NCT04967313

Behavior Change Techniques (BCTs) to Improve Low Intensity Physical Activity in Older Adults

A Randomized, Controlled Trial to Test Behavior Change Techniques (BCTs) to Improve Low Intensity Physical Activity in Older Adults

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (actual)
• Sponsor: Northwell Health · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 45 Years – 75 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this pilot study is to determine the feasibility of using personalized trial methods in a virtual research study with Northwell employees aged 45-75 years old to increase low-intensity walking by 2,000 steps per day/5 days per week using four behavior change techniques (BCTs), provided in random order, and shown to have been effective in changing physical activity. The study will include a two-week baseline period during which levels of physical activity and adherence to the trial protocol will be evaluated. Individuals meeting adherence criteria will be randomized to the eight-week BCT intervention.

Detailed description

The purpose of this pilot study is to determine the feasibility of using personalized trial methods in a virtual research study with Northwell employees aged 45-75 years old to increase low-intensity walking by 2,000 steps per day/five days per week using four behavior change techniques (BCTs), provided in random order, and shown to have been effective in changing physical activity. This pilot will help determine if a personalized, virtual trial design can have widespread use in future research and clinical practice. The investigators will randomize 60 participants. Participants will complete a two-week baseline period during which they will be asked to wear a Fitbit device all day and night, even while they are sleeping, and to acknowledge receipt of a daily text message that is not an activity prompt. Baseline participants will be instructed to sync their Fitbit device by opening the Fitbit app on their phone at least every two days. After completion of the baseline period, a clinical research coordinator will review individual adherence to Fitbit wear and to survey responses. Adherence to Fitbit wear will be defined as recorded activity of greater than 10 hours a day. Text message adherence will be defined as responding to a given text message. Baseline participants that do not achieve at least 80% adherence of Fitbit wear and text responsiveness during the two weeks of the baseline period will be withdrawn from the study. Those that maintain at least 80% adherence will be randomized to one of their selected behavior change techniques to begin their pilot personalized trial. Participants who are randomized to receive intervention sequences will receive email confirmation including their protocol timeline. Enrollment will continue until up to 60 participants have been randomized. Individuals in the intervention period will receive four BCTs: goal setting, action planning, self-monitoring of behavior, and feedback on behavior. BCTs will be delivered individually to participants over the course of eight weeks in four two-week blocks. The order of BCT administration will be randomized by the study statistician. Participants may receive additional text messages to those outlined above with important reminders to sync their data as needed. Upon completion, participants in the personalized trials phase will receive an individual report that demonstrates their walking responses in relation to their selected BCTs. After receiving the report, clinical research coordinators will contact participants to respond to questions and to obtain feedback about their personalized trials experience.

Conditions

• Sedentary Behavior

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Behavioral Change Techniques	Four behavioral changes techniques (BCTs) will be administered to participants in random order. The BCTs are defined as follows: 1. Goal setting: set or agree on a goal defined in terms of behavior to be achieved. Example: Set the goal of walking 2,000 steps more per day. 2. Action planning: prompt detailed planning of performance of behavior (must include a setting \[walking to the mailbox\], frequency, duration, and intensity. Example: Develop a plan to walk today. 3. Self-Monitoring of behavior: establish a method for person to monitor and record their number of steps based on their Fitbit. Example: Did you check your Fitbit and record daily total number of steps? 4. Feedback on behavior: Monitor and provide informative or evaluative feedback on performance of the behavior (e.g. form, frequency, duration, intensity). Example: You walked 6,000 steps today. This is 1,000 steps above your baseline.

Timeline

• Start date: 2021-10-05
• Primary completion: 2022-05-04
• Completion: 2022-05-31
• First posted: 2021-07-19
• Last updated: 2023-02-01
• Results posted: 2023-02-01

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States