 support*) or feedback or educat* or (teach* adj2 skill*) or monitor* or (health adj2 educat*) or reminder).mp.
26 24 OR 25
27 (6 OR 7 OR 14) AND 26
28 exp Telemedicine/ or exp Computer-Assisted Instruction/ or exp Blogging/ or exp Cell Phone/ or exp Computer Graphics/ or Computers/ or exp Computers, Handheld/ or Educational Technology/ or Electronic Mail/ or Internet/ or Multimedia/ or Technology/ or Text Messaging/ or user-computer interface/ or exp Videoconferencing/ or exp Video Games/ or Webcasts as Topic/ or Wireless Technology/
29 ((instant adj2 messag*) or IM or (Interactive adj2 voice adj2 response) or IVR or (personal adj2 digital adj2 assistant) or PDA or (social adj2 network*) or (text adj2 messag*) or "SMS" or (world adj2 wide adj2 web) or website* or (apple adj2 watch) or automated or blog* or Bluetooth or chat or (chat adj2 room) or (communication adj2 network) or (computer adj2 assisted) or (computer adj2 interface) or computer* or computer-based or computerized or laptop* or (digital adj2 assistant*) or ecoach* or (educational adj2 technolog*) or edutainment or e-health or ehealth or (electronic adj2 feedback) or (electronic adj2 health) or e-mail or (electronic adj2 mail) or Facebook or FB or fitbit* or (fitness adj2 tracker*) or graphic* or (handheld adj2 computer*) or (health adj2 information*) or technolog* or hypermedia or individualized or Instagram or interactive or (internet adj2 based) or internet or iOTA or mhealth or m-health or (mobile adj2 app*) or (mobile adj2 technolog*) or (mobile adj2 health) or mobile or (mobile adj2 phone*) or android* or smartphone* or (smart adj2 phone*) or (cell* adj2 phone*) or (mobile adj2 device*) or iphone or multimedia or (new adj2 technolog*) or online or on-line or (personal adj2 electronic adj2 device*) or podcast* or programmed or prompt* or (remote adj2 consultation*) or remote or (short adj2 message adj2 service*) or (social adj2 media) or software or tablet* or tailored or telecare or telehealth or telemonitoring or twitter or tweet or (video adj2 conferenc*) or (video adj2 game*) or (virtual adj2 reality) or web-based or webcast* or wireless* or apps or iOs or (digital adj2 health)).mp.
30 28 OR 29
31 27 AND 30
32 Evaluation Studies/ or Program Evaluation/
33 (evaluation or randomly or placebo* or trial* or group*).ab. or (effectiveness or intervention or (program* adj6 evaluat*)).ti,ab.
34 ("controlled clinical trial" or "randomized controlled trial").pt.
35 (pre-adj5 post- or (pretest adj5 posttest)).ti,ab.
36 (control* or before or (before and after stud*) or follow up assessment).ti,ab.
37 32 OR 33 OR 34 OR 35 OR 36
38 31 AND 37
39 exp Adult/ or Young Adult/
40 (geriatric* or senior* or adult* or m?n or wom?n or participant*).ti,ab.
41 ((college adj2 student*) or (university adj2 student*)).ti,ab.
42 aged.sh.
43 39 OR 40 OR 41 OR 42
44 38 AND 43
Database: Ovid Embase
1 exp "Physical Education"/ or exp Sport/ or exp Exercise/ or exp Fitness/ or exp Kinesiotherapy/ or exp Motor Activity/
2 ((((sedentary adj2 behavior*) or (physical adj2 activi*) or (physical adj2 inactivi*) or sport* or exercis* or (muscle adj2 stretch*) or (resistance adj2 training) or walk* or bicycle* or cycling or swim* or running or jogging or gymnastic* or yoga or dancing or pilates or gardening or (physical adj2 conditioning) or circuit-based or endurance or high-intensity) adj2 interval) or "HIIT" or plyometric* or resistance or running or jogging or swimming or walking or sports or stair climbing or (cardiorespiratory adj2 fitness) or (motion adj2 therapy) or (physical adj2 (education or training or fitness)) or (motor adj2 activity) or (active adj2 living)).ti,ab.
