Game of Stones: A Research Study That Texts Men to Help Them Lose Weight
NCT ID: NCT03040518
Last Updated: 2020-04-27
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.
COMPLETED
NA
105 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2017-03-01
2019-11-30
Brief Summary
Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.
INTERVENTION 1: Sending text messages to a mobile phone. These will be written as though they come from other men who are also losing weight and include 'how to do it' diet and physical activity tips, combined with friendly humour and support.
INTERVENTION 2: The same texts plus promising men money at the start contingent on weight loss achievement. The money will vary over a year according to whether weight targets are met. This is called an endowment incentive and is based on research showing that modest payment helps people change their diet and physical activity. At the 3, 6 and 12 month weighing appointments, men will have the option of continuing with the original weight loss targets of 5%, 10% and 10% or setting lower targets of 5% of body weight at 6 months and 5% at 12 months. This is to maintain motivation and hope for men who do not meet the more ambitious weight loss targets.
This study examines if the texts work better with incentives than alone. Both interventions are delivered from a computer and have potential to reach large numbers, including men who don't use health services. This work is done together with obese men and a charity for men to help us find the best ways to deliver the interventions to as many men as possible, including men in difficult life situations.
This study will examine whether it is acceptable and feasible to randomise obese men to three groups: texts only; texts and incentive; or to a 'control group' who wait a year and then get the texts for 3 months. The feasibility of recruiting 105 obese men from two regions of Scotland will be assessed. Half of the men will get an invitation letter from their GP. The other half will be approached in the community, given information about the study and invited to take part. Men can take part if their waist circumference is 40 inches and more or their Body Mass Index is 30 or higher. The study examines how long it takes to find 105 obese men who want to take part, how many come back to suitable venues at 3, 6 and 12 months to get weighed and answer questions about their quality of life, lifestyle and motivation. At the end participants will report about their experiences of weight loss and of being in the study.
Related Clinical Trials
Explore similar clinical trials based on study characteristics and research focus.
Engaging Men in Weight Loss With a Game-based mHealth and Neurotraining Program
NCT05408494
Gender- and Culturally-Sensitive Weight Loss Intervention for Hispanic Males
NCT02783521
Engaging Men From Blue-collar Industries in Weight Loss
NCT05386238
Testing the Efficacy of a Spousal Support Enhanced Weight Loss Program on Weight Loss Among African American Men
NCT02458053
Text Messaging for Weight Loss
NCT02063048
Detailed Description
Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.
Conditions
See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.
Study Design
Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.
RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
TREATMENT
NONE
Study Groups
Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.
Narrative SMS
Participants will receive narrative SMS for 12 months.
Participants in all three trial arms will receive information (web or print) about weight loss and a pedometer.
Narrative SMS
Narrative SMS have been defined as interactive life stories based around a range of characters (varying in age and socio-demographics) which can simulate the processes that make group-based interventions successful: humour, banter, peer support, facts about diet and PA and evidence based BCTs. The narrative form draws on real world learning from the film, television and games industry. When theorised, the narrative enables engagement with characters who convey the message of the intervention, and facilitate the viewer's empathy. Through creating an empathic bond with the character, users pay more attention to and become engaged and immersed within the story. This appears to lead to optimal learning and conceptualisation of the target information.
Narrative SMS and Endowment Incentive
Participants will receive narrative SMS for 12 months. In addition, they will receive an endowment incentive for verified weight loss.
Participants in all three trial arms will receive information (web or print) about weight loss and a pedometer.
Narrative SMS
Narrative SMS have been defined as interactive life stories based around a range of characters (varying in age and socio-demographics) which can simulate the processes that make group-based interventions successful: humour, banter, peer support, facts about diet and PA and evidence based BCTs. The narrative form draws on real world learning from the film, television and games industry. When theorised, the narrative enables engagement with characters who convey the message of the intervention, and facilitate the viewer's empathy. Through creating an empathic bond with the character, users pay more attention to and become engaged and immersed within the story. This appears to lead to optimal learning and conceptualisation of the target information.
Endowment Incentive
All participants will be 'endowed' with an incentive at the start of the trial. It will be placed into a hypothetical personal account which is theirs for a year (no withdrawals). Participants will be able to secure money for verified weight loss at 3, 6, and 12 months.
Waiting List Control Group
Participants will be on a waiting list for 12 months to receive the narrative SMS which will commence after 12 month outcome data has been collected. There will be no interim measurements or contacts by the research team. Men are therefore free to choose whether to try to lose weight during the 12 months.
Participants in all three trial arms will receive information (web or print) about weight loss and a pedometer.
No interventions assigned to this group
Interventions
Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.
Narrative SMS
Narrative SMS have been defined as interactive life stories based around a range of characters (varying in age and socio-demographics) which can simulate the processes that make group-based interventions successful: humour, banter, peer support, facts about diet and PA and evidence based BCTs. The narrative form draws on real world learning from the film, television and games industry. When theorised, the narrative enables engagement with characters who convey the message of the intervention, and facilitate the viewer's empathy. Through creating an empathic bond with the character, users pay more attention to and become engaged and immersed within the story. This appears to lead to optimal learning and conceptualisation of the target information.
Endowment Incentive
All participants will be 'endowed' with an incentive at the start of the trial. It will be placed into a hypothetical personal account which is theirs for a year (no withdrawals). Participants will be able to secure money for verified weight loss at 3, 6, and 12 months.
Eligibility Criteria
Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.
Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
* Planning to move out of the area within 12 months.
* Current or recent participation in a research weight loss intervention study (in the last 3 months).
* For GP recruitment: severe medical, terminal or psychiatric illness (patient or close family member)
* Impaired cognitive function that would limit understanding of study information and SMS messages.
18 Years
MALE
Yes
Sponsors
Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.
University of Aberdeen
OTHER
Glasgow Caledonian University
OTHER
University of Glasgow
OTHER
University of Dundee
OTHER
Queen's University, Belfast
OTHER
University of New Brunswick
OTHER
University of Stirling
OTHER
Responsible Party
Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.
Pat Hoddinott
Professor
Locations
Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Glasgow, , United Kingdom
NHS Forth Valley
Stirling, , United Kingdom
Countries
Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.
References
Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.
McDonald MD, Dombrowski SU, Skinner R, Calveley E, Carroll P, Elders A, Gray CM, Grindle M, Harris FM, Jones C, Hoddinott P; Game of Stones team. Recruiting men from across the socioeconomic spectrum via GP registers and community outreach to a weight management feasibility randomised controlled trial. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2020 Oct 6;20(1):249. doi: 10.1186/s12874-020-01136-2.
Dombrowski SU, McDonald M, van der Pol M, Grindle M, Avenell A, Carroll P, Calveley E, Elders A, Glennie N, Gray CM, Harris FM, Hapca A, Jones C, Kee F, McKinley MC, Skinner R, Tod M, Hoddinott P. Game of Stones: feasibility randomised controlled trial of how to engage men with obesity in text message and incentive interventions for weight loss. BMJ Open. 2020 Feb 25;10(2):e032653. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032653.
Related Links
Access external resources that provide additional context or updates about the study.
Main results paper in BMJ Open
Other Identifiers
Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.
14/185/09
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
More Related Trials
Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.