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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05235360

Factorial Trial Testing Guided Thinking Tasks to Optimize a Physical Activity Intervention

The objective of this study is to optimize a novel, audio-recorded physical activity intervention that is scalable. Using principles of the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) framework, a full factorial study will test the unique and combined effects of different intervention components to identify which combination of components is optimal for increasing physical activity and mechanisms by which the components are or are not effective. This information will inform decisions about an optimal intervention package that is effective, efficient, and minimizes participant burden.

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Key information

Conditions

Physical Inactivity Behavior Sedentary Behavior

Age range

18 year–64 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Southern Methodist University

Dallas, Texas, 75205, United States

About this study

Eligible participants who provide informed consent will be enrolled in a 6-week study. At the baseline session, participants will be randomized to listen to a brief audio-recording of different guided thinking tasks. The audio-recordings are based on combinations of four different intervention components that will be tested in a 2 (positive affect imagery vs. neutral) x 2 (episodic future thinking vs. recent thinking) x 2 (action planning: yes, no) x 2 (dose: high vs. low) factorial trial. Participants will also complete a 30-minute brisk walking session on a treadmill. Participants will return for weekly visits in which they again listen to their assigned audio-recording and complete a 30-minute brisk walking session.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Adults ages 18-64
  • Not currently meeting physical activity guidelines (<150 minutes/week of self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity)
  • Capable of providing informed consent
  • Access to a smartphone with active data plan
  • Willing to attend all study visits and comply with the protocol
  • Conversant in English

Exclusion criteria

  • BMI > 40
  • orthopedic problems that would limit physical activity
  • self-reported coronary artery disease, stroke, COPD, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, diabetes

Treatment and study plan

Episodic Future Thinking

Behavioral

Participants will listen to a guided thinking task directing them to think about themselves at a future, positive event and to imagine the event in vivid and specific detail.

Positive affect imagery

Behavioral

Participants will listen to a guided thinking task directing them to think about positive feelings and associations about physical activity in specific, personal, and positive detail.

Action Planning

Behavioral

Participants will listen to a guided thinking task directing them to think about the remainder of their week and when, where, and how they plan to attain their remaining activity for the week.

High Dose

Behavioral

Participants will listen to the audio-recording with the guided thinking tasks 5 times/week.

Recent thinking

Behavioral

Participants will listen to a guided thinking task directing them to think about a regular habit or activity they completed in the past week and to imagine that activity in specific and vivid detail.

Neutral Imagery

Behavioral

Participants will listen to a guided thinking task directing them to imagine physical sensations (i.e., movements, muscles used) of a routine, daily activity (non-physical activity).

Low dose

Behavioral

Participants will listen to the audio-recording with the guided thinking tasks 1 time/week.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Weekly Physical Activity Minutes Across 6 Weeks (accelerometer-assessed)

    Time frame: Assessed weekly at Weeks 1-6

    Amount of weekly moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA) minutes (i.e., minutes of MPVA weighted by intensity) will be determined from accelerometers (ActiGraph wGT3X-BT) worn for one-week periods for six consecutive weeks.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Weekly Physical Activity Minutes Across 6 Weeks (self-reported)

    Time frame: Assessed weekly at baseline and at Weeks 1-6

    Amount of weekly self-reported MVPA (i.e., minutes of MPVA weighted by intensity) will be determined using the 7-day Physical Activity Recall (PAR) interview.

Other outcomes

  1. Affective Response to Exercise

    Time frame: Assessed weekly at baseline and at Weeks 1-6

    The Feeling Scale measures affective responses to exercise on a -5 to +5 scale with higher scores indicated a more positive affective response. It will be assessed during- and post-exercise for the in-person brisk walking sessions. Will be assessed as a putative mechanism.

  2. Intrinsic Motivation for Exercise

    Time frame: Assessed weekly at baseline and at Weeks 1-6

    The intrinsic subscale of the Behavioral Regulations in Exercise Questionnaire measures intrinsic motivation using a 0 to 4 response scale with higher scores indicating greater intrinsic motivation. It will be assessed after listening to the audio-recording in-person (post-intervention). Will be assessed as a putative mechanism.

  3. Delayed Discounting

    Time frame: Assessed weekly at baseline and at Weeks 1-6

    The rapid delay discounting task will be assessed after listening to the audio-recording in-person (post-intervention). Will be assessed as a putative mechanism.

  4. Action Planning

    Time frame: Assessed weekly at baseline and at Weeks 1-6

    The action planning scale (Sniehotta et al., 2005) measures action planning for physical activity on a 1 to 4 scale with higher scores indicating higher levels of planning. It will be assessed after listening to the audio-recording in-person (post-intervention). Will be assessed as a putative mechanism.

  5. Physical Activity Intentions

    Time frame: Assessed weekly at baseline and at Weeks 1-6

    The physical activity intentions scale (Conner et al., 2017) measures intentions for physical activity on a 1 to 5 scale with higher scores indicating stronger intentions. It will be assessed after the in-person brisk walking session. Will be assessed as a putative mechanism.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Southern Methodist University

Other

Collaborators

  • National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  • University of Kansas Medical Center
  • University of North Carolina, Charlotte

Registry information

Official study title

Factorial Trial to Test Unique and Combined Effects of Guided Thinking Tasks to Optimize a Physical Activity Intervention Among Underactive Adults

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Feb 11, 2022
Registry last updated
Aug 20, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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