Increasing Physical Activity Among Sedentary Older Adults:What, Where, When, and With Whom

Study Results

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

86 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2017-10-16

Study Completion Date

2019-07-09

Brief Summary

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The goal of this study is to develop a smart phone app to administer a behavior change program that helps adults to increase daily steps by planning where, when, and with whom to walk. The investigators tested the effectiveness of the walking program app for increasing the number of daily steps among sedentary older adults. The investigators examined the effects on self-efficacy and social integration/support.

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Detailed Description

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Physical activity is broadly beneficial for physical, psychological, and cognitive aspects of health, yet only one in five U.S. adults meets the CDC physical activity guidelines. Making physical activity accessible and feasible throughout life is an important public health policy objective that is within reach with the right kind of behavioral and environmental supports. The project aims to provide such supports for an active lifestyle thereby contributing to healthy aging. The goal of this project is to increase physical activity (i.e., walking) in sedentary older adults by providing the environmental and behavioral resources to incorporate additional steps into their daily lives. The investigators used a behavioral approach that fosters a sense of control and facilitates planning by focusing on the what, when, where, and with whom aspects of their physical activity. The investigators proposed a user-friendly, practical way to increase steps. By providing people with specific, tailored information about the number of steps one can get by walking a certain distance or during a certain amount of time, participants can better plan when, where, and with whom they will be able to achieve the desired number of steps, break goals into manageable portions (at different times throughout the day or week), and thereby increase the likelihood of goal achievement.

During the app development phase, the investigators demonstrated the app to 10 older adults to get their input. The goal was to get their feedback about the app features and to make sure it is user friendly. The investigators asked questions about the ease of using the app and their understanding of the app features. The interviewer recorded their answers to share with the research team and app developer. Modifications to the app were made based on the feedback.

During the next phase of the study, the investigators tested whether the full app program was successful in increasing steps and whether it was more effective than the basic app that only includes step counting and goals, similar to a fitness tracker or pedometer. Sixty participants were randomly assigned to two conditions: the app with step counting and goals alone (control), or the full version of the app with the step counting and goals, schedule, maps, and social components (experimental). It was predicted that the intervention group would improve more on outcome measures than the control group.

Conditions

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Sedentary Lifestyle Self Efficacy Control Locus Aging

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Both conditions will receive the App for use on an iphone. The control group will just have the accelerometer program to set step goals and to count steps. The experimental condition will have the accelerometer to set goals and count steps in addition to the schedule, map and social components.

Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

The participants are aware of the nature of the App features they are given. They are not aware of whether they are in an experimental or control condition.

Study Groups

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App Control Condition

The control group will just have the App with the accelerometer program to set step goals and to count and record steps for 1 month

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

App Condition Control

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

This group received the app with the first component, the ability to count steps and set daily step goals. This group will also be able to track walks to see the time, distance, and steps of each walk, but not see these walks displayed as a map. This group will monitor their daily steps over a one-month period, and will be asked to use the app as much as possible. They were also asked to respond to two questions twice a day about their mood and energy levels.

App Experimental condition

The experimental condition will set step goals and have the schedule, map, and social components for 1 month.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

App Experimental condition

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

This group were given the app to 1) count their steps, 2) add walks to their daily schedules, 3) create maps of their walking routes, and 4) text friends to invite them for a walk. Participants are asked to set a daily step goal and they can see how many steps they've taken each day since using the app. 2) There is an interface where participants can create maps based on walking routes. 3) They will also have the option to use a daily schedule to plan certain times in the day that they can walk. 4) The social feature gives participants the option to message friends, co-workers, or neighbors in one's contact list to invite them for a walk. They were also asked to respond to two questions twice a day about their mood and energy levels.

Interventions

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App Experimental condition

This group were given the app to 1) count their steps, 2) add walks to their daily schedules, 3) create maps of their walking routes, and 4) text friends to invite them for a walk. Participants are asked to set a daily step goal and they can see how many steps they've taken each day since using the app. 2) There is an interface where participants can create maps based on walking routes. 3) They will also have the option to use a daily schedule to plan certain times in the day that they can walk. 4) The social feature gives participants the option to message friends, co-workers, or neighbors in one's contact list to invite them for a walk. They were also asked to respond to two questions twice a day about their mood and energy levels.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

App Condition Control

This group received the app with the first component, the ability to count steps and set daily step goals. This group will also be able to track walks to see the time, distance, and steps of each walk, but not see these walks displayed as a map. This group will monitor their daily steps over a one-month period, and will be asked to use the app as much as possible. They were also asked to respond to two questions twice a day about their mood and energy levels.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Sedentary adults, who own an iphone with step-tracking capabilities (5s or later).
* Participants must be fit enough to walk for at least 20 minutes at a time.

Exclusion Criteria

* Cognitive impairment
* A recent (within the past 6 months) cardiovascular event, or fall.
* A doctor has advised them not to walk
* Anyone who already exercises regularly: walks for exercise more than 30 minutes per day, or does other forms of exercise 150 minutes per week or more, will be excluded.

Minimum Eligible Age

50 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes