A Smartphone App to Improve Physical Activity
A Smartphone Application to Improve Physical Activity in Underactive Older Adults
2 other identifiers
interventional
111
1 country
2
Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to develop, test, and optimize a physical activity (PA)-tracking smartphone app and specialty features, which are designed to facilitate older adults' PA by targeting common barriers in this population. For example, one feature sends messages throughout the day about the good things about growing older to combat negative views about aging which has been linked to decreased PA. Participants will include older adult smartphone users who are between the ages of 65 and 84 and are not very physically active. In phase one of the study, three groups of five older adults will be formed to test the PA-tracking app and one of three specialty features for a two-week period, followed by a focus group to learn about the older adults' experiences. In phase two, approximately 100 participants will be randomly assigned to one of eight groups that include various combinations of specialty features with the PA tracker, for the purpose of pilot testing the app for a four-month period. Testing will occur at the beginning and the end of the four-month intervention period, and will measure PA levels, sedentary activity time, self-reported PA, and functional mobility.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable
Started Apr 2018
Typical duration for not_applicable
2 active sites
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
January 24, 2018
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
January 31, 2018
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
April 23, 2018
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
January 12, 2021
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
January 12, 2021
CompletedResults Posted
Study results publicly available
November 21, 2022
CompletedNovember 21, 2022
October 1, 2022
2.7 years
January 24, 2018
June 7, 2022
October 27, 2022
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Daily Steps Change From Baseline to Month 4; Main Effect, and 2- and 3-way Interactions
Step counts (objective physical activity) were measured using the activPAL thigh-worn accelerometer during a 72-hour monitoring period. Estimated average change is computed as the change in activPAL-tracked mean daily steps at Month 4 relative to baseline; this outcome is analyzed in a linear regression analysis model. All randomized participants who started the intervention and had valid activity monitor data were utilized in the model (ITT analysis)
72-hour monitoring periods at Month 4 relative to baseline
Secondary Outcomes (13)
Daily Sitting Time (activPAL) Change From Baseline to Month 4
72-hour monitoring periods at Month 4 relative to baseline
Self-reported Physical Activity (PASE) Change From Baseline to Month 4
baseline and 4 months
Gait Speed (4-m Walk Test) Change From Baseline to Month 4
baseline and 4 months
Self-efficacy for Physical Activity (Health Beliefs Survey) Change From Baseline
baseline and 4 months
Self-regulation of Physical Activity (Health Beliefs Survey Physical Activity Portion) Change From Baseline
baseline and 4 months
- +8 more secondary outcomes
Other Outcomes (1)
Correlation of Change in Daily Steps to Change in Hypothesized Mediators
baseline to Month 4 change
Study Arms (8)
PA App+ On Your Feet+ CoachMe+ Proof Pos
OTHERParticipants in this arm will use a basic physical activity (PA) tracker app in conjunction with the following 3 features: (1) "On Your Feet" (sedentary activity monitoring with motivational messaging and peer suggestions); (2) "Coach Me" (tailored messaging to increase the intensity level of everyday activities and overcome barriers); and (3) "Proof Positive" (explicit and implicit messaging to promote positive aging views).
PA App + On Your Feet + Coach Me
OTHERParticipants in this arm will use a basic physical activity (PA) app in conjunction with the following 2 features: (1) "On Your Feet" (sedentary activity monitoring with motivational messaging and peer suggestions); and (2) "Coach Me" (tailored messaging to increase the intensity level of everyday activities and overcome barriers).
PA App + On Your Feet + Proof Positive
OTHERParticipants in this arm will use a basic physical activity (PA) tracker app in conjunction with the following 2 features: (1) "On Your Feet" (sedentary activity monitoring with motivational messaging and peer suggestions); and (2) "Proof Positive" (explicit and implicit messaging to promote positive aging views).
PA App + On Your Feet
OTHERParticipants in this arm will use a basic physical activity (PA) tracker app in conjunction with the following feature: (1) "On Your Feet" (sedentary activity monitoring with motivational messaging and peer suggestions).
PA App + Coach Me + Proof Positive
OTHERParticipants in this arm will use a basic physical activity (PA) tracker app in conjunction with the following 2 features: (1) "Coach Me" (tailored messaging to increase the intensity level of everyday activities and overcome barriers); and (2) "Proof Positive" (explicit and implicit messaging to promote positive aging views).
PA App + Coach Me
OTHERParticipants in this arm will use a basic physical activity (PA) tracker app in conjunction with the following feature: (1) "Coach Me" (tailored messaging to increase the intensity level of everyday activities and overcome barriers).
