The Role of a Virtual Coach in Improving Adherence to an Activity Program for Overweight Adults (StepUp)

Mass General Brigham

Status: Completed

Conditions: Overweight

Treatments: Other: Activity monitor and website; Other: Virtual Coach software

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00792207

2007-P-001317/2 MGH;

Details and patient eligibility

About

Hypothesis: Overweight subjects using a Virtual Coach will demonstrate improved adherence to an exercise regime.

This study is designed to examine the effect of a computer program called a "Virtual Coach" and find out if it helps people become more active. This program acts as a kind of a personal trainer and will give you feedback. All participants in the study will receive an activity monitor to wear during the study and a website to use to track activity. Half of the participants will also receive the virtual coach software. This software will have to be downloaded onto your computer, and we will ask that you check in with the coach using the software three times a week for 12 weeks. The group you will be placed in will be selected by chance.

Enrollment: 70 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 55 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Adults age 20-55 inclusive
• BMI between 25 and 35 inclusive (overweight and Class 1 obese subjects)
• PC Computer with an available USB port, speakers and high-speed internet access in a secure setting (home or private office)
• Fluency in English (spoken and written)
• Have a Primary Care Physician
• Answer "No" to all 7 questions on PAR-Q OR have letter from PCP clearing them to take part in study

Exclusion criteria

• Disability, medical or surgical condition preventing or precluding moderate physical activity.
• Cognitive impairment.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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70 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

Intervention Group: The intervention being tested, the Virtual Coach, is an automated empathic computer agent which will run on patient's home computer and engage the patient in dialogues to deliver personalized feedback, education and coaching based on physiological data recorded by an activity monitor.

Treatment:

Other: Virtual Coach software

Control

Active Comparator group

Description:

The control group will use an activity monitor and will have access to a website to monitor activity, but will not receive the Virtual Coach program.

Treatment:

Other: Activity monitor and website