Randomized Controlled Trial of a Physical Activity Program for Teenagers

NCT ID: NCT03081013

Last Updated: 2019-09-06

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

311 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2016-12-31

Study Completion Date

2018-12-31

Brief Summary

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The study aims:

1. To test the effect of providing social comparison information on increasing physical activity among Singaporean adolescents.
2. To test whether providing social comparison information increases physical activity more when it is provided publicly compared to when it is provided anonymously.

Detailed Description

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Childhood and adolescent obesity represents a major public health challenge worldwide. Singapore is no exception as the prevalence of obesity among children was estimated at 12%. Overweight and obese children are more likely to become obese adults, to develop non-communicable diseases at a younger age, and to have a shorter life expectancy. One of the main reasons behind the growing obesity epidemic is low levels of physical activity. Previous literature shows evidence of a steep decline in physical activity among boys after the primary school years and low levels of activity among girls throughout the primary and high school years in Singapore. Daily step counts are found to be up to 35% short of the recommended daily steps for adolescents. Low levels of physical activity are also associated with lower psychological well-being among adolescents. Thus, it is important that interventions aimed at increasing physical activity target adolescent years.

In this study, the investigators propose to test the effectiveness of providing social comparison information on increasing physical activity among adolescents. Participating adolescents will be randomized into a group and groups will be randomized into one of two study arms in a 4-month walking program:

Private arm: At the end of each week, participants will be provided with the number of steps logged by the participants in their group. The number of steps will be ranked from highest to the lowest without any identifiable information about the participants.

Public arm: At the end of each week, participants in this arm will be provided with the same information as in the other arm plus the names of the participants corresponding to the number of steps logged.

Social comparison information will be provided to the study participants via SMS. We will conduct a 4-month two-arm RCT to test whether social comparison information increases physical activity more when it is disclosed publicly compared to when it is provided anonymously. The primary outcome is the average number of steps taken per week by participants. Study outcomes relating to physical activity and health-related quality of life for participants will be evaluated at baseline and 4 months. Step activity will be tracked in real time via Fitbit wireless pedometers throughout the study.

Conditions

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Physical Activity

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

FACTORIAL

Primary Study Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Private Arm

At the end of each week, participants will be provided with the number of steps logged by the participants in their group. The number of steps will be ranked from highest to the lowest without any identifiable information about the participants.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Social information

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Social comparison information will be provided to the study participants weekly via SMS

Fitbit

Intervention Type DEVICE

Fitbit is a wireless pedometer that tracks steps of participants and will be offered in conjunction with a tailored website with customised information for participants.

Public Arm

At the end of each week, participants will be provided with the number of steps logged by the participants in their group. The number of steps will be ranked from highest to the lowest with the full names of the participants corresponding to the number of steps.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Social information

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Social comparison information will be provided to the study participants weekly via SMS

Fitbit

Intervention Type DEVICE

Fitbit is a wireless pedometer that tracks steps of participants and will be offered in conjunction with a tailored website with customised information for participants.

Interventions

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Social information

Social comparison information will be provided to the study participants weekly via SMS

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Fitbit

Fitbit is a wireless pedometer that tracks steps of participants and will be offered in conjunction with a tailored website with customised information for participants.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Other Intervention Names

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Fitbit Flex, wireless pedometer, physical activity tracker

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* The study's target population is adolescents aged 13-16 years. Participants should be Singaporean citizens or permanent residents. Participants should be English-speaking. Participants should be willing to wear a pedometer for 4 months. Only participants who provide at least 8 (out of 14 days) valid days of pedometer data including at least 2 days of the weekend at baseline will be included.

Exclusion Criteria

* Participants will be asked to complete a short screener questionnaire to ensure that they are healthy enough to participate. Participants reporting the following will be excluded:
* Having any medical condition that may limit their ability to walk as a means of physical activity
* Are unwilling to wear a wireless pedometer for 4 months

Participants will also be screened with a Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q). Those who answer 'YES' to any PAR-Q question will be permitted to enroll only if they provide written approval from a medical doctor.
Minimum Eligible Age

13 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

16 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Semra Ozdemir

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Semra Ozdemir, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School

Locations

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Duke-NUS Medical School

Singapore, , Singapore

Site Status

Countries

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Singapore

References

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Reference Type BACKGROUND
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Lee JJ, Nadkarni NV, Teo I, Ozdemir S. The Effect of Social Norm-based Intervention with Observable Behaviour on Physical Activity among Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2020 Aug 31;12:52. doi: 10.1186/s13102-020-00202-y. eCollection 2020.

Reference Type DERIVED
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Related Links

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http://www.smu.edu.sg/sites/default/files/smu/news_room/smu_in_the_news/2014/sources/nov18/AsiaOne_20140419_1.pdf

S'pore experts on the perils of childhood obesity and how to avert it." AsiaOne, 19 April 2014.

https://www.healthhub.sg/sites/assets/Assets/PDFs/HPB/PhysicalActivityPDFs/ActiveForLifebooklet_20110415_final.pdf

Active for Life - Physical Activity: some is better than none." Health Promotion Board Singapore (HPB).

Other Identifiers

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HSRNIG13nov007

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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