Computer Agents to Promote Walking in the Elderly

NCT00959712 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: R01AG028668
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 263
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

This proposal is a randomized control trial using innovative interactive health technologies to promote and sustain walking behavior among elderly patients. The technology uses an Embodied Conversational Agent (ECA), a computer character that simulates face-to-face conversation. The trial will be block randomized by literacy status and include an intensive two-month, daily contact intervention via a Tablet PC ECA in the subject's home, an automated telephone program, and then an in-clinic, kiosk-based ECA for an additional 10 months, to promote maintenance of walking behavior. The study will occur in 2 phases, a pilot phase in which 20 subjects will be enrolled for the purpose of pre- testing the intervention and all data collection instruments, and a main study phase in which an additional 264 subjects will be enrolled.

Conditions

Aging

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Increase in physical activity (measured as step counts from pedometer)

  1 year

Study Arms (2)

Control

NO INTERVENTION

Subjects are given a pedometer and step count log in which to record their daily step counts for 1 year.

ECA Interaction

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Subjects are given pedometers and step count logs in which to record their daily steps for 1 year. Subjects are also given a tablet computer and instructed to interact with the ECA (Embodied Conversational Agent) "Tanya" every day for 2 months.

Behavioral: ECA Interaction

Interventions

ECA Interaction BEHAVIORAL

The technology uses a computer character (Embodied Conversational Agent (ECA)) that simulates face-to-face conversation. The ECA talks to the patient and the patient responds by tapping a touch-screen.

ECA Interaction

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• years old or greater
• English-speaking
• Actively being cared for by a primary care provider at Boston Medical Center

You may not qualify if:

• Non-ambulatory
• Any medical condition or disorder that would limit participation in moderate intensity physical activity (such as sustained walking), including life-threatening disorders, myocardial ischemia, complex cardiac arrhythmias or significant left ventricular dysfunction, and major functional disabilities relating to gait or balance
• Medications that would compromise patient's ability to participate
• Had more than 2 falls in the past year (i.e. fall risk)
• Moderate to severe dementia
• Severe depression
• Currently exercising, i.e., engaged regularly in moderate-intensity or more vigorous physical activity 3 or more days per week for at least 20 minutes per day

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Boston Medical Center: lead
• Northeastern University: collaborator
• Stanford University: collaborator

Study Officials

• Rebecca A Silliman, MD, PhD

  Boston University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 14, 2009
• First Posted: August 17, 2009
• Study Start: October 1, 2008
• Primary Completion: September 1, 2011
• Study Completion: September 1, 2011
• Last Updated: June 29, 2023

Record last verified: 2011-11