An M-Health Intervention in Rural Veterans

NCT03720054 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 201710866
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 139
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

MapTrek is a mobile-phone-based web app that allows participants to take a virtual walk in interesting locations around the world while tracking their progress against the progress of other veterans on an interactive map. Steps are counted using a commercially available triaxial accelerometer (e.g. Fitbit), and users see their own updated progress overlaid on Google Maps, with Google Maps features (e.g. zooming, street view, etc.) available. The objective is to report activity levels in the virtual environment to veterans, thereby encouraging them first, to walk more every day, and second, to maintain these new increased levels of physical activity.

Conditions

Veterans; Obesity; Overweight

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Self-Reported Ability to Participate

  Ability (smartphone ownership, texting skill) to participate will be assessed via self-report from the participant.

  9 weeks

• Fitbit Usage

  Amount of time (number of days, hours per day) spent wearing the Fitbit will be assessed.

  9 weeks

• Challenge Usage

  Number of challenges participated in will be assessed.

  9 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Total Number of Steps per Day

  9 weeks

Other Outcomes (1)

• MapTrek Future Development Survey

  5 months

Study Arms (2)

MapTrek

EXPERIMENTAL

Veterans in the intervention group receive a Fitbit and MapTrek, an interactive text-messaging platform. The only equipment needed is a Fitbit (we provide) and a smartphone (required prior to enrollment). Each week, veterans are assigned to a virtual walking route. Each day, they receive a text message with a link to the current route. The link will take them to a map where they can see their progress and the progress of others. A leaderboard provides information on how many steps each participant has taken. MapTrek also supports Street View on Google Maps, so veterans can explore what they would see if they were in that location. Throughout each race, patients will randomly receive challenge text messages. Completing a challenge awards bonus steps to propel their character along the map.

Behavioral: MapTrek

Fitbit Only

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Veterans randomized to the control group will receive a Fitbit only. This will allow us to determine if changes in physical activity are due to MapTrek or simply by giving the veterans a Fitbit.

Behavioral: Fitbit

Interventions

MapTrek BEHAVIORAL

Our objective is to report activity levels in our virtual environment to veterans, thereby encouraging them first, to walk more every day, and second, to maintain these new increased levels of physical activity. MapTrek will also motivate veterans to accumulate less sedentary time.

MapTrek

Fitbit BEHAVIORAL

Fitbit Only

Fitbit Only

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 100 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• At least 18 years old
• Be comfortable speaking and reading in English
• Have a BMI of at least 25
• Have a smartphone with texting and internet capabilities
• Be willing to download the Fitbit app onto their phone
• Must be a VA patient

You may not qualify if:

• Pregnancy
• Active mental health conditions that prevent them from providing own consent

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Iowa: lead
• US Department of Veterans Affairs: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

VA Health Care System

Iowa City, Iowa, 52246, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Obesity; Overweight

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Body Weight; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor of Medicine

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 15, 2018
• First Posted: October 25, 2018
• Study Start: February 26, 2018
• Primary Completion: October 29, 2018
• Study Completion: January 28, 2019
• Last Updated: April 26, 2019

Record last verified: 2019-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)