3 1 OR 2
4 exp Diet/
5 (nutrition or diet* or (intake adj2 (calorie or caloric or restriction*)) or fasting or (mindful adj2 eating) or (healthy adj2 diet*) or (healthy adj2 eating) or (vending adj2 machine*) or (eating adj2 behavior*) or candy or candies or sweet* or fruit* or vegetable* or vegetarian* or vegan* or sweetened drink* or sugar sweetened beverage* or soda* or carbonated or low-fat or gluten-free or water or food* or pop or dessert* or cake* or cookie* or brownie* or (baked adj2 goods*) or carbohydrate* or sugar* or soft drink* or soda*).ti,ab.
6 4 OR 5
7 3 AND 6
8 exp Body Weight Maintenance/
9 exp Obesity Management/
10 exp Weight Reduction Programs/
11 exp body weight changes/
12 OR/8-11
13 ((Weight adj2 (program or loss or reduction or maintenance or maintain* or management or trajector*)) or body-weight).ti,ab.
14 12 OR 13
15 exp Feedback/
16 exp Health Education/
17 exp Teaching/
18 exp Reminder Systems/
19 Goals/
20 Intention/
21 Mentoring/
22 Counseling/
23 Social Support/
24 OR/15-23
25 (self-monitor* or (goal* adj2 setting) or intention* or track* or behavior or behaviour or coach* or mentor* or counsel* or (social adj2 support*) or feedback or educat* or (teach* adj2 skill*) or monitor* or (health adj2 educat*) or reminder).mp.
26 24 OR 25
27 (6 OR 7 OR 14) AND 26
28 exp Telemedicine/ or exp Blogging/ or exp Mobile Phone/ or exp Computer Graphics/ or Computers/ or exp Personal Digital Assistant/ or Educational Technology/ or e-mail/ or Internet/ or Multimedia/ or Technology/ or Text Messaging/ or user-computer interface/ or exp Videoconferencing/ or exp Video Game/ or Webcast/ or Wireless Communication/
29 ((instant adj2 messag*) or IM or (Interactive adj2 voice adj2 response) or IVR or (personal adj2 digital adj2 assistant) or PDA or (social adj2 network*) or (text adj2 messag*) or "SMS" or (world adj2 wide adj2 web) or website* or (apple adj2 watch) or automated or blog* or Bluetooth or chat or (chat adj2 room) or (communication adj2 network) or (computer adj2 assisted) or (computer adj2 interface) or computer* or computer-based or computerized or laptop* or (digital adj2 assistant*) or ecoach* or (educational adj2 technolog*) or edutainment or e-health or ehealth or (electronic adj2 feedback) or (electronic adj2 health) or e-mail or (electronic adj2 mail) or Facebook or 'FB' or fitbit* or (fitness adj2 tracker*) or graphic* or (handheld adj2 computer*) or (health adj2 information*) or technolog* or hypermedia or individualized or Instagram or interactive or (internet adj2 based) or internet or iOTA or mhealth or m-health or (mobile adj2 app*) or (mobile adj2 technolog*) or (mobile adj2 health) or mobile or (mobile adj2 phone*) or android* or smartphone* or (smart adj2 phone*) or (cell* adj2 phone*) or (mobile adj2 device*) or iphone or multimedia or (new adj2 technolog*) or online or on-line or (personal adj2 electronic adj2 device*) or podcast* or programmed or prompt* or (remote adj2 consultation*) or remote or (short adj2 message adj2 service*) or (social adj2 media) or software or tablet* or tailored or telecare or telehealth or telemonitoring or twitter or tweet or (video adj2 conferenc*) or (video adj2 game*) or (virtual adj2 reality) or web-based or webcast* or wireless* or apps or iOs or (digital adj2 health)).mp.
30 28 OR 29
31 27 AND 30
32 evaluation study/ or program evaluation/
33 (effectiveness or intervention or (program* adj6 evaluat*)).ti,ab.
34 (random* or placebo* or double-blind*).ti,ab,kw.
35 (pre-adj5 post- or (pretest adj5 posttest)).ti,ab.
36 (control* or before or (before and after stud*) or follow up assessment).ti,ab.
37 32 OR 33 OR 34 OR 35 OR 36
38 31 AND 37
39 exp Adult/ or Young Adult/ or exp College student/ or exp University student/
40 (geriatric* or senior* or adult* or m?n or wom?n or participant*).ti,ab.
41 ((college adj2 student*) or (university adj2 student*)).ti,ab,kw.
42 aged.sh.
