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NCT Number: NCT05412862

Positive Emotions Following Acute Cardiac Events

The focus of this study is to test the efficacy of a 12-week, remotely delivered, positive-psychology-motivational interviewing (PP-MI) intervention, with additional twice weekly text messages for a total of 24 weeks (with interactive, algorithm-driven, goal-focused text messages in the final 12 weeks), compared to post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) treatment as usual, in a randomized trial of 280 post-ACS patients with low baseline physical activity.

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Key information

Conditions

Acute Coronary Syndrome Behavior Cardiovascular Diseases Heart Diseases Motor Activity Myocardial Ischemia Physical Inactivity Sedentary Behavior Vascular Diseases

Age range

18 year–95 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Jeff Huffman, M.D.

CONTACT

[email protected]

617-724-2910

About this study

The investigators are proposing a study that will focus on testing the efficacy of a PP-MI intervention, with additional twice text messages for a total of 24 weeks (with interactive, algorithm-driven, goal-focused text messages in the final 12 weeks) in post-ACS patients. The investigators will enroll 280 post-ACS patients, who will take part in either a 12-week intervention (with 24 weeks of supplemental text messages), or receive post-ACS treatment as usual.

In this project, the investigators hope to do the following:

  • Examine the efficacy of a 12-week, phone-delivered PP-MI intervention for individuals with ACS on physical activity-related outcomes, as compared to the treatment as usual group.
  • Assess the intervention's impact on psychological (e.g. positive affect), functional (e.g. physical function), and behavioral (e.g. overall adherence) outcomes.
  • Explore the intervention's impact on markers of cardiovascular health (e.g., cardiac biomarkers), as well as major adverse cardiac events/readmissions.

Participants will be screened and enrolled during admission for an ACS. They will be provided with a accelerometer to monitor their physical activity for one week prior to their first in-person visit. At their first visit, they will answer questionnaires related to psychological and physical health and functioning, have their blood pressure and weight measured, and provide a fasting blood sample. Upon confirmation of adequate physical activity, participants will be randomized to receive the PP-MI intervention or treatment as usual.

Participants in the intervention will be provided a treatment manual, an activity tracker, and other treatment materials. The intervention will be introduced, and the first exercise will be assigned.

Following the first in-person visit, participants in the treatment condition will complete twelve weekly phone sessions with a study trainer. The phone sessions primarily will include a review of the prior week's session content and a discussion of the rationale and assignment of the next week's exercise/assignment.

Participants in the treatment condition will receive twice weekly text messages throughout the intervention (Weeks 1-12) and initial follow-up period (Weeks 13-24). These messages will focus on the PP activity and physical activity. During Weeks 13-24, participants in the PP-MI condition will engage with twice weekly, automated, interactive text messages related to PP and physical activity.

At Weeks 12, 24, and 48, participants will complete follow-up visits. One week prior to these visits, participants will be mailed an accelerometer and will wear it until their study visit. During these study visits, participants will be asked to answer questionnaires related to psychological and physical health and functioning, have their blood pressure and weight measured, and be asked about cardiovascular outcomes, including hospitalizations, cardiovascular procedures, and cardiac-specific hospitalizations. They will also provide a fasting blood sample.

Finally, participants will complete phone sessions every 6 months until study end to inquire about hospitalizations and adverse cardiac events.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • ACS (myocardial infarction or unstable angina)
  • Suboptimal physical activity (score of < 6 on the Medical Outcomes study Specific Adherence Scale item related to physical activity)

Exclusion criteria

  • Cognitive deficits (assessed via a 6-item cognitive screening tool)
  • Medical conditions likely to lead to death within 6 months.
  • Moderate-severe depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9] score ≥15)
  • Inability to participate in physical activity due to another medical condition (e.g., arthritis)
  • Inability to read, write, or speak in English
  • Inability to receive text-messages
  • Current participation in another intervention or program that has been designed to promote well-being or physical activity

Treatment and study plan

Positive Psychology + Motivational Interviewing

Behavioral

The 12-week PP-MI intervention focuses on enhancing well-being (through PP) and increasing physical activity (through MI). Each week, participants will complete a PP activity and work towards a physical activity goal, then complete a phone session with a study trainer. The PP portion of the program will focus on the cultivation of well-being through the performance of easy-to complete activities (e.g., using a strength in a new way) and review of the positive feelings they generate. The MI portion of the program will focus on assisting participants to improve physical activity levels, resolve ambivalence to behavior change, set realistic physical activity goals, problem-solve barriers, and identify resources to complete behavior change. Finally, participants will receive twice weekly text messages (for 24 weeks) to encourage completion of PP activities and engagement in physical activity.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change from Baseline Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) at 24 weeks

    Time frame: Measured for 7 days at baseline and 24 weeks

    MVPA will be measured via an accelerometer and recorded in mean minutes/day.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Light Intensity Activity

    Time frame: Measured for 7 days at baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, and 48 weeks

    Light intensity activity will be measured via an accelerometer and recorded in mean minutes/day.

  2. Change in positive affect (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule [PANAS] positive affect items)

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks

    The positive affect items on the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), a well-validated scale used in other intervention trials and in patients with HF, will be used to measure positive affect (Range: 10-50). Higher scores indicate higher levels of positive affect.

Other outcomes

  1. Change from Baseline Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) at 12 and 48 weeks

    Time frame: Measured for 7 days at baseline, 12 weeks, and 48 weeks

    MVPA will be measured via an accelerometer and recorded in mean minutes/day.

