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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00959712

Computer Agents to Promote Walking in the Elderly

This proposal is a randomized control trial using innovative interactive health technologies to promote and sustain walking behavior among elderly patients. The technology uses an Embodied Conversational Agent (ECA), a computer character that simulates face-to-face conversation. The trial will be block randomized by literacy status and include an intensive two-month, daily contact intervention via a Tablet PC ECA in the subject's home, an automated telephone program, and then an in-clinic, kiosk-based ECA for an additional 10 months, to promote maintenance of walking behavior. The study will occur in 2 phases, a pilot phase in which 20 subjects will be enrolled for the purpose of pre- testing the intervention and all data collection instruments, and a main study phase in which an additional 264 subjects will be enrolled.

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Key information

Conditions

Aging

Age range

65 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • 65 years old or greater
  • English-speaking
  • Actively being cared for by a primary care provider at Boston Medical Center

Exclusion criteria

  • Non-ambulatory
  • Any medical condition or disorder that would limit participation in moderate intensity physical activity (such as sustained walking), including life-threatening disorders, myocardial ischemia, complex cardiac arrhythmias or significant left ventricular dysfunction, and major functional disabilities relating to gait or balance
  • Medications that would compromise patient's ability to participate
  • Had more than 2 falls in the past year (i.e. fall risk)
  • Moderate to severe dementia
  • Severe depression
  • Currently exercising, i.e., engaged regularly in moderate-intensity or more vigorous physical activity 3 or more days per week for at least 20 minutes per day

Treatment and study plan

ECA Interaction

Behavioral

The technology uses a computer character (Embodied Conversational Agent (ECA)) that simulates face-to-face conversation. The ECA talks to the patient and the patient responds by tapping a touch-screen.

Primary outcomes

  1. Increase in physical activity (measured as step counts from pedometer)

    Time frame: 1 year

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Boston Medical Center

Other

Collaborators

  • Northeastern University
  • Stanford University

Registry information

Official study title

Computer Agents to Promote Walking in Older Adults With Low Health Literacy

Important dates

Study start
2008
Primary completion
2011
Study completion
2011
First posted
Aug 17, 2009
Registry last updated
Jun 29, 2023

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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