Monitoring Physical Activity (Fitbit)

NCT ID: NCT03248752

Last Updated: 2020-11-13

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 34 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2017-07-04
• Study Completion Date: 2019-08-26

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of monitoring and sharing physical activity outcomes (using Fitbit technology) with a domestic partner on physical activity participation.

Primary research question: Does sharing physical activity outcomes from wearable technology with a participant's partner improve overall physical activity over 3 months compared to not sharing outcomes? Physical activity will be measured as minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week.

Hypothesis: Knowledge that physical activity outcomes are visible to a participant's partner will serve as a proxy-supervision intervention. Awareness of partner's progress will serve as further motivation. Both factors will improve physical activity adherence in comparison to participants without shared outcomes.

Detailed Description

Background: Physical activity is associated with management and/or prevention of over 25 chronic health conditions; however the majority of adults in North America are not active enough to experience these benefits. Behavioral strategies have been shown to be effective for increasing physical activity, and wearable fitness monitors such as Fitbits include components of several behavioral strategies including goal setting and feedback. While this technology provides a platform for implementing self-regulation techniques important for behavior change, direct supervision is still the most effective strategy for behavior change. Supervised exercise programs and personal trainers may not be accessible or affordable for people; this study will examine whether proxy supervision by a partner is effective in changing behavior compared to self-regulation alone.

Target Population: Sedentary adults aged 45-75 years old living in Victoria, British-Columbia, Canada.

Sample Size: 80 participant pairs (160 total participants), 40 pairs per group (80 participants per group).

Intervention: Participants will be randomized to two groups: 1 - Self Monitored, 2 - Partner monitored. Both groups will receive an intervention with Group 1 (Self monitored) serving as the comparison group. Participants from both groups will wear an accelerometer for 1 week and complete an online questionnaire at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3 months. Measures of height, weight, waist circumference, and resting blood pressure and heart rate will be taken at baseline and 3 months. Participants will all receive a Fitbit activity tracker and wear it for 3 months. Group 2 (Partner monitor) participants will also have access to their partner's daily progress, receive eachother's Weekly Fitbit reports, and engage in a weekly discussion related to their Weekly Fitbit Report.

Conditions

Physical Activity; Health Promotion

Keywords

Behavioural

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: OTHER
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Group 1 - Self monitored

Fitbit use and reports details: Participants will receive a Fitbit device to wear for 3 months. They will engage with the Fitbit application on their smartphone or tablet device and receive a Weekly Progress Report from Fitbit.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Fitbit use and reports

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive a Fitbit device to be used for the duration of the study. Participants will engage with the Fitbit and application and receive Weekly Progress Reports from Fitbit.

Group 2 - Partner monitored

Fitbit use and reports details: Participant will receive a Fitbit device to wear for 3 months. They will engage with the Fitbit application on their smartphone or tablet device. Participant will also engage with their partner through the Fitbit application. They will have access to their partner's daily progress and be able to communicate through the application. They will also receive their partner's Weekly Fitbit Reports and have a weekly discussion about the Weekly Fitbit Report.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Fitbit use and reports

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive a Fitbit device to be used for the duration of the study. Participants will engage with the Fitbit and application and receive Weekly Progress Reports from Fitbit.

Partner engagement

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will be connected with their partner in the Fitbit app and therefore have the ability to access their partner's progress. Participants' Weekly Progress Reports will be automatically forwarded to their partner. Participants will engage in a weekly discussion on the topic of their Weekly Progress Reports.

Interventions

Fitbit use and reports

Participants will receive a Fitbit device to be used for the duration of the study. Participants will engage with the Fitbit and application and receive Weekly Progress Reports from Fitbit.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Partner engagement

Participants will be connected with their partner in the Fitbit app and therefore have the ability to access their partner's progress. Participants' Weekly Progress Reports will be automatically forwarded to their partner. Participants will engage in a weekly discussion on the topic of their Weekly Progress Reports.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• One or both partners currently not meeting the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week
• Currently living in Victoria, BC
• Safe to participate in physical activity (physician clearance required if applicable)

Exclusion Criteria

• No smartphone or tablet device (with bluetooth technology)
• No email address
• No partner and/or not living with partner

• Minimum Eligible Age: 45 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 75 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

University of Victoria

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Ryan Rhodes

Professor, Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Ryan Rhodes, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Victoria

Scott Hofer, PhD

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

University of Victoria

Locations

Behavioural Medicine Lab, University of Victoria

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Countries

Canada

Other Identifiers

BC17-180

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id