Testing Health Games for Adolescent Physical Activity

University of California San Diego

Status: Completed

Conditions: Sedentary Lifestyle

Treatments: Behavioral: Health Games Field Trial

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01171261

RWJ 64439

Details and patient eligibility

About

This is a RWJF funded study that will apply behavioral choice theory and learning theory principles to 'map' exergames to determine how behavior change principles influence sustained use of health games by adolescents.

Full description

This research will assess and map four different exergame sports (bowling, boxing, tennis, and a mat/aerobics) games developed by Xavix for behavioral principles and evaluate how those behavior change principles impact game play sustainability. In the first phase of the study, we mapped and coded video games based on behavior contingencies of antecedents to the behavior, the behavior, and consequences to the behavior. Each of the games and subgames will be categorized as hi fidelity and lo fidelity.

Field Trial A home visit was scheduled for eligible and interested participants and an accelerometer was send to the participant's home to wear for one week prior to the home visit. Participants were randomized to one of four XaviX sports games: tennis, bowling, boxing, or J-mat. Two research assistants visited the participant's home to complete assent and consent forms, install the game on a television in the home, and give an overview on how to play the game. Participants were given a paper game log and instructed to record time spent playing the XaviX games. Participants were asked to play the exergame for as much or as little as they like for the next 4 weeks. The participant and parent completed a baseline survey during the visit. Participants continued to wear the accelerometer during the first week of exergame play and then returned the accelerometer by mail.

During the four weeks of exergame play, participants were contacted by telephone by study staff three times, approximately once a week, to complete short surveys about their game play and attitudes about the exergame, and to address any questions from participants. At week four, participants were mailed an accelerometer and instructed to wear it for seven days. After week four, a second home visit was conducted to collect the game cartridge and system, administer final surveys to the participant and a parent, and distribute the incentive. Participants received $50 for completing all study measurements.

Lab Trial In the lab phase, participants that completed the field trial and were randomized to the bowling, boxing, or J-Mat exergames were eligible to participate in the lab trial. During the lab trial, participants will play two subgames (a hi fidelity and a lo fidelity game) from the game that they were randomized to. Participants also completed a relative reinforcing value (RRV) task to assess reinforcing value of Xavix subgames ranked on theoretical fidelity and exertion. The RRV task is a method to measure the responsiveness of individuals to two or more choices. In the context of competing choice options, the RRV task assesses how much work an individual would be willing to do given increasing response effort to gain access to each option.

Enrollment: 63 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 11 to 15 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Are 11 - 15 years
• Provide assent and have a legal guardian that will participate and provide parental permission/consent
• Have a functioning telephone and at least one functioning television

Exclusion criteria

• Own another exergame in their home (such as a Wii or Dance Dance Revolution game)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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63 participants in 4 patient groups

Jackie Chan Studio Fitness

Experimental group

Description:

The Jackie Chan Studio Fitness (J-MAT) cartridge includes four types of activities that use a four panel floor mat made of flexible material that functions as the wireless interface game controller. The celebrity actor and choreographer Jackie Chan is the avatar character in the game that demonstrates and guides users in four types of aerobic and anaerobic game modes.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Health Games Field Trial

XaviX Tennis

Experimental group

Description:

XaviX Tennis simulates tennis using a tennis racket controller and an infrared sensor to detect speed and timing of the player's swing of the racquet. The Tennis cartridge includes three playing modes. In Tournament Tour players select from eight different characters with different skills and play opponents in a bracketed tournament. In Exhibition mode players choose a computer opponent or play a tennis match with a friend. The Training Games mode includes a) Serving, b) Target Challenge, c) Serve \& Finish, and d) Rally Time.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Health Games Field Trial

XaviX Bowling

Experimental group

Description:

XaviX Bowling uses a wireless bowling ball game controller to simulate bowling. The cartridge includes three modes. In Regular Game up to four people can select from 8 preset bowlers with different characteristics. In Tournament Mode up to eight people can play. Challenge Games consists of three games called Against the Clock, Moving Pins, and Panel Crusher.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Health Games Field Trial

XaviX Boxing

Experimental group

Description:

XaviX Boxing uses boxing gloves as the game controller and allows players to box against five different computer opponents in Championship and Exhibition modes and to practice boxing skills in Exercise mode. Exercise mode includes Punch Fast, Panel Toucher, Punch the Red Ball, and Combination Training.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Health Games Field Trial