MedPath

Evidence-based Intervention to Improve Walking Engagement in El Paso, Texas

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Activity Trackers
Physical Activity
Interventions
Behavioral: 50K4LIfe
Behavioral: Individual
Behavioral: SMS Text Messaging
Behavioral: School
Registration Number
NCT06411769
Lead Sponsor
University of Texas, El Paso
Brief Summary

The investigators will test if the 50,000 for Life (50K4Life) is effective at improving walking engagement in school employees in 30 public schools by delivering a two-phased adaptive intervention to improve walking engagement in school workers in 30 public schools. In Phase 1, all study schools will be randomly assigned to a 50K4Life only, or 50K4Life + SMS Text Messaging group.

In Phase 2, non-responder schools will be randomly assigned to one of two 6-month adaptive treatments: a) an individual-level intervention that includes remote education modules (REM) and one-to-one monthly phone-based coaching, or, b) a school-level intervention that includes group educational sessions, school environmental modifications (floor distance markings, signage in corridors and breakrooms, promotional items), and work time/weekend group walks/hikes. The schools that 50% or more participants who achieve 50,000 steps in one week will continue with the Phase 1 condition. Intervention strategies will be coordinated by health educators and managed using the Pathverse app. Data collection will occur at baseline, 8 weeks (Phase 2 randomization decision point), 8 months (immediate post intervention), 12 months (4 months post-intervention), and 18 months (10 months post-intervention) for a total of 18 months of study participation.

Detailed Description

Mexican Americans who live in the U.S.-Mexico border region suffer disproportionately from preventable cardiometabolic diseases. Regular brisk walking is an effective measure in regulating metabolic processes and preventing disease. Employer-based wellness programs are promising strategies to address this public health problem because of the opportunity to take advantage of workplace environments to improve opportunities for walking engagement while also addressing barriers associated with inactivity. Employer-based walking programs have not been widely tested on the U.S.-Mexico border. A clustered Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial (SMART) will be conducted to determine the effectiveness of an employer-based walking challenge intervention- 50,000 for Life (50K4Life)- in improving brisk walking engagement (at least 7,000 steps/day) among school district employees. The proposed intervention strategies are based on the walking interventions conducted by the Principal Investigator(s) in El Paso and behavioral, environmental and worksite interventions by the Co-Investigators. The trial will include 30 randomly selected public schools with predominantly Mexican American employees from El Paso County area school districts. The intervention strategies in 50K4Life will be in two phases: 1) 50K4Life vs. 50K4Life + SMS text messaging and 2) Individual vs. School level adaptation for campuses with a low response to the initial intervention phase. The investigators hypothesize that walking challenges with multilevel capacity building and adaptations based on intervention response will lead to improved adherence to PA guidelines. This proposed socioecological model-based study leverages resources through Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) from Texas and expertise in employer-based workplace interventions from the University of Georgia (UGA) based on the partner's accumulative work to address the disparity in PA and advance health equity in the Mexican American population. As part of the intervention evaluation, the PIs will conduct a process evaluation and cost-effectiveness to provide insight into cost and scalability. This study will provide needed information on optimizing the implementation of evidence-based behavioral interventions to improve walking engagement among Mexican Americans living in the U.S.-Mexico border region.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
406
Inclusion Criteria
  • A school is eligible if it is located within one of the four target school districts
  • adult 18 years or older
  • full-time school-based school district employee
  • not pregnant and able to walk without physical limitations or assistive device
  • willing to wear our Fitbit tracking device or use their own tracking device for 18 months
  • own a smartphone
  • willingness to use a personal smartphone for tracking activity related to the Fitbit tracker, access online intervention content, and receive text messages.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Works at more than one school
  • Does not work on a district school campus
  • schools that previously participated in walking challenges

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SEQUENTIAL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Phase 1. 50K4Life + SMS Text Messages50K4LIfeWalking Challenge + SMS Messages
Phase 1. 50K4LIfe Only50K4LIfeWalking Challenge only
Phase 2. 50K4LIfe + IndividualIndividualWalking Challenge + Individual level interventions.
Phase 2. 50K4Life + SMS Text Messages + IndividualSMS Text MessagingWalking Challenge + SMS Messages + Individual level interventions
Phase 2. Walking Challenge + SMS Text MessagesSMS Text MessagingParticipants meeting their step goal in Phase 1 (WC + SMS Text Messages) will continue into Phase 2 without change.
Phase 2. 50K4LIfe + Individual50K4LIfeWalking Challenge + Individual level interventions.
Phase 2. 50K4LIfe + School50K4LIfeWalking Challenge + School-level interventions
Phase 2. Walking Challenge only50K4LIfeParticipants meeting the step goal in Phase 1(WC only) will continue into Phase 2 without change.
Phase 2. 50K4Life + SMS Text Messages + Schools50K4LIfeWalking Challenge + SMS Messages + School-level interventions
Phase 2. Walking Challenge + SMS Text Messages50K4LIfeParticipants meeting their step goal in Phase 1 (WC + SMS Text Messages) will continue into Phase 2 without change.
Phase 1. 50K4Life + SMS Text MessagesSMS Text MessagingWalking Challenge + SMS Messages
Phase 2. 50K4LIfe + SchoolSchoolWalking Challenge + School-level interventions
Phase 2. 50K4Life + SMS Text Messages + Individual50K4LIfeWalking Challenge + SMS Messages + Individual level interventions
Phase 2. 50K4Life + SMS Text Messages + IndividualIndividualWalking Challenge + SMS Messages + Individual level interventions
Phase 2. 50K4Life + SMS Text Messages + SchoolsSMS Text MessagingWalking Challenge + SMS Messages + School-level interventions
Phase 2. 50K4Life + SMS Text Messages + SchoolsSchoolWalking Challenge + SMS Messages + School-level interventions
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Daily Step CountDaily, Weekly up to 18 months.

The Pathverse app synced with an activity tracker will be used to collect daily step counts. The goal is for teams (schools) to have 50% of their staff with an average weekly steps \> 50,000.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
WeightBaseline, 8 weeks, 8 months, 12 months, 18 months up to 18 months.

Weight (to the nearest 0.1 kg) will be collected using a portable scale

Waist CircumferenceBaseline, 8 weeks, 8 months, 12 months, 18 months up to 18 months.

Waist circumference will be measured at the midway between the iliac crests and the lower ribs.

HeightBaseline

Height (measured to the nearest 0.1 cm) will be obtained using a stadiometer.

Cardiorespiratory Fitness (CVF)Baseline, 8 weeks, 8 months, 12, months 18 months up to 18 months.

The heart rate/minute at the end of the YMCA 3-minute submaximal bench-stepping test will be used to assess the level of CVF associated with increased PA.

Body Mass IndexBaseline, 8 weeks, 8 months, 12 months, 18 months up to 18 months.

Body Mass Index (BMI) will be calculated as weight (kg)/height squared (m2).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Texas at El Paso

🇺🇸

El Paso, Texas, United States

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