Smartphone App to Improve Physical Activity in Older Adults With MCI/Mild Dementia

Not Applicable

Completed

Conditions: Sedentary Lifestyle
Dementia, Mild
Mild Cognitive Impairment
Memory and Thinking Problems

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to develop and test a physical activity-tracking smartphone app designed to facilitate physical activity in older adults with mild cognitive impairments or mild dementia. The app targets provides tips, messages, and strategies to overcome common barriers older adults face to being physically active. Participants will include older adults with memory or thinking problems or those diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or mild forms of dementia who are smartphone users age 65 years or older and who are not meeting nationally recommended levels of physical activity. In the clinical trial phase of this study, 15 participant-study partner dyads will be oriented to the app and use it for a two-month period. Dyads will keep a diary to document their experiences and participants' activity patterns will also be tracked at the beginning and end of the study. After the two-month app trial is complete, dyads will return for a follow-up interview to discuss their experiences and provide suggestions for app improvements. Findings from this stage of the overall study will be combined with previous study phases to derive specifications for an optimized app for older people with mild cognitive impairments or mild dementia.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Study Partners - Moving Up-A app	Moving Up - A	In this single-arm trial, study partners were invited to support target users (participants) in using a physical activity smartphone app for a two-month period. The app includes motivational messages, tips to increase the intensity level of everyday activities, and strategies to reduce sedentary behaviors. Users can also track their physical activity levels and sedentary activity.
Target Users - Moving Up-A app	Moving Up - A	In this single-arm trial, target users (participants) will use a physical activity smartphone app for a two-month period. The app includes motivational messages, tips to increase the intensity level of everyday activities, and strategies to reduce sedentary behaviors. Users can also track their physical activity levels and sedentary activity.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Daily Steps Change From Baseline to Month 2	baseline and 2 months	Step counts (objective physical activity) were measured using the activPAL thigh-worn accelerometer during a 96-hour monitoring period. Change is computed as the activPAL-tracked mean daily steps at Month 2 minus that value at baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
App Usability Measured Using the User Version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale (uMARS)	Month 2	The Mobile App Rating Scale User Version (uMARS) was used to measure user satisfaction with the app, particularly participant's ratings for app quality. The uMARS includes a usability feedback subindex which is comprised of the average of item responses for 4 subsections (engagement, functionality, aesthetics, information), to yield a total quality score. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (low perceived quality, min) to 5 (high perceived quality, max).
Daily Sitting Time (activPAL) Change From Baseline to Month 2	baseline and 2 months	Objective sedentary activity time was measured using the activPAL thigh-worn accelerometer during a 96-hour monitoring period. Expressed as average minutes/day. Change is computed as the activPAL-tracked mean minutes/day of sitting time at Month 2 minus that value at baseline.
App Usage Behavior	from baseline through Month 2 (daily)	Usage behavior is defined as the percentage of days the app was opened at least once across the 2-month trial period