43 39 OR 40 OR 41 OR 42
44 38 AND 43
Database: Ovid PsycINFO
1 exp Sports/ or exp Exercise/ or exp Physical Fitness/
2 ((((sedentary adj2 behavior*) or (physical adj2 activi*) or (physical adj2 inactivi*) or sport* or exercis* or (muscle adj2 stretch*) or (resistance adj2 training) or walk* or bicycle* or cycling or swim* or running or jogging or gymnastic* or yoga or dancing or pilates or gardening or (physical adj2 conditioning) or circuit-based or endurance or high-intensity) adj2 interval) or "HIIT" or plyometric* or resistance or running or jogging or swimming or walking or sports or stair climbing or (cardiorespiratory adj2 fitness) or (motion adj2 therapy) or (physical adj2 (education or training or fitness)) or (motor adj2 activity) or (active adj2 living)).ti,ab.
3 1 OR 2
4 exp Diets/
5 (nutrition or diet* or (intake adj2 (calorie or caloric or restriction*)) or fasting or (mindful adj2 eating) or (healthy adj2 diet*) or (healthy adj2 eating) or (vending adj2 machine*) or (eating adj2 behavior*) or candy or candies or sweet* or fruit* or vegetable* or vegetarian* or vegan* or sweetened drink* or sugar sweetened beverage* or soda* or carbonated or low-fat or gluten-free or water or food* or pop or dessert* or cake* or cookie* or brownie* or (baked adj2 goods*) or carbohydrate* or sugar* or soft drink* or soda*).ti,ab.
6 4 OR 5
7 3 AND 6
8 exp Weight control/ or exp Weight loss/
9 ((Weight adj2 (program or change or loss or reduction or maintenance or maintain* or management or trajector*)) or body-weight).ti,ab.
10 8 OR 9
11 exp Feedback/
12 exp Health Education/
13 exp Teaching/
14 Goals/
15 Intention/
16 Mentoring/
17 Counseling/
18 Social Support/
19 OR/11-18
20 (self-monitor* or (goal* adj2 setting) or intention* or track* or behavior or behaviour or coach* or mentor* or counsel* or (social adj2 support*) or feedback or educat* or (teach* adj2 skill*) or monitor* or (health adj2 educat*) or reminder).mp.
21 19 OR 20
22 (6 OR 7 OR 10) AND 21
23 exp Telemedicine/ or exp Computer-Assisted Instruction/ or exp Blogging/ or exp Cell Phone/ or exp Computer Graphics/ or Computers/ or exp Computers, Handheld/ or Educational Technology/ or Electronic Mail/ or Internet/ or Multimedia/ or Technology/ or Text Messaging/ or user-computer interface/ or exp Videoconferencing/ or exp Video Games/ or Webcasts as Topic/ or Wireless Technology/
24 ((instant adj2 messag*) or IM or (Interactive adj2 voice adj2 response) or IVR or (personal adj2 digital adj2 assistant) or PDA or (social adj2 network*) or (text adj2 messag*) or "SMS" or (world adj2 wide adj2 web) or website* or (apple adj2 watch) or automated or blog* or Bluetooth or chat or (chat adj2 room) or (communication adj2 network) or (computer adj2 assisted) or (computer adj2 interface) or computer* or computer-based or computerized or laptop* or (digital adj2 assistant*) or ecoach* or (educational adj2 technolog*) or edutainment or e-health or ehealth or (electronic adj2 feedback) or (electronic adj2 health) or e-mail or (electronic adj2 mail) or Facebook or FB or fitbit* or (fitness adj2 tracker*) or graphic* or (handheld adj2 computer*) or (health adj2 information*) or technolog* or hypermedia or individualized or Instagram or interactive or (internet adj2 based) or internet or iOTA or mhealth or m-health or (mobile adj2 app*) or (mobile adj2 technolog*) or (mobile adj2 health) or mobile or (mobile adj2 phone*) or android* or smartphone* or (smart adj2 phone*) or (cell* adj2 phone*) or (mobile adj2 device*) or iphone or multimedia or (new adj2 technolog*) or online or on-line or (personal adj2 electronic adj2 device*) or podcast* or programmed or prompt* or (remote adj2 consultation*) or remote or (short adj2 message adj2 service*) or (social adj2 media) or software or tablet* or tailored or telecare or telehealth or telemonitoring or twitter or tweet or (video adj2 conferenc*) or (video adj2 game*) or (virtual adj2 reality) or web-based or webcast* or wireless* or apps or iOs or (digital adj2 health)).mp.
