NCT02961192

Social Incentives to Improve Diabetes

Using Social Incentives and Patient-Generated Health Data to Change Health Behaviors and Improve Glycemic Control Among Type 2 Diabetics

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 361 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 70 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

In this study, we will conduct a one-year, four-arm, randomized, controlled trial to compare three social incentive-based gamification interventions to control for promoting physical activity and weight loss toward improved glycemic control among type 2 diabetics.

Detailed description

This is a four-arm, one-year randomized, controlled trial. The study will be conducted using Way to Health, an automated information technology platform at the University of Pennsylvania that integrates wireless devices, conducts clinical trial randomization and enrollment processes, delivers messaging (text or email) delivers self-administered surveys, automates payment transfers, and securely captures data for research purposes. The study team will identify potential participants from the electronic health record at the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Interested participants will be instructed to visit the study website to create an account, review and complete informed consent, and complete an eligibility survey. Eligible participants will be instructed to obtain a hemoglobin A1c and LDL-C laboratory test. If the hemoglobin A1c is 8.0 or greater and the participant is still interested in continuing the enrollment process, a wearable activity tracking device will be mailed to them. After that, the participant will be scheduled for an in-person visit with the study team to complete the enrollment process. Participants will be randomly assigned in blocks of four groups to one of the four study arms stratified based on whether the group of individuals already knew each other or not. Groups will have three individuals unless the individuals were already socially connected prior to the study, in which case they will be allowed to be randomized as a group of two or three. Participants randomized to the control arm will receive no other interventions. Each participant in the intervention arms will be asked to choose their goals for the study as follows: 1) Choose a weight loss goal that is 6%, 7%, or 8% of their baseline weight rounded up to the next pound; 2) Choose a daily step count goal that is 33%, 40%, or 50% greater than their baseline rounded up to the nearest hundred, or choose their own step goal as long as it is at least 1500 steps above their baseline; 3) Choose a HbA1c reduction goal of 1.5%, 2%, or 2.5%. Participants in arms 2-4 will be entered into an intervention approach that has points and levels designed to incorporate insights from behavioral economics. On a daily basis, they will be asked to weigh-in. They will have a weekly weight target and mean step goal. Weekly feedback will differ among the three arms to induce the different social incentives. The primary outcome variables are change in mean daily steps, weight in pounds, and hemoglobin A1c from baseline to end of the one-year study.

Conditions

• Type II; Diabetes
• Obesity

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Supportive social incentive	A family member or friend will be used as a support person in this study, to receive updates and support the participant in their progress.
BEHAVIORAL	Competitive social incentive	Participants in this intervention will be competing against each other in the game.
BEHAVIORAL	Collaborative social incentive	Participants in this intervention will be working with each other in the game.

Timeline

• Start date: 2017-02-13
• Primary completion: 2020-01-27
• Completion: 2020-01-27
• First posted: 2016-11-10
• Last updated: 2021-09-16

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States