NCT05425641

MoST-Influenced Behavioral Intervention for Walking

Influencing Basic Behavioral Mechanisms of Action While Targeting Daily Walking in Those at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease: Science of Behavior Change Factorial Experiment of Behavioral Change

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 606 (actual)
• Sponsor: Northwell Health · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 74 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study is a randomized, factorial experiment using the basic Science of Behavior Change (SOBC) approach to efficiently test the effects of four distinct behavior change techniques (BCTs), goal setting, action planning, self- monitoring and feedback, thought to engage one key behavioral mechanism of action (MoA) for improving daily walking by at least 1000 steps per day in persons who have been objectively verified as sedentary and are at risk for cardiovascular disease.

Detailed description

This study is a randomized, factorial experiment using the basic Science of Behavior Change (SOBC) approach to efficiently test the effects of four distinct behavior change techniques (BCTs), goal setting, action planning, self- monitoring and feedback, hypothesized to engage one key behavioral mechanism of action (MoA-self-efficacy for walking) for improving daily walking by at least 1000 steps per day in persons who have been objectively verified as sedentary and are at risk for cardiovascular disease. Participants who self-report themselves as physically sedentary and possess at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease are eligible for a 4-week baseline period in which they must demonstrate adherence to Fitbit activity tracking use, completion of survey measures, and be objectively verified as sedentary. Participants who successfully complete baseline will proceed to the 8-week intervention phase of the study. They will be randomized to one of 16 possible intervention arms and receive one or more behavior change techniques shown to be efficacious in promoting greater physical activity. Behavior change techniques will be delivered via text message each morning with the goal of increasing low intensity physical activity by walking 1,000 steps more than the baseline step average. One group (control) will not receive any BCT messages. Upon completion of the intervention phase, participants will continue to have their step counts continuously monitored during the 12-week follow-up phase. All participants will complete bi-weekly surveys throughout the entire duration of the study (baseline, intervention, follow-up).

Conditions

• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Physical Inactivity

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Goal Setting	Individuals will receive daily text messages that include the Goal Setting behavior change technique (BCT) with the goal of increasing daily walking by 1,000 more steps than their baseline average step count. An example of the Goal Setting BCT is "Is your goal to walk an extra 1,000 steps more than your baseline average?".
BEHAVIORAL	Action Planning	Individuals will receive daily text messages that include the Action Planning behavior change technique (BCT) with the goal of increasing daily walking by 1,000 more steps than their baseline average step count. An example of the Action Planning BCT is "Take one minute and plan for today how, where and when you can walk an extra 1,000 steps more than your baseline average. Have you planned for today?"
BEHAVIORAL	Self-Monitoring of Behavior	Individuals will receive daily text messages that include the Self-Monitoring behavior change technique (BCT) with the goal of increasing daily walking by 1,000 more steps than their baseline average step count. An example of the Self-Monitoring BCT is "Check your fitbit for yesterday. Type in the number of steps you did yesterday."
BEHAVIORAL	Feedback on Behavior	Individuals will receive daily text messages that include the Feedback behavior change technique (BCT) with the goal of increasing daily walking by 1,000 more steps than their baseline average step count. An example of the Feedback BCT is "Your goal is to walk 1000 steps more than your baseline average. Yesterday you did not meet your goal. If you think this is incorrect you can check your step count from yesterday on your Fitbit app to confirm. "

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-09-12
• Primary completion: 2026-01-12
• Completion: 2026-01-13
• First posted: 2022-06-21
• Last updated: 2026-02-27

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States