We Walk Plus Study for Older Adults With Intellectual Disabilities

University of Illinois

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: Intellectual Disability

Treatments: Behavioral: We Walk Plus Intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04573530

2020-1140

Details and patient eligibility

About

Determine the feasibility and acceptability of We Walk Plus intervention to promote physical activity and improve cognition for older adults with intellectual disabilities (ID).

Full description

We Walk Plus study consists of: (1) a user friendly physical activity tracker (i.e., Fitbit Charge HR ); (2) user-centered social networking (e.g., Fitbit community); and (3) the iCardia platform for monitoring daily Fitbit physical activity and wear time and sending personalized text-messages targeting physical activity and self-efficacy. The specific aims of this two-arm RCT pilot are to: 1) assess the feasibility and acceptability of the We Walk Plus intervention and 2) explore the preliminary efficacy of We Walk Plus on physical activity and well-being.

Enrollment: 46 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 35 to 60 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Men and women with mild or moderate intellectual disabilities;
• ages 35-60;
• able to speak, read English and willing to provide consent to enroll;
• able to follow instructions and walk, physically inactive;
• willing to receive SMS, wear Fitbit throughout the study;
• living with family or in a community residence;
• support persons are willing to assist participants to ensure the Fitbit functions properly.

Exclusion criteria

• Inability to follow instructions;
• diagnosis of coronary disease or uncontrolled hypertension, smokers, physically active;
• participating in a health promotion program;
• having mental illness or behavior problems;
• support persons unable or unwilling to assist participants with Fitbit devices, if needed.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Sequential Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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46 participants in 2 patient groups

We Walk Plus Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

The intervention group will receive a Fitbit, SMS and will be assigned to a private Fitbit community (4-5 participants per group) for 12 weeks. During the intervention, participants will receive weekly personalized SMS on their mobile phones including encouraging messages, reminders, and tips to increase steps, and weekly step goals. The investigators will use a secure, web-based platform, iCardia, to support continuous real-time remote monitoring of activity data from Fitbit devices and personalized communication via SMS based on incoming data. The investigators will set up the Fitbit networking settings on participants' phones to give notifications when there are posts to this group. Individual goals and a weekly team goal of steps will be set up by the research team. Each member will be awarded a badge upon reaching each individual's weekly goal. Teams will also be awarded badges when all team members reach their individual weekly goals.

Treatment:

Behavioral: We Walk Plus Intervention

Attention control group

No Intervention group

Description:

The attention control group will also receive a Fitbit and will be asked to continue with normal daily activities. During the initial in-person session, they will receive the same PA recommendations as the intervention group to walk at least 30 minutes for 5 days or more a week or 10,000 steps a day. However, a plan for improving PA will not be discussed.