Effects of Playing Pokemon Go on Physical Activity

San Diego State University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Physical Activity

Treatments: Behavioral: No Play; Behavioral: At Will Play; Behavioral: Goal Oriented Play

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03757676

HS-2017-0235

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of playing Pokémon Go to increase daily steps among young adults. The study also aimed to assess people's experience playing the game, identify specific features of the game that users like/dislike, and explore game features that may promote overall well-being.

Full description

Study participants were 30 undergraduate students from a State university in California who were 18 years or older, enrolled full-time, non-Pokémon Go players, and were able to walk leisurely. Daily steps were measured for 6 consecutive weeks via the Fitbit Flex 2. Habitual activity was first measured during the first two-weeks. After the 2-week baseline assessment of physical activity and GPS travel patterns, participants were randomized to one of three study conditions for the remaining 4 weeks: (1) "No Play," (2) "Play At Will," or (3) "Goal Oriented Play". The 4-week intervention period was followed by a post-study interview completed within one week from the end of the intervention period.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 25 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Enrolled as a full-time undergraduate or graduate student at participating University
• Willingness to be randomized to one of the three study conditions
• Never played or a Novice Player of Pokemon Go (Cannot have previously exceeded Level 5)
• Not currently meeting physical activity guidelines for adults (i.e., 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity and/or 75 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity). Assessed via the GPAQ questionnaire.

Exclusion criteria

• Unable to leisurely walk for 30 minutes consecutively

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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30 participants in 3 patient groups

No Play

Experimental group

Description:

This 'no play' group functioned as the control group.

Treatment:

Behavioral: No Play

At Will Play

Experimental group

Description:

This group functioned as 1 of the 2 play groups.

Treatment:

Behavioral: At Will Play

Goal Oriented Play

Experimental group

Description:

This group functioned as 1 of the 2 play groups.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Goal Oriented Play