25 23 OR 24
26 22 AND 25
27 Program Evaluation/
28 (evaluation or randomly or placebo* or trial* or group*).ab. or (effectiveness or intervention or (program* adj6 evaluat*)).ti,ab.
29 (double-blind or random: assigned or control).tw.
30 (pre-adj5 post- or (pretest adj5 posttest)).ti,ab.
31 (control* or before or (before and after stud*) or follow up assessment).ti,ab.
32 OR/28-31
33 26 AND 32
34 (geriatric* or senior* or adult* or m?n or wom?n or participant*).ti,ab.
35 ((college adj2 student*) or (university adj2 student*)).ti,ab.
36 34 OR 35
37 33 AND 36
Cochrane Database
#1 MeSH descriptor: [Physical Education and Training] explode all trees
#2 MeSH descriptor: [Sports] this term only
#3 MeSH descriptor: [Exercise] this term only
#4 MeSH descriptor: [Physical Fitness] this term only
#5 MeSH descriptor: [Exercise Therapy] this term only
#6 MeSH descriptor: [Motor Activity] this term only
#7 ((sedentary NEAR/2 behavior*) OR (physical NEAR/2 activi*) OR (physical NEAR/2 inactivi*) OR sport* OR exercis* OR (muscle NEAR/2 stretch*) OR (resistance NEAR/2 training) OR walk* OR bicycle* OR cycling OR swim* OR running OR jogging OR gymnastic* OR yoga OR dancing OR pilates OR gardening OR (physical NEAR/2 conditioning) OR circuit-based OR endurance OR (high-intensity NEAR/2 interval) OR HIIT OR plyometric* OR resistance OR running OR jogging OR swimming OR walking OR sports OR (stair NEAR/2 climbing) OR (cardiorespiratory NEAR/2 fitness) OR (motion NEAR/2 therapy) OR (physical NEAR/2 (education OR training OR fitness)) OR (motor NEAR/2 activity) OR (active NEAR/2 living)):ab,ti
#8 {OR #1-#7}
#9 MeSH descriptor: [Diet] this term only
#10 (nutrition OR diet* OR (intake NEAR/2 (calorie OR caloric OR restriction*)) OR fasting OR (mindful NEAR/2 eating) OR (healthy NEAR/2 diet*) OR (healthy NEAR/2 eating) OR (vending NEAR/2 machine*) OR (eating NEAR/2 behavior*) OR candy OR candies OR sweet* OR fruit* OR vegetable* OR vegetarian* OR vegan* OR "sweetened drink" OR "sugar sweetened beverage*" OR soda* OR carbonated OR low-fat OR gluten-free OR water OR food* OR pop OR dessert* OR cake* OR cookie* OR brownie* OR (baked NEAR/2 goods*) OR carbohydrate* OR sugar* OR "soft drink*" OR soda):ab,ti
#11 #9 OR #10
#12 #8 AND #11
#13 MeSH descriptor: [Body Weight Maintenance] this term only
#14 MeSH descriptor: [Obesity Management] this term only
#15 MeSH descriptor: [Weight Reduction Programs] explode all trees
#16 (((Weight NEAR/2 (program or loss or reduction or maintenance or maintain* or management or trajector*)) or body-weight)):ab,ti
#17 {OR #13-#16}
#18 MeSH descriptor: [Feedback] explode all trees
#19 MeSH descriptor: [Health Education] this term only
#20 MeSH descriptor: [Teaching] explode all trees
#21 MeSH descriptor: [Reminder Systems] explode all trees
#22 MeSH descriptor: [Goals] explode all trees
#23 MeSH descriptor: [Intention] explode all trees
#24 MeSH descriptor: [Mentoring] explode all trees
#25 MeSH descriptor: [Counseling] explode all trees
#26 MeSH descriptor: [Social Support] explode all trees
#27 (self-monitor* OR (goal* NEAR/2 setting) OR intention* OR track* OR behavior OR behaviour OR coach* OR mentor* OR counsel* OR (social NEAR/2 support*) OR feedback OR educat* OR (teach* NEAR/2 skill*) OR monitor* OR (health NEAR/2 educat*) OR reminder):ab,ti
#28 {OR #18-#27}
#29 #11 OR #12 OR #17
#30 #28 AND #29
#31 MeSH descriptor: [Telemedicine] explode all trees
