Physical Activity Promotion in Children Using a Novel Smartphone Game: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

University of Victoria

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Physical Activity

Treatments: Behavioral: Physical activity tracking app; Behavioral: Gamified Smartphone App

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04593199

UVic181243

Details and patient eligibility

About

Increasing physical activity is critical for children's overall health. Smartphone apps using gamification has shown promise to increasing physical activity using game techniques. This study is a 4-week randomized controlled trial using a gamified smartphone app to determine acceptability and preliminary effectiveness to increase physical activity in children.

Enrollment: 160 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 8 to 14 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Children aged 8-14 years old
• Not meeting the recommended Canadian physical activity guidelines of 60min per day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity
• English-literate
• Normal to corrected vision

Exclusion criteria

• Diagnosis or injury that prevents physical activity participation
• No access to a smartphone or tablet

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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160 participants in 2 patient groups

Physical Activity Tracking App Only

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Over a four week period, participants were asked to use the Fitbit app to track their daily physical activity.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Physical activity tracking app

Physical Activity Tracking + Gamified Smartphone App

Active Comparator group

Description:

Over a four week period, participants were asked to use the Fitbit app to track their daily physical activity. Additionally, they were asked to use the gamified smartphone app, Draco, during the intervention period.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Gamified Smartphone App