Tweet4Wellness: An Online Virtual Support Group for Promoting Increased Physical Activity

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Physical Activity; Social Media
• Interventions: Behavioral: Self-monitoring; Behavioral: Tweet4Wellness

• Registration Number: NCT02958189
• Lead Sponsor: Stanford University

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether a Twitter-based intervention with a private, online support group can significantly increase number of walking steps compared to self-monitoring of physical activity alone or a control group in sedentary women at a women's heart clinic.

Detailed Description

Sedentary behavior is a risk factor for heart disease, independent of meeting physical activity guidelines. Tweet4Wellness is an innovative light physical activity, specifically walking, intervention which randomly assigns participants to a 25-person private, online support group that will receive daily, theory-based messages as peer-to-peer discussion prompts. Many text-based interventions do not base the intervention text messages in behavior change theory, but this study will base the daily messages in the behavior change theories such as implementation intentions, social support, mindfulness, and social learning theory.

The trial will be conducted over a 6-month periods. For the first 3 months, there will be 2 groups: Group 1 will receive the Twitter intervention and a "Fitbit" triaxial pedometer to track their steps throughout the day; Group 2 will receive the Fitbit pedometer only.

For the second 3 months: Group 1 an Group 2 will track their physical activity with Fitbit only.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2016-02-22
• Study First Submitted QC: 2016-11-04
• Study First Posted: 2016-11-08
• Study Start: 2019-06-20
• Primary Completion: 2019-12-15
• Study Completion: 2019-12-20
• Status Verified: 2020-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2020-04-09
• Last Update Posted: 2020-04-10

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 45

Inclusion Criteria

• Are a woman
• Are over 18 years of age
• Are English speaking
• Have or are willing to purchase a mobile phone with a camera
• Have or are willing to purchase an unlimited text plan
• Are willing to participate in daily tweets or texts for up to 3 months
• Have an active email account
• Have internet access on your mobile phone
• Use or are familiar with Facebook, Twitter, or other social media
• Text at least weekly

Exclusion Criteria

• Have certain symptoms or conditions that would not be conducive to increasing your physical activity as determined by your physician
• Are planning on becoming pregnant in the next 8 months
• If our screening survey indicates that you are already adequately physically active
• Do not provide all required personal contact information

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Group 2: Self-monitoring	Self-monitoring	This group will receive the Fitbit triaxial pedometer that will track their daily steps (self-monitoring component) for the first 3 months. For the second three months of the study, they will receive the Tweet4Wellness intervention in addition to their Fitbit self-monitoring.
Group 1: Tweet4Wellness+Self-monitoring	Self-monitoring	This group will receive the Tweet4Wellness intervention: daily theory-based peer-to-peer discussion prompt within the private Twitter-based support group for the entire 6 months of the study. They will also receive the Fitbit triaxial pedometer that will track their daily steps (self-monitoring component).
Group 1: Tweet4Wellness+Self-monitoring	Tweet4Wellness	This group will receive the Tweet4Wellness intervention: daily theory-based peer-to-peer discussion prompt within the private Twitter-based support group for the entire 6 months of the study. They will also receive the Fitbit triaxial pedometer that will track their daily steps (self-monitoring component).

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in steps (physical activity)	Baseline to 3 months and 6 months	Steps measured by triaxial accelerometer

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Support Group Engagement during the intervention	3 months	Measured by # of Tweets per day sent to the group
average length of prolonged sedentary periods per day	baseline to 3 months and 6 months	average length of uninterrupted sedentary periods per day over a seven day period

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Stanford University School of Medicine; 🇺🇸 Stanford, California, United States