The Social Media and Activity Research in Teens Trial (SMART)

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Status: Completed

Conditions: Physical Activity

Treatments: Behavioral: SMART Behavioral Group; Behavioral: SMART Informational Group

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01870323

13019

Details and patient eligibility

About

In an effort to address the physical inactivity crisis among adolescents, the present study will examine the efficacy of using an already established Web-based social networking platform (i.e., Facebook) to deliver a physical activity intervention to adolescents.

Full description

In an effort to address the physical inactivity crisis among adolescents, the present study will examine the efficacy of using an already established Web-based social networking platform (i.e., Facebook) to deliver a physical activity intervention to adolescents. The primary objectives of this trial are to 1) test the efficacy of a social media-delivered physical activity program for increasing lifestyle physical activity in adolescents, and 2) determine the effectiveness of a physical activity intervention based on social cognitive principles in comparison to a simple information-based physical activity condition. Additional objectives include an examination of how program participation may influence psychosocial health and how these changes affect physical activity patterns in youth.

Enrollment: 21 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 13 to 15 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Must be between 13-15 years of age
• Must not regularly meet nor exceed 60 minutes of daily physical activity
• Must have access to computer with Internet connection at home
• Must reside in Champaign County

Exclusion criteria

• Physical limitations that may prevent regular participation in physical activity or may inadvertently exacerbate any per-existing medical condition

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

21 participants in 2 patient groups

SMART Behavioral Group

Experimental group

Description:

Intervention condition which has access to SMART Group Wall on Facebook and receives privately-delivered weekly behavioral modules. (SMART Facebook Group + video-based behavioral modules)

Treatment:

Behavioral: SMART Behavioral Group

SMART Informational Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Comparison condition (i.e., attentional control) has access to SMART Group Wall on Facebook, and receives privately-delivered weekly text-based messages with generic content. (SMART Facebook Group + NO video-based behavioral modules)

Treatment:

Behavioral: SMART Informational Group