A Walking Intervention Through Text Messaging (WalkIT)

Arizona State University (ASU)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Behavior; Overweight; Physical Activity; Motor Activity

Treatments: Behavioral: Adaptive Goals; Behavioral: Static Goals; Behavioral: Reinforcement

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02053259

ASU-SNHP01

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate adaptive goal setting and feedback interventions (Adaptive Interventions) to promote physical activity behaviors and compare it to static physical activity interventions (Static Interventions) using two levels of goal setting (Adaptive Goals vs. Static Goals) and two levels of reinforcement procedures (Praise/Rewards and No Praise/Rewards) in a 2 x 2 factorial randomized controlled trial. All four groups will receive the intervention via a semi-automated text message system developed by the investigators study team.

The primary aim of this study will be to:

1. Evaluate whether the adaptive interventions result in greater change in physical activity (pedometer-measured steps/day) compared to the static Intervention groups. HYPOTHESES: Participants in the adaptive interventions will increase their steps/day more than participants in the Static Intervention groups. The Adaptive Goals and Reinforcement Group will outperform the other 3 groups.

   The secondary aims of this study will be to:

2. Evaluate the effectiveness of the adaptive and static goal interventions in improving anthropometric, cardiovascular fitness, and cardiometabolic risk factors. HYPOTHESES: Participants in the adaptive interventions will show greater improvements in fitness, lean and fat body mass, and serum biomarkers than participants in the Static Intervention groups. The Adaptive Goals and Reinforcement Group will outperform the other 3 groups.

3. to assess participants' satisfaction with the overall program.

Enrollment: 96 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• women and men of all races/ethnicities living in Maricopa County, Arizona.

Exclusion criteria

• be between 18 and 60 years old
• currently not exceeding physical activity recommendations determined by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ short form).
• not have a medical condition based on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire for Everyone (PAR-Q+) that requires supervised physical activity
• not taking medication(s) that would prohibit a moderate intensity physical activity program
• have a body mass index between 25 and 55 kg/m2
• not be currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the next 4 months
• not be planning to leave Maricopa County for 10 days or more in the next 4 months
• not planning to move from Maricopa County in the next 4 months
• not currently in another physical activity, diet, or weight loss program (e.g. weight watchers)
• have access to Microsoft Windows (XP, Vista, 7, 8) or Mac (10.5+) operating systems on computer with a USB port on a daily basis
• have daily access to email and the internet
• have a mobile phone with text messaging capabilities and be willing to send and receive up to 3-5 text messages per day.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Factorial Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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96 participants in 4 patient groups

Adaptive Goals with Immediate Reinforcement

Experimental group

Description:

Adaptive Physical Activity Goals, Immediate Financial Reinforcement

Treatment:

Behavioral: Reinforcement

Behavioral: Adaptive Goals

Adaptive Goals with Delayed Reinforcement

Experimental group

Description:

Adaptive Physical Activity Goals, Delayed Financial Reinforcement

Treatment:

Behavioral: Adaptive Goals

Static Goals with Immediate Reinforcement

Experimental group

Description:

Static Physical Activity Goals, Immediate Financial Reinforcement

Treatment:

Behavioral: Static Goals

Behavioral: Reinforcement

Static Goals with Delayed Reinforcement

Active Comparator group

Description:

Static Physical Activity Goals, Delayed Financial Reinforcement

Treatment:

Behavioral: Static Goals