Increasing Steps Per Day in Rural Veterans

NCT03930238 | Completed Results

• 1 other identifier: 201901762
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 276
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

VA MapTrek is a mobile-phone-based web application 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 progress overlaid on Google Maps. The objective of this study is to report activity levels to veterans, thereby encouraging them to walk more. Once participants know how to text and use Google maps, no additional training is needed. VA MapTrek does not require a special app, so there are no logins or passwords to remember. Simply registering one's Fitbit and mobile phone at an initial enrollment meeting suffices.

Conditions

Obesity; Overweight

Keywords

Veterans

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Total Number of Steps Per Day

  The Fitbit will provide the total number of steps that each Veteran has taken per day.

  9 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Challenge Effectiveness

  9 weeks

Other Outcomes (1)

• Completion of an Exit Survey

  9 weeks

Study Arms (2)

VA MapTrek

EXPERIMENTAL

Veterans in the intervention group receive a Fitbit and access to VA MapTrek, an interactive text-messaging platform. The only equipment needed is a Fitbit (we provide) and a smartphone (required to enroll). 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. Throughout each race, participants will randomly receive challenge text messages. Completing a challenge awards bonus steps to propel their character along the map.

Behavioral: VA 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 VA MapTrek or simply by giving the Veterans a Fitbit.

Behavioral: Fitbit Only

Interventions

VA MapTrek BEHAVIORAL

The objective is to report activity levels in our virtual environment to Veterans, thereby encouraging them to walk more.

VA MapTrek

Fitbit Only 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:

• Comfortable speaking and reading in English
• BMI greater than or equal to 25
• Have a smart phone with texting and internet capabilities
• Willing to download the Fitbit app on their phone
• Must be a VA patient

You may not qualify if:

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

Limitations and Caveats

We do not know if Veterans wore the Fitbit or not. Days with partial wear will undercount total number of steps. However, this should be balanced between groups. Additionally, the groups were not equal because we had to stop enrollment early due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Jacob Simmering
• Organization: University of Iowa

jacob-simmering@uiowa.edu

319-384-1107

Study Officials

• Philip M Polgreen, MD, MPH

  University of Iowa

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes

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: April 25, 2019
• First Posted: April 29, 2019
• Study Start: May 15, 2019
• Primary Completion: May 10, 2020
• Study Completion: May 10, 2020
• Last Updated: October 17, 2024
• Results First Posted: October 17, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)