Social and Financial Incentives to Increase Physical Activity Among Overweight and Obese Veterans

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Physical Activity
• Interventions: Behavioral: Social Incentive Gamification; Behavioral: Support Sponsor; Behavioral: Financial Incentive

• Registration Number: NCT03563027
• Lead Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development

Brief Summary

In this randomized, controlled trial the investigators will compare the use of social and financial incentive-based interventions to increase physical activity among overweight and obese Veterans during a 12-week intervention with 8 weeks of follow-up.

Detailed Description

In this 3-arm randomized trial, the investigators will compare the effectiveness of a social incentive-based gamification intervention with and without loss-framed financial incentives to increase physical activity relative to a control among overweight and obese adults Veterans. All Veterans will use a Fitbit wearable device to establish a baseline step count, select a step goal increase of 33% to 50% above baseline and then participate in a 12-week intervention and 8-week follow-up period. The two intervention arms will be entered into a game with points and levels designed using insights from behavioral economics. They will be asked to select a social support partner who will receive weekly updates on their progress in the game. Veterans in one arm will also receive loss-framed financial incentives allocated to an account each week during the intervention and financial incentives taken away each day the step goal was not achieved.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2018-06-06
• Study First Submitted QC: 2018-06-19
• Study First Posted: 2018-06-20
• Study Start: 2019-03-19
• Primary Completion: 2020-06-14
• Study Completion: 2020-08-09
• Results First Submitted: 2021-05-24
• Status Verified: 2021-08
• Results First Submitted QC: 2021-08-31
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-08-31
• Results First Posted: 2021-09-28
• Last Update Posted: 2021-09-28

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 180

Inclusion Criteria

• Veterans
• Body mass index of 25 or greater
• Access to smartphone or tablet to sync wearable device data
• Interest in participating in a 20-week physical activity program

Exclusion Criteria

• Already participating in a physical activity research study
• Unable to provide informed consent
• Unsafe or infeasible to participate
• No access to smartphone or table to sync wearable device data

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Social Incentive Gamification and Financial Incentive	Social Incentive Gamification	This arm uses a wearable device to track daily step counts, is entered into social incentive gamification, selects a support sponsor, and receives a financial incentive
Social Incentive Gamification and Financial Incentive	Financial Incentive	This arm uses a wearable device to track daily step counts, is entered into social incentive gamification, selects a support sponsor, and receives a financial incentive
Social Incentive Gamification	Support Sponsor	This arm uses a wearable device to track daily step counts, is entered into social incentive gamification, and selects a support sponsor
Social Incentive Gamification and Financial Incentive	Support Sponsor	This arm uses a wearable device to track daily step counts, is entered into social incentive gamification, selects a support sponsor, and receives a financial incentive
Social Incentive Gamification	Social Incentive Gamification	This arm uses a wearable device to track daily step counts, is entered into social incentive gamification, and selects a support sponsor

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Mean Daily Steps From Baseline Relative to Control	Intervention period of weeks 5 to 12 which excludes the 4-week ramp-up	Daily steps counts

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Proportion of Participant-days Step Counts Were Achieved Relative to Control	Intervention period of weeks 5 to 12 which excludes the 4-week ramp-up	Proportion of days for a participants that their step goal target was achieved
Change in Mean Daily Steps From Baseline Relative to Control	Follow-up period of weeks 13 to 20	Daily step counts
Proportion of Participant-days Step Counts Were Achieved	Follow-up period of weeks 13 to 20	Proportion of days for a participants that their step goal target was achieved

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA; 🇺🇸 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Philadelphia MultiService Center, Philadelphia, PA; 🇺🇸 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States