NCT05736484

Randomized Clinical Trial to Improve Mobility After Hospitalization

The MOVE ON Trial: A Randomized Trial of Gamification and Coaching to Improve Mobility After Hospitalization

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 350 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 50 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The objective of this study is to test the feasibility of using behavioral economic interventions (gamification with social incentives) to increase physical activity after hospital discharge to reduce incident mobility disability among older adults.

Detailed description

MOVE ON is a 2-arm, randomized trial enrolling older adults 50 years or older with a recent hospitalization for hypertension, diabetes, and mild-moderate heart failure. The 52 week trial compares a control group wearing a wearable activity tracker to the intervention group that uses the same device and receives a supportive social incentive-based gamification intervention. The primary goal is to increase physical activity after discharge from the hospital to reduce incident mobility disability associated with acute illness and to reduce acute and post-acute care utilization.

Conditions

• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Heart Failure
• Ambulatory Difficulty
• Mobility Limitation

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Social Support Gamification	Participants sign a pre-commitment contract agreeing to try their best to achieve their daily step goal. Over the 26-week intervention period, participants are endowed 70 points (10/day) weekly and informed they will lose 10 points each day goal is not met. Points are replenished at start of each week. At the end of each week, if the participant has 40 points or more, they will advance a level, or drop a level if they have less than 40 points. The levels include blue (lowest), bronze, silver, gold, platinum (highest). Participants select a family member or friend as a support partner to receive weekly email on participants' progress (points, game level, and average step count). Participants will also work with a virtual health coach by attending group sessions organized by them with other participants through video calls once a month to discuss ways to motivate participants to increase their physical activity.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-09-19
• Primary completion: 2026-07-01
• Completion: 2026-07-01
• First posted: 2023-02-21
• Last updated: 2026-04-06

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States