Computer Agents to Promote Walking in the Elderly

Boston Medical Center (BMC)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Aging

Treatments: Behavioral: ECA Interaction

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00959712

R01AG028668

Details and patient eligibility

About

This proposal is a randomized control trial using innovative interactive health technologies to promote and sustain walking behavior among elderly patients. The technology uses an Embodied Conversational Agent (ECA), a computer character that simulates face-to-face conversation. The trial will be block randomized by literacy status and include an intensive two-month, daily contact intervention via a Tablet PC ECA in the subject's home, an automated telephone program, and then an in-clinic, kiosk-based ECA for an additional 10 months, to promote maintenance of walking behavior. The study will occur in 2 phases, a pilot phase in which 20 subjects will be enrolled for the purpose of pre- testing the intervention and all data collection instruments, and a main study phase in which an additional 264 subjects will be enrolled.

Enrollment: 263 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. 65 years old or greater
2. English-speaking
3. Actively being cared for by a primary care provider at Boston Medical Center

Exclusion criteria

1. Non-ambulatory
2. Any medical condition or disorder that would limit participation in moderate intensity physical activity (such as sustained walking), including life-threatening disorders, myocardial ischemia, complex cardiac arrhythmias or significant left ventricular dysfunction, and major functional disabilities relating to gait or balance
3. Medications that would compromise patient's ability to participate
4. Had more than 2 falls in the past year (i.e. fall risk)
5. Moderate to severe dementia
6. Severe depression
7. Currently exercising, i.e., engaged regularly in moderate-intensity or more vigorous physical activity 3 or more days per week for at least 20 minutes per day

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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263 participants in 2 patient groups

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

Subjects are given a pedometer and step count log in which to record their daily step counts for 1 year.

ECA Interaction

Active Comparator group

Description:

Subjects are given pedometers and step count logs in which to record their daily steps for 1 year. Subjects are also given a tablet computer and instructed to interact with the ECA (Embodied Conversational Agent) "Tanya" every day for 2 months.

Treatment:

Behavioral: ECA Interaction