PA App + Proof Positive
OTHERParticipants in this arm will use a basic physical activity (PA) tracker app in conjunction with the following feature: (1) "Proof Positive" (explicit and implicit messaging to promote positive aging views).
PA App
OTHERParticipants in this arm will use a basic physical activity (PA) tracker app without any additional features.
Interventions
This PA tracker app auto-monitors PA and provides a text-based summary of goal progress, thereby targeting self-regulation and outcome expectation.
On Your Feet is a specialty app feature designed to be paired with a PA tracker app and reduce sedentary activity-a health risk factor largely independent of insufficient PA. This feature utilizes self-regulatory and behavior change techniques including goal-setting, progress feedback, and prompting. Accumulated sedentary activity time is displayed alongside self-selected goals; reminders to stand are sent at a user-specified frequency; and general tips and previously compiled, older adult-identified strategies to reduce sedentary activity are texted. Additionally, messages about the benefits of reducing sedentary activity and overcoming barriers are sent.
Coach Me is a specialty app feature designed to be paired with a PA tracker app and includes daily messages that assist older adults in discovering practical ways to integrate PA into their daily routines and overcoming PA barriers. Blending PA with productive activity facilitates PA engagement in older adults. In Coach Me, suggestions on how to intensify daily activities are tailored based on user selections from an activity inventory. This app feature helps older adults become more active in a minimally intrusive way, while allowing for engagement in productive and meaningful activities. Coach Me asks users to select obstacles to PA encountered in the previous week. Based on those selections, the app sends strategies on how to overcome those barriers, thereby targeting self-efficacy.
Proof Positive is a specialty app feature designed to be paired with a PA tracker app and capitalizes on the beneficial effects that exposure to positive aging messages and stereotypes has on health and PA. When activated, users (a) receive texts describing how old age does not equate to physical inability, (b) obtain information about the benefits of growing older, and (c) are presented with a weekly positive aging stereotype task modeled after a computerized series. This last function exposes users to blocks of "positive priming words." Primers are quickly flashed to allow perception without awareness while users focus on a simple icon that represents PA. Icons are intended to provide an additional PA cue, maintain user interest, and increase the external validity.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- years old
- English speaking
- reside in Los Angeles
- score ≥5 on a 6-item cognitive screener
- report \<150 minutes of moderate to vigorous PA/week as per a single-item screener
- ambulatory
- able to safely participate in physical activity as determined by the Revised Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (rPARQ) or proof of medical clearance from a physician
- smartphone owner for ≥3 months
- observed ability to reliably access and operate a smartphone during orientation.
You may not qualify if:
- ≥85 years old, based on limited smartphone ownership and to reduce sample variability
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- University of Southern Californialead
- National Institute on Aging (NIA)collaborator
- University of California, Los Angelescollaborator
Study Sites (2)
Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing
Glendale, California, 91203, United States
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California, 90089-9003, United States
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Interventions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Results Point of Contact
- Title
- Stacey Schepens Niemiec
- Organization
- University of Southern California Chan Division of OS-OT
Publication Agreements
- PI is Sponsor Employee
- No
- Restrictive Agreement
- No
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- DOUBLE
- Who Masked
- INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
- Masking Details
- Study measures (apart from accelerometry, Health-ITUES, and usage data-see below) will be administered by a condition-blind tester at a study site at baseline and post-intervention.
- Purpose
- OTHER
- Intervention Model
- FACTORIAL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Assistant Professor of Research
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
January 24, 2018
First Posted
January 31, 2018
Study Start
April 23, 2018
Primary Completion
January 12, 2021
Study Completion
January 12, 2021
Last Updated
November 21, 2022
Results First Posted
November 21, 2022
Record last verified: 2022-10
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will share
- Time Frame
- Final results and dataset will be made available no later than the publication of the main findings from the final dataset. The data will remain in the repository indefinitely.
- Access Criteria
- Persons accessing the data through the repository must agree to certain terms of use to include the following: (1) must use data for research purposes only and not for investigation of specific research subjects; (2) must make no use of the identity of any research subject discovered inadvertently, and to advise the repository of any such discovery; (3) must agree not to redistribute data or other materials without the written agreement; and (4) must reference the recommended bibliographic citation in any publication that employs resources provided by the repository. Authors of publications based on shared data are required to send citations of their published works to the repository for inclusion in a database of related publications.
This proposal does not involve a multisite trial. The University of Southern California is the only project site. Funds greater than $500,000 are not requested and thus data-sharing is not required. The final results and dataset of the project, however, will be published and shared according to the NIH regulations in order to improve the transparency of the research.