NCT04304872

Improving Physical Activity and Cardiac Rehabilitation Attendance Using Technology and Behavioral Economics

• Status: Withdrawn
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 0 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The objective of this study is to test the feasibility of using behavioral economic interventions (gamification with and without loss-framed financial incentives) targeting daily steps counts to improve cardiac rehabilitation attendance.

Detailed description

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Cardiac rehabilitation is a multifaceted physical activity program that incorporates medication adherence, smoking cessation, nutrition, and psychological counseling. Implementation of cardiac rehabilitation among those with cardiovascular disease (including ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and valvular heart disease) has been shown to increase physical activity and reduce cardiovascular mortality, morbidity, and hospital readmission rates. Cardiac rehabilitation carries a class I indication (standard of care) for post-acute coronary syndrome, post-percutaneous coronary intervention, in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting/valve surgery, in patients with stable angina, and in patients with chronic heart failure per American College of Cardiology guidelines. Patient attendance and completion rates of a full regimen of cardiac rehabilitation therapy have been shown to be \< 40% of those referred, depriving many eligible patients of the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation. The objective of this study is to test the feasibility of using behavioral economic interventions targeting daily step goals using wearable activity monitors to improve cardiac rehabilitation attendance among patients already referred for cardiac rehabilitation. We will compare three groups of 30 patients each as follows: 1) behaviorally designed gamification with social support; 2) loss-framed financial incentives; and 3) behaviorally designed gamification with social support AND loss-framed financial incentives.

Conditions

• Cardiovascular Diseases

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Gamification	Participants sign a pledge agreeing to try their best to meet their goals. Participants are entered into a game. Each week they receive 70 points. Each day they're told their step count and points. If the step goal was met they keep their points, but if not, they lose 10 points. At the end of the week if they have at least 40 points they move up a level, but if not, they drop a level. Participants start in the middle of 5 levels. Participants choose a support partner who gets a weekly email with the participant's progress. We hold a 3-way phone call with the participant and supportive sponsor to discuss ways they can help the participant meet their goal. At 6 weeks, we have a follow up call if the participant is stuck in a lower level and restart them back at the middle level.
BEHAVIORAL	Loss-Framed Financial Incentives	Participants are informed that each week $14 is placed in a virtual account for them. Each day the participant is informed of their step count on the prior day. If the step goal was achieved, the balance remains. Each day the goal is not achieved, the participant is informed that $2 was taken away.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-10-31
• Primary completion: 2024-12-31
• Completion: 2024-12-31
• First posted: 2020-03-11
• Last updated: 2023-10-13

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States