Physical Activity Wearables in the Police Force: The PAW-Force Trial

NCT03169179 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 1617/026
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 182
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

Policing is an increasingly sedentary occupation and high levels of physical and psychological morbidities are reported by officers and staff. Wearable fitness technology may be a feasible intervention to promote physical activity and improve health. This study aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of introducing wearable fitness technology (Fitbit™ activity monitors linked to the 'Bupa Boost' smartphone app) as a motivator for increasing physical activity within the police force. Additional aims are to and to assess the potential impact of the intervention on physical activity, sedentary time, health and wellbeing, stress, sickness absence and self-perceived productivity, and to explore which motivational strategies (e.g. individual goal-setting vs. social competitions) are most acceptable and potentially effective and for which groups of staff. A single-group, before and after, mixed methods exploratory trial will be conducted. Approximately 180 police officers and staff from two sites (Plymouth Basic Command Unit and North Dorset) will be recruited to take part. Participants will use the technology for 12 weeks initially followed by a further five months of optional use. A combination of questionnaire surveys, interviews and analysis of staff absence records will be used. Data will be collected pre-intervention, mid-intervention (6 weeks), post-intervention (12 weeks) and follow-up (8 months). Primary outcomes are change in objectively recorded step count, self-reported physical activity and sedentary time. Secondary outcomes include general health and wellbeing, perceived stress and productivity, sickness absence, engagement with the intervention and perceived usability and usefulness. This study will add to our understanding of the feasibility and acceptability of mobile fitness technology in a specific workplace setting, and inform a potential larger trial within the police force.

Conditions

Physical Activity; Health Behavior

Keywords

Physical activity; Mobile health; Wearable fitness technology; Organisational wellness; Occupational health; Police force

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in mean daily step count

  As recorded by the Fitbit wearable activity monitor

  Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 8 months

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Change in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MET-minutes per week)

  Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 8 months

• Change in total physical activity (MET-minutes per week)

  Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 8 months

• Change in weekday sedentary time (hours per day)

  Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 8 months

• Change in perceived health-related quality of life (physical and mental)

  Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 8 months

• Change in perceived stress level

  Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 8 months

Other Outcomes (8)

• Change in sickness and absence time (including reasons for sickness absence)

  Baseline through study completion (approximately 8 months)

• Engagement with the intervention

  6 weeks, 12 weeks, 8 months

• Perceived usability of the wearable fitness technology - questionnaire reported

  6 weeks, 12 weeks

Study Arms (1)

Fitbit and Bupa Boost app

EXPERIMENTAL

Fitbit Charge 2™ wearable physical activity monitor and Bupa Boost health and wellbeing smartphone app. 12 weeks initial use (individual goal-setting in weeks 1-6 then social features of the app in weeks 7-12) followed by a further five months of optional use (as desired by the participant).

Behavioral: Fitbit and Bupa Boost app

Interventions

Fitbit and Bupa Boost app BEHAVIORAL

Fitbit Charge 2™ wearable physical activity monitor and Bupa Boost health and wellbeing smartphone app. 12 weeks initial use (individual goal-setting in weeks 1-6 then social features of the app in weeks 7-12) followed by a further five months of optional use (as desired by the participant).

Fitbit and Bupa Boost app

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Participants should expect to be employed within the police force for the duration of the study
• Must own (or have access to) a smartphone or tablet that is compatible with the Bupa Boost app (Apple or Android 4.0.3 or higher) with Bluetooth and internet access

You may not qualify if:

• Staff with severe limited mobility, who would be physically unable to increase their step count over the duration of the study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Exeter: lead
• Devon and Cornwall Police: collaborator
• Dorset Police: collaborator

Study Sites (2)

Devon and Cornwall Police (Plymouth Basic Command Unit)

Plymouth, Devon, PL6 5HT, United Kingdom

Location

Dorset Police (North Dorset site)

Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 7HR, United Kingdom

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Buckingham SA, Morrissey K, Williams AJ, Price L, Harrison J. The Physical Activity Wearables in the Police Force (PAW-Force) study: acceptability and impact. BMC Public Health. 2020 Nov 3;20(1):1645. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-09776-1.

  PMID: 33143665 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity; Health Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Officials

• Sarah A Buckingham, ResM

  University of Exeter

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Single group pre- and post- intervention, mixed methods exploratory trial

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 22, 2017
• First Posted: May 30, 2017
• Study Start: April 19, 2017
• Primary Completion: March 28, 2018
• Study Completion: April 20, 2018
• Last Updated: May 30, 2019

Record last verified: 2019-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GB (2)