Monitoring Physical Activity (Fitbit)

University of Victoria

Status: Completed

Conditions: Physical Activity; Health Promotion

Treatments: Behavioral: Partner engagement; Behavioral: Fitbit use and reports

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03248752

BC17-180

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of monitoring and sharing physical activity outcomes (using Fitbit technology) with a domestic partner on physical activity participation.

Primary research question: Does sharing physical activity outcomes from wearable technology with a participant's partner improve overall physical activity over 3 months compared to not sharing outcomes? Physical activity will be measured as minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week.

Hypothesis: Knowledge that physical activity outcomes are visible to a participant's partner will serve as a proxy-supervision intervention. Awareness of partner's progress will serve as further motivation. Both factors will improve physical activity adherence in comparison to participants without shared outcomes.

Full description

Background: Physical activity is associated with management and/or prevention of over 25 chronic health conditions; however the majority of adults in North America are not active enough to experience these benefits. Behavioral strategies have been shown to be effective for increasing physical activity, and wearable fitness monitors such as Fitbits include components of several behavioral strategies including goal setting and feedback. While this technology provides a platform for implementing self-regulation techniques important for behavior change, direct supervision is still the most effective strategy for behavior change. Supervised exercise programs and personal trainers may not be accessible or affordable for people; this study will examine whether proxy supervision by a partner is effective in changing behavior compared to self-regulation alone.

Target Population: Sedentary adults aged 45-75 years old living in Victoria, British-Columbia, Canada.

Sample Size: 80 participant pairs (160 total participants), 40 pairs per group (80 participants per group).

Intervention: Participants will be randomized to two groups: 1 - Self Monitored, 2 - Partner monitored. Both groups will receive an intervention with Group 1 (Self monitored) serving as the comparison group. Participants from both groups will wear an accelerometer for 1 week and complete an online questionnaire at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3 months. Measures of height, weight, waist circumference, and resting blood pressure and heart rate will be taken at baseline and 3 months. Participants will all receive a Fitbit activity tracker and wear it for 3 months. Group 2 (Partner monitor) participants will also have access to their partner's daily progress, receive eachother's Weekly Fitbit reports, and engage in a weekly discussion related to their Weekly Fitbit Report.

Enrollment: 34 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 45 to 75 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• One or both partners currently not meeting the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week
• Currently living in Victoria, BC
• Safe to participate in physical activity (physician clearance required if applicable)

Exclusion criteria

• No smartphone or tablet device (with bluetooth technology)
• No email address
• No partner and/or not living with partner

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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34 participants in 2 patient groups

Group 1 - Self monitored

Active Comparator group

Description:

Fitbit use and reports details: Participants will receive a Fitbit device to wear for 3 months. They will engage with the Fitbit application on their smartphone or tablet device and receive a Weekly Progress Report from Fitbit.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Fitbit use and reports

Group 2 - Partner monitored

Experimental group

Description:

Fitbit use and reports details: Participant will receive a Fitbit device to wear for 3 months. They will engage with the Fitbit application on their smartphone or tablet device. Participant will also engage with their partner through the Fitbit application. They will have access to their partner's daily progress and be able to communicate through the application. They will also receive their partner's Weekly Fitbit Reports and have a weekly discussion about the Weekly Fitbit Report.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Fitbit use and reports

Behavioral: Partner engagement