  2. Change in Sedentary time

    Time frame: Measured for 7 days at baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, and 48 weeks

    Sedentary time will be measured via an accelerometer and recorded in mean minutes/day.

  3. Change in optimism (Life Orientation Test - Revised [LOT-R])

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks

    Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R) is a well-validated 6-item instrument used to measure dispositional optimism (Range: 0-24). Higher scores indicate higher levels of dispositional optimism.

  4. Change in depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9])

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks

    The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) will be used to measure depression. This is a well-validated scale with few somatic symptom items that can confound mood/anxiety assessment in medically-ill patients (Range: 0-27). Higher scores indicate higher levels of depression.

  5. Change in anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - anxiety subscale [HADS-A])

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks

    The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)-anxiety subscale will be used to measure anxiety. This is a well-validated scale with few somatic symptom items that can confound mood/anxiety assessment in medically-ill patients (Range: 0-21). Higher scores indicate higher levels of anxiety.

  6. Change in locus of control (Form C of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scale [MHLC Form C])

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks

    Locus of control will be measured using the 18-item Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scale [MHLC Form C]. Scores on this scale range from 6-36, with higher scores indicating greater internal health locus of control.

  7. Change in perceived social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support [MSPSS])

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks

    The MSPSS is a 12-item scale designed to measure perceived social support from three sources: Family, Friends, and a Significant Other. Scores on this scale range from 0-84, with higher scores indicating greater perceived social support.

  8. Change in exercise-related self-efficacy (Self-efficacy for Exercise Scale [SEE])

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks

    The Self-efficacy for Exercise Scale will be used to measure exercise self-efficacy. This is a 9-item scale used to assess an individual's beliefs in their ability to continue exercising on a three time per week basis at moderate intensities for 20+ minutes per session in the future. Scores on this scale range from 0-90, with higher scores indicating greater self-efficacy for exercise.

  9. Change in physical function (PROMIS 20-item Physical Function Short Form [PF-20])

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks

    The PROMIS 20-item short form (PF-20) will be used to assess physical function. Scores on this scale range from 20-100, with higher scores indicating greater physical function.

  10. Change in mental health-related quality of life(Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-12 [SF-12] mental component score)

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks

    The SF-12 mental component score will be used to assess mental health-related quality of life (Range: 0-100). Higher scores indicate higher levels of mental health-related quality of life.

  11. Change in physical health-related quality of life (Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-12 [SF-12] physical component score)

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks

    The SF-12 physical component score will be used to assess physical health-related quality of life (Range: 0-100). Higher scores indicate higher levels of physical health-related quality of life.

  12. Change in adherence to cardiac medications

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks

    Medication adherence will be measured with the self-report medication adherence tool from the NHLBI Heart and Soul Study.

  13. Change in Fat/saturated fat/cholesterol intake (Meat, Eggs, Dairy, Fried foods, fat In baked goods, Convenience foods, fats added at the Table, and Snacks [MEDFICTS])

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks

    Measured by the MEDFICTS scale, a National Cholesterol Education Program-developed scale inquiring about saturated fat.

  14. Change in self-reported MVPA (International Physical Activity Questionnaire [IPAQ])

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks

    Measured by the self-report International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The measure assesses the types of intensity of physical activity that people do as part of their daily lives. Moderate and vigorous intensity activities will be converted to multiples of resting energy expenditure (MET) minutes per week.

  15. Change in self-reported sedentary time (International Physical Activity Questionnaire [IPAQ])

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks

    Measured by the self-report International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Measured in hours per day.

  16. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE)

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2.7 years

    MACE will be defined as mortality or hospitalization for heart failure or an acute coronary event (percutaneous coronary intervention or acute coronary syndrome). Data regarding hospitalizations and mortality will be obtained using a three-pronged approach consisting of systematic queries of participants, electronic health record review, and review of records from the National Death Index.

  17. All-cause hospitalizations

    Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2.7 years

    We will record all-cause hospitalizations for all participants from enrollment to the end of the study data collection period, using systematic queries of participants and review of electronic health records from all Mass General Brigham-affiliated hospitals.

  18. Attendance at cardiac rehabilitation

    Time frame: 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks

    We will query participants at each follow-up time point to determine whether they have attended cardiac rehabilitation.

  19. Change in weight (kilograms)

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks

    Weight will be measured during study visits.

  20. Change in body mass index (kilograms per square meter)

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks

    Height and weight will be measured during study visits.

  21. Change in blood pressure (millimeters of mercury)

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks

    Blood pressure (diastolic and systolic) will be measured by trained nurses using a standardized protocol.

  22. Change in low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (milligrams per deciliter)

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks

    Fasting blood samples will be obtained at study visits.

  23. Change in triglycerides (milligrams per deciliter)

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks

    Fasting blood samples will be obtained at study visits.

  24. Change in glucose (milligrams per deciliter)

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks

    Fasting blood samples will be obtained at study visits.

  25. Change in interleukin-6 (picograms per milliliter)

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks

    Blood samples will be obtained at study visits.

  26. Change in high sensitivity C-reactive protein (milligrams per liter)

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks

    Blood samples will be obtained at study visits.

  27. Change in endothelin-1 (picograms per milliliter)

    Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks

    Blood samples will be obtained at study visits.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Jeff C Huffman, M.D.

CONTACT

[email protected]

617-724-2910

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Massachusetts General Hospital

Other

Registry information

Official study title

A Novel Psychological-behavioral Intervention to Promote Physical Activity After Acute Coronary Syndrome

Acronym: PEACE-V

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2028
First posted
Jun 9, 2022
Registry last updated
Apr 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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