Increasing Physical Activity in Empty Nest and Retirement Populations: A Feasibility Trial of an Online Intervention

NCT04116372 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 05-281982
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 46
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Internet-based health promotion programs have the potential to reach more individuals than in person interventions, without overtaxing healthcare resources. Having a high quality, user-centered web-based program can help maximize user engagement and adherence. Thus, the primary objective of this pilot study is to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a web-based physical activity behavior change program on recently retired and/or empty nest populations. The primary research question is: Is it worthwhile to conduct a larger scale eHealth study targeting empty nest and/or retired populations based on preliminary results and feedback from this pilot study. We will also be examining changes other behavioral indicators related to physical activity as a secondary outcome measure.

Conditions

Physical Activity; Health Promotion

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Recruitment rate (monthly)

  For the full scale RCT, we are looking for a 1 day per week or 30 min MVPA change which equates to an approximate effect size of d = .35. This equates to roughly 65 per group (130 for a two group trial). If we recruit for 2 years in the large trial (assuming a six month time period for each person in the intervention) we need to be recruiting at least 6 per month. If we decide on a three armed trial, we will need to recruit at least 8 per month.

  4 months

• Participant retention

  Number of participants who complete both baseline and end of study (10 week) measures. A 80-100% retention rate is indicative of a strong trial (Jackson \& Waters, 2005).

  10 weeks

• Participant intervention satisfaction/evaluation

  For satisfaction ratings, mean and standard deviations will be calculated for the quantitative satisfaction and evaluation questionnaire. Given that scores of 1 (ex. not helpful, did not use the tools) and 2 (ex. Somewhat helpful, used a little bit of the tools) indicated levels of dissatisfaction, and 3 (ex. Quite helpful, used a bit of the tools) and 4 (ex. Extremely helpful, used a lot of the tools) indicated some sort of satisfaction, a mean score of ≥ 2.5 will be deemed acceptable for recommendation for a full RCT.

  10 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Change in self-reported physical activity from baseline to 10 weeks

  Baseline - 10 weeks

• Change in physical activity beliefs, attitudes, barriers, and motivation from baseline to 10 weeks.

  Baseline - 10 weeks

• Change in physical activity behaviour regulation from baseline to 10 weeks.

  Baseline - 10 weeks

• Change in physical activity habits from baseline to 10 weeks.

  Baseline - 10 weeks

• Change in physical activity identity from baseline to 10 weeks.

  Baseline - 10 weeks

Study Arms (4)

Empty Nest Intervention Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will complete a baseline questionnaire, and receive access to the our online platform for 10 weeks. Completing the online platform is designed to encourage participants to engage in physical activity. At 2 and 5 weeks, a check-in session will occur over the phone. At 10 weeks the participant will be contacted to return to the lab to complete the final questionnaire, and do a wrap up interview. The end-of-trial qualitative interview will evaluate participant satisfaction and feasibility of the intervention. For this reason a lab employee unaffiliated with this study will complete these in person interviews.

Behavioral: Digital Health Online Platform

Retirement Intervention Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will complete a baseline questionnaire, and receive access to the our online platform for 10 weeks. Completing the online platform is designed to encourage participants to engage in physical activity. At 2 and 5 weeks, a check-in session will occur over the phone. At 10 weeks the participant will be contacted to return to the lab to complete the final questionnaire, and do a wrap up interview. The end-of-trial qualitative interview will evaluate participant satisfaction and feasibility of the intervention. For this reason a lab employee unaffiliated with this study will complete these in person interviews.

Behavioral: Digital Health Online Platform

Empty Nest Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

This group will complete baseline and final questionnaires (online or paper). At the end of the study this group will have the option to receive access to the other group's materials (online platform) if they wish, for the 10 week period following the study.

Retirement Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

This group will complete baseline and final questionnaires (online or paper). At the end of the study this group will have the option to receive access to the other group's materials (online platform) if they wish, for the 10 week period following the study.

Interventions

Digital Health Online Platform BEHAVIORAL

The website has 10 lessons that the participant will gain access to on a weekly basis. Lesson titles are as follows: Lesson 1 - Benefits of Physical Activity on Chronic Disease Lesson 2 - Mental benefits of Physical Activities Lesson 3 - Increasing Self Confidence for Physical Activities Lesson 4 - Learning about your Emotions Lesson 5 - Building Social Support Lesson 6 - Building Physical Activity Opportunity Lesson 7 - Goal Setting and Planning Lesson 8 - Self Monitoring Lesson 9 - Habit Lesson 10 - Identity

Empty Nest Intervention Group; Retirement Intervention Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 40 Years - 90 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Potential participants will be included if they have either a) recently (within 6 months) retired, or b) experienced children moving out of the familial home. In addition, potential participants must have access to the internet at home, and have a smart phone or home computer that can support the eHealth application we are using. Potential participants must currently be not meeting the physical activity (PA) guidelines (less than 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic activity). There will be no delimitations to the sample based on socio-economic or ethnic variables.

You may not qualify if:

• Participants will be excluded from the project if they not have access to the Internet, are unable to speak/read English, are engaging in moderate-to vigorous PA (MVPA) sufficient to meet the PA Guidelines, have an existing chronic medical condition potentially making them at risk of injury or ill health from increasing their physical activity (assessed using the GAQ)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Victoria: lead

Study Sites (1)

UVIC

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Jackson N, Waters E; Guidelines for Systematic Reviews in Health Promotion and Public Health Taskforce. Criteria for the systematic review of health promotion and public health interventions. Health Promot Int. 2005 Dec;20(4):367-74. doi: 10.1093/heapro/dai022. Epub 2005 Sep 16.

  PMID: 16169885 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor Ryan Rhodes

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 3, 2019
• First Posted: October 4, 2019
• Study Start: October 10, 2019
• Primary Completion: November 30, 2021
• Study Completion: November 30, 2021
• Last Updated: May 18, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CA (1)