AI-Supported Digital Coaching And Cardiorespiratory Fitness In Male University Students

NCT07813312 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: FEFSM-AI-2026-03491/02.03.2026
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 312
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study evaluated whether AI-supported digital coaching combined with Samsung Health-based activity monitoring could improve cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity in male university students compared with standard Samsung Health monitoring. In this single-center randomized controlled trial, 312 male university students were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to approximately 10 weeks of either AI-supported digital coaching or standard activity monitoring. The AI-supported intervention provided adaptive daily step goals, activity coaching, progress feedback, and recovery recommendations based on recent activity, while the control group used standard monitoring without AI-supported coaching. The primary outcome was estimated maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) derived from the Cooper 12-minute test. Physical activity was also evaluated using daily step counts collected through the study activity-monitoring workflow.

Conditions

Physical Activity; Cardiorespiratory Fitness

Keywords

Artificial Intelligence; Digital Health; Male University Students; Samsung Health; Wearable Technology; Digital Coaching; Physical Activity; Cardiorespiratory Fitness

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Estimated maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) derived from the Cooper 12-minute test

  Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed using the Cooper 12-minute test on a standard 400-m outdoor track. Participants were instructed to run or walk as far as possible in 12 minutes. Distance was recorded to the nearest 10 m. Estimated VO₂max was calculated as (distance in meters - 504.9) / 44.73 and expressed in mL·kg-¹·min-¹.

  Approximately 10 weeks after baseline (final assessment)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Mean daily step count by study week

  Daily for 68 days (approximately 10 weeks), summarized by study week.

Study Arms (2)

AI-supported digital coaching

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants received Samsung Health-based activity monitoring combined with research-configured AI-supported digital coaching for approximately 10 weeks. Coaching included adaptive daily step targets, real-time coaching and goal adjustment, weekly progress summaries and insight cards, and recovery or rest-day recommendations based on recent activity. Android participants received the configured functions through the research Samsung Health environment; iOS participants received equivalent coaching through a research-administered web dashboard.

Behavioral: AI-supported digital coaching with Samsung Health-based activity monitoring

Standard Samsung Health monitoring

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants used standard Samsung Health monitoring for approximately 10 weeks, including step counting, activity rings, and generic weekly reports. Research-configured AI-supported coaching was disabled for the control condition. Research staff provided standardized technical support, but no individualized exercise coaching or study-provided exercise program was delivered.

Behavioral: Standard Samsung Health activity monitoring

Interventions

AI-supported digital coaching with Samsung Health-based activity monitoring BEHAVIORAL

Participants received approximately 10 weeks of Samsung Health-based activity monitoring combined with research-configured AI-supported digital coaching. The intervention provided adaptive daily step targets, real-time coaching and goal adjustment, weekly progress summaries and insight cards, and recovery or rest-day recommendations based on recent activity. Android participants received the configured functions through the research Samsung Health environment. For iOS participants, activity data were synchronized through the study workflow using Apple HealthKit where necessary, and equivalent coaching was delivered through a research-administered web dashboard. Research staff provided technical support but did not manually alter AI recommendations or provide individualized exercise coaching.

AI-supported digital coaching

Standard Samsung Health activity monitoring BEHAVIORAL

Participants used standard Samsung Health monitoring for approximately 10 weeks, including step counting, activity rings, and generic weekly reports. Research-configured AI-supported coaching was disabled for the control condition. Research staff provided standardized technical support, but no individualized exercise coaching or study-provided exercise program was delivered.

Standard Samsung Health monitoring

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 25 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Male university student.
• Average of 5,000-7,499 steps/day over the last 14 valid pre-baseline activity-monitoring days available through the study workflow.
• Self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity of 150-299 minutes/week on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF).
• Completion of the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire for Everyone (PAR-Q+); participants with an affirmative response were required to obtain medical clearance before enrollment.
• Written informed consent provided before baseline assessment and randomization.

You may not qualify if:

• Did not meet the study-defined semi-active physical-activity criteria, including participants who were already highly active.
• Medical contraindication to participation or failure to obtain required medical clearance following safety screening.
• Planned absence of more than 2 weeks during the study period.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Transilvania University of Brasov: lead

Study Sites (1)

Transilvania University of Brașov

Brasov, Brașov County, 500036, Romania

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Officials

• Stefan Alecu, Ph.D

  Universitatea Tranilvania din Brasov

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Cooper-test outcome assessors were blinded to randomized group allocation. Participants and the coordinator responsible for digital intervention configuration were not blinded. The statistician responsible for the primary analysis remained blinded to allocation until database lock and finalization of the analysis code.
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to two parallel groups: AI-supported digital coaching with activity monitoring or standard Samsung Health monitoring for approximately 10 weeks.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 3, 2026
• First Posted: September 10, 2026
• Study Start: March 5, 2026
• Primary Completion: May 15, 2026
• Study Completion: May 15, 2026
• Last Updated: September 10, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: ANALYTIC CODE
• Time Frame: Beginning after publication of the primary study results. No fixed end date is currently specified.
• Access Criteria: Requests should be directed to the corresponding author and should include a scientifically justified proposal describing the purpose of the requested analyses. Access will be subject to institutional review and ethics approval where required, and execution of an appropriate data-use agreement. Only de-identified data will be provided.

Locations

RO (1)