#32 MeSH descriptor: [Computer-Assisted Instruction] explode all trees
#33 MeSH descriptor: [Blogging] explode all trees
#34 MeSH descriptor: [Cell Phone] explode all trees
#35 MeSH descriptor: [Computer Graphics] explode all trees
#36 MeSH descriptor: [Computers] explode all trees
#37 MeSH descriptor: [Computers, Handheld] explode all trees
#38 MeSH descriptor: [Educational Technology] explode all trees
#39 MeSH descriptor: [Internet] explode all trees
#40 MeSH descriptor: [Multimedia] explode all trees
#41 MeSH descriptor: [Technology] explode all trees
#42 MeSH descriptor: [Text Messaging] explode all trees
#43 MeSH descriptor: [User-Computer Interface] explode all trees
#44 MeSH descriptor: [Videoconferencing] explode all trees
#45 MeSH descriptor: [Video Games] explode all trees
#46 MeSH descriptor: [Webcasts as Topic] explode all trees
#47 MeSH descriptor: [Wireless Technology] explode all trees
#48 ((instant NEAR/2 messag*) OR IM OR (Interactive NEAR/2 voice NEAR/2 response) OR IVR OR (personal NEAR/2 digital NEAR/2 assistant) OR PDA OR (social NEAR/2 network*) OR (text NEAR/2 messag*) OR SMS OR (world NEAR/2 wide NEAR/2 web) OR website* OR (apple NEAR/2 watch) OR automated OR blog* OR Bluetooth OR chat OR (chat NEAR/2 room) OR (communication NEAR/2 network) OR (computer NEAR/2 assisted) OR (computer NEAR/2 interface) OR computer* OR computer-based OR computerized OR laptop* OR (digital NEAR/2 assistant*) OR ecoach* OR (educational NEAR/2 technolog*) OR edutainment OR e-health OR ehealth OR (electronic NEAR/2 feedback) OR (electronic NEAR/2 health) OR e-mail OR (electronic NEAR/2 mail) OR Facebook OR FB OR fitbit* OR (fitness NEAR/2 tracker*) OR graphic* OR (handheld NEAR/2 computer*) OR (health NEAR/2 information*) OR technolog* OR hypermedia OR individualized OR Instagram OR interactive OR (internet NEAR/2 based) OR internet OR iOTA OR mhealth OR m-health OR (mobile NEAR/2 app*) OR (mobile NEAR/2 technolog*) OR (mobile NEAR/2 health) OR mobile OR (mobile NEAR/2 phone*) OR android* OR smartphone* OR (smart NEAR/2 phone*) OR (cell* NEAR/2 phone*) OR (mobile NEAR/2 device*) OR iphone OR multimedia OR (new NEAR/2 technolog*) OR online OR on-line OR (personal NEAR/2 electronic NEAR/2 device*) OR podcast* OR programmed OR prompt* OR (remote NEAR/2 consultation*) OR remote OR (short NEAR/2 message NEAR/2 service*) OR (social NEAR/2 media) OR software OR tablet* OR tailored OR telecare OR telehealth OR telemonitoring OR twitter OR tweet OR (video NEAR/2 conferenc*) OR (video NEAR/2 game*) OR (virtual NEAR/2 reality) OR web-based OR webcast* OR wireless* OR apps OR iOs OR (digital NEAR/2 health)):ab,ti
#49 {OR #31-#48}
#50 #30 AND #49
#51 MeSH descriptor: [Program Evaluation] explode all trees
#52 (effectiveness or intervention or (program* NEAR/2 evaluat*)):ab,ti
#53 ((pre NEAR/5 post) OR (pretest NEAR/5 posttest)):ab,ti
#54 ((control* or before or (before and after stud*) or follow up assessment)):ab,ti
#55 {OR #51-#54}
#56 #50 AND #55
#57 MeSH descriptor: [Adult] explode all trees
#58 MeSH descriptor: [Young Adult] explode all trees
#59 ((college NEAR/2 student*) OR (university NEAR/2 student)):ab,ti
#60 (geriatric* OR senior* OR adult* OR m?n OR wom?n or participant*):ab,ti
#61 {OR #57-#60}
Abbreviations: exp, explode; mp, multi-purpose; ti; title; ab, abstract; adj, adjacency; pt, publication type; kw, keyword heading; sh, MESH subject headings; *, unlimited suffix variations