NCT03576924

Power of Choice on Autonomy, Motivation, Exercise Adherence, and Cardiorespiratory Fitness

The Power of Choice on Autonomy Support, Motivation, Exercise Adherence and Cardiorespiratory Fitness Among Adults With Elevated Blood Glucose

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 77 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of British Columbia · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 75 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

People with elevated blood sugar levels are at increased risk of developing chronic medical conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Improving cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in adults with elevated blood sugar levels is important for preventing the onset of such medical conditions. The primary aim of this study is to determine whether providing a choice between two different types of exercise in a diabetes prevention intervention improves perceived autonomy, exercise motivation, physical activity behavior, and subsequently CRF to a greater extent than imposed exercise among adults with elevated blood sugar.

Detailed description

This trial has been informed by self-determination theory. The theory states that individuals who choose their own activities report increased autonomy and internal reasons/motivations to change a behavior as opposed to external reasons (to satisfy another person's suggestions). Perceived autonomy support and internal motivation for performing a behavior are linked with improved long-term adherence to the behavior change, which subsequently leads to physiological adaptations such as an increase in CRF. The primary outcome of this study is participants' perceived autonomy support after a 4-week diabetes prevention program. The secondary outcomes are 1) changes in exercise-related motivation from baseline to immediately post-intervention and 6-months post-intervention, 2) physical activity behavior 6-months post-intervention while controlling for baseline values, and 3) CRF 6-months post-intervention while controlling for baseline values. Seventy-seven low-active adults between 18-75 years of age with elevated blood sugar levels (HbA1c between 5.7%-6.4% or American Diabetes Association risk assessment \>5) have been randomized to a 4-week supervised intervention involving behavioral counseling and one of three exercise conditions: 1) imposed high-intensity interval training (HIIT; n=26); 2) imposed moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT; n=26), or 3) choice between MICT or HIIT (CHOICE; n=24). It is hypothesized that when compared to HIIT and MICT, the CHOICE condition will have greater perceived autonomy support immediately after the 4-week intervention, display more internal motivation immediately after the 4-week intervention, and show greater improvements in physical activity adherence and CRF 6-months post-intervention. This proposed trial will provide theory- and evidence-based information whether providing choice for engaging in HIIT or MICT is associated with greater improvements in perceived autonomy support, motivation regulation, physical activity behavior, and CRF.

Conditions

• Elevated Blood Sugar

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	MICT	Individuals randomized to MICT will be asked to engage in only MICT 5 times/week for 30 min/session at 60-70% of heart rate max, consistent with physical activity guidelines of 150 min/week of moderate activity. Individuals are asked to engage in only MICT exercise during the 4-week supervised and unsupervised exercise sessions. During the supervised exercise the intensity will be based on the heart rate (HR) monitors and psychophysiological responses of perceived exertion. The exercise training is paired with 30-50 minutes of behavioral counselling that is identical for all three interventions.
BEHAVIORAL	HIIT	Individuals randomized to HIIT will be asked to engage in only HIIT 5 times/week for 4 weeks. HIIT consists of 5 repeated vigorous intervals of 1-min duration at 80-90% of heart rate max interspersed with 1-min recovery periods. A 3-min warm-up and 2-min cool-down are also included, for a total session duration of 15 minutes. This matches the guidelines of 75 min of vigorous exercise per week. During the supervised exercise sessions, intensity will be based on HR monitors and psychophysiological responses of perceived exertion. The exercise training is paired with 30-50 minutes of behavioral counselling that is identical for all three interventions.
BEHAVIORAL	CHOICE	Participants will first be familiarized with HIIT and MICT in a randomized, counter-balanced order during supervised sessions 1 and 2, and will subsequently self-select the exercise type for the supervised and unsupervised exercise sessions. The HIIT and MICT protocols will match to the parallel imposed conditions. During the supervised exercise, intensity will also be based on HR monitors and psychophysiological responses of perceived exertion. The exercise training is paired with 30-50 minutes of behavioral counselling that is identical for all three interventions.

Timeline

• Start date: 2021-10-01
• Primary completion: 2023-08-31
• Completion: 2023-08-31
• First posted: 2018-07-05
• Last updated: 2025-05-02
• Results posted: 2025-05-02

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada