A Community-based Social Networking Intervention to Increase Walking in Dog Owners

University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 1

Conditions: Sedentary

Treatments: Behavioral: Community-based social networking intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01593449

NIH 5 UL1RR031982-02

Details and patient eligibility

About

The present study aims to initially test a community dog walking intervention that addresses individual, interpersonal and community factors associated with dog walking. The study will be conducted in two cities, Worcester and Lowell, as a collaboration between investigators from UMass Medical School and UMass-Lowell.

Full description

This is a group randomized trial where 8 communities in Worcester and Lowell (4 per city) will be randomly assigned to the 6-month dog walking intervention or a standard, self-help, print-based physical activity control condition. Dog owners (N=120; 15 per community) will be recruited. The intervention includes a social networking website, monthly newsletters, twice monthly neighborhood dog walks and community events. The intervention will: 1) educate owners about the benefits of dog walking to themselves and their dog, 2) teach strategies for regular dog walking, 3) teach dog walking tips and provide dog training seminars, 4) promote self-monitoring and goal setting for dog walking, 5) provide social networking opportunities for dog owners and 6) promote a sense of community via participation in neighborhood dog walks and community events. Intervention feasibility will be assessed by measures of implementation success, including recruitment and retention rates, website use, intervention satisfaction and attendance at neighborhood walks and community events. Initial efficacy will be assessed via change in weekly steps measured via a pedometer from baseline to 6-months after baseline.

Enrollment: 107 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 21+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Eligible participants will own a dog that is in good health and considered a household pet, be a Worcester or Lowell resident, be aged > 21 years old and have home internet access. Participants with cardiovascular disease, diabetes or other chronic health condition are eligible with permission from their PCP to participate.

Exclusion criteria

Participants will be excluded for any of the following:

1. Inability or unwillingness to give informed consent
2. Plans to move out of the area within the study period
3. Participated in a focus group during the developmental phase
4. Another household member is participating in the study
5. Pregnant or planning a pregnancy in the next six months
6. Condition that inhibits exercise (e.g., unable to walk unaided, or cannot walk 1/4 mile without stopping)
7. Incapable of engaging in physical activity as assessed by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire
8. Self-report engaging in > 150 minutes of moderate and vigorous intensity physical activity per week.
9. The participant's dog has a history of biting a human or has not received a rabies vaccination.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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107 participants in 2 patient groups

American Heart Association

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants will receive handouts on increasing physical activity derived from the American Heart Association materials on increasing physical activity.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Community-based social networking intervention

Dog Walking

Experimental group

Description:

The 6-month dog walking intervention involves 5 components to address the individual, interpersonal and community levels of the socio-ecological model: newsletters, pedometers, social networking website, neighborhood dog walks, and invitations to community events.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Community-based social networking intervention