A Randomized Trial of Changing Exercise and Physical Activity Behavior in Asthma Patients

Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Asthma

Treatments: Behavioral: Intervention Group

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00195117

N01-HC-25196 (030200599)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The primary objective of this randomized trial is to evaluate a novel intervention of induced positive affect and induced self-affirmation to increase physical activity in patients with asthma.

Full description

The primary objective of this randomized trial is to evaluate a novel intervention of induced positive affect and induced self-affirmation to increase physical activity in patients with asthma. At the start of the trial all patients in conjunction with their physicians will select a program of mild to moderate physical activity or exercise to be adopted and maintained on a routine basis. All patients will record perceived exertion and pedometer measurements in a log diary. All patients will be contacted by telephone at set time intervals to encourage them to continue their selected physical activity or exercise. Patients randomized to the intervention arm will also receive induced positive affect and self-affirmation throughout the study period. Patients in the control arm will not receive the positive affect and self-affirmation components.

Enrollment: 258 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Patients will be eligible for this study

• if their physicians consider them medically able to participate, if they are 18 years of age or older
• if they have a diagnosis of mild to moderate asthma based on the NHLBI Asthma Expert Panel's classification system which rates symptoms, frequency of exacerbations, nocturnal attacks, activity restriction, use of medications, and pulmonary function.

Exclusion criteria

Patients will be excluded from this study for the following reasons:

• If they are unable to walk several blocks for whatever reason;
• If they have musculoskeletal or neurological deficits that preclude increased physical activity;
• If they have other pulmonary diseases;
• If they have cardiac disease or other severe comorbidity;
• If they are unable to provide informed consent because of cognitive deficits;
• If they refuse to participate.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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258 participants in 2 patient groups

Control Group

No Intervention group

Description:

This group received follow-up every 2-months for one year. Follow-up included questions about their asthma and how well they had been able to engage in their doctor approved physical activity goal.

Intervention Group

Experimental group

Description:

This group received follow-up every 2-months for one year. Follow-up included questions about their asthma and how well they had been able to engage in their doctor approved physical activity goal, which was the same as the control arm. Additionally, subjects in this arm were encouraged to use positive affect and self-affirmation techniques to motivate an increased level of participation in their physical activity goal. These subjects also received small token gifts to remind them of their participation in this study.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Intervention Group