We Walk Plus Study for Older Adults With Intellectual Disabilities

NCT ID: NCT04573530

Last Updated: 2025-12-15

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 46 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-06-15
• Study Completion Date: 2026-02-15

Brief Summary

Determine the feasibility and acceptability of We Walk Plus intervention to promote physical activity and improve cognition for older adults with intellectual disabilities (ID).

Detailed Description

We Walk Plus study consists of: (1) a user friendly physical activity tracker (i.e., Fitbit Charge HR ); (2) user-centered social networking (e.g., Fitbit community); and (3) the iCardia platform for monitoring daily Fitbit physical activity and wear time and sending personalized text-messages targeting physical activity and self-efficacy. The specific aims of this two-arm RCT pilot are to: 1) assess the feasibility and acceptability of the We Walk Plus intervention and 2) explore the preliminary efficacy of We Walk Plus on physical activity and well-being.

Conditions

Intellectual Disability

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: SEQUENTIAL
• Primary Study Purpose: OTHER
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

We Walk Plus Intervention

The intervention group will receive a Fitbit, SMS and will be assigned to a private Fitbit community (4-5 participants per group) for 12 weeks. During the intervention, participants will receive weekly personalized SMS on their mobile phones including encouraging messages, reminders, and tips to increase steps, and weekly step goals. The investigators will use a secure, web-based platform, iCardia, to support continuous real-time remote monitoring of activity data from Fitbit devices and personalized communication via SMS based on incoming data. The investigators will set up the Fitbit networking settings on participants' phones to give notifications when there are posts to this group. Individual goals and a weekly team goal of steps will be set up by the research team. Each member will be awarded a badge upon reaching each individual's weekly goal. Teams will also be awarded badges when all team members reach their individual weekly goals.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

We Walk Plus Intervention

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The frequency and content of weekly personalized SMS are based on each participant's preference. Prior to implementation of intervention, the investigators will conduct focus groups to learn participants' social network activities and preferences, strategies that can be used to encourage engagement via a private Fitbit community network.

Attention control group

The attention control group will also receive a Fitbit and will be asked to continue with normal daily activities. During the initial in-person session, they will receive the same PA recommendations as the intervention group to walk at least 30 minutes for 5 days or more a week or 10,000 steps a day. However, a plan for improving PA will not be discussed.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

We Walk Plus Intervention

The frequency and content of weekly personalized SMS are based on each participant's preference. Prior to implementation of intervention, the investigators will conduct focus groups to learn participants' social network activities and preferences, strategies that can be used to encourage engagement via a private Fitbit community network.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Men and women with mild or moderate intellectual disabilities;
• ages 35-60;
• able to speak, read English and willing to provide consent to enroll;
• able to follow instructions and walk, physically inactive;
• willing to receive SMS, wear Fitbit throughout the study;
• living with family or in a community residence;
• support persons are willing to assist participants to ensure the Fitbit functions properly.

Exclusion Criteria

• Inability to follow instructions;
• diagnosis of coronary disease or uncontrolled hypertension, smokers, physically active;
• participating in a health promotion program;
• having mental illness or behavior problems;
• support persons unable or unwilling to assist participants with Fitbit devices, if needed.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 35 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 60 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

University of Illinois at Chicago

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Kueifang Hsieh

Research Associate Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Trinity Services Inc.

New Lenox, Illinois, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

2020-1140

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id