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NCT Number: NCT05671406

RCT of Sensor-controlled Digital Game for Hypertension Self-care in a Native American Community

This study evaluates a sensor-controlled digital game (SCDG) to motivate self-management behaviors of physical activity in Native American adults with hypertension (HTN). Half of the participants will receive the SCDG app and physical activity sensors and the other half will receive only the physical activity sensors.

Native American participants with hypertension (HTN) in the sensor controlled digital game intervention group will show increased PA behaviors; improved HTN knowledge, self-care behaviors, self-efficacy, motivation, and quality of life (QoL); and larger reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and cardiac hospitalizations at baseline,3 months, and 6 months as compared to participants in the sensor-only control group.

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Key information

Conditions

Hypertension Cardiovascular Diseases Vascular Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Gail Currin

CONTACT

Jada Brooks, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

919-966-9511

Jada Brooks, PhD

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

About this study

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among Native Americans (NAs). Hypertension (HTN) strongly elevates the morbidity and mortality risks related to cardiovascular disease. Lifestyle modifications promoted by U.S. HTN guidelines includes modifiable self-care behaviors such as regular physical activity which is associated with lower blood pressure, reduced cardiovascular risk, and beneficial cardiac structural remodeling. Therefore, motivating physical activity behaviors would be key to cardiovascular health promotion efforts among a Native American community.

One promising approach is the use of sensor-controlled digital games (SCDGs), which offer affordable, portable, and scalable tools to facilitate engagement in HTN self-care behaviors while being enjoyable and easy to use. The SCDG intervention integrates HTN participants' behavioral data from an activity tracker sensor to activate game progress, rewards, and feedback. The primary goal of this study is to test a culturally adapted SCDG intervention (N-SCDG) for improving daily physical activity self-care behaviors among Lumbee tribal adults with HTN and examine approaches for sustaining the impact of the N-SCDG at the community level.

The investigators will compare the N-SCDG intervention versus a sensor-only control for the primary outcome of engagement in the HTN selfcare behavior of physical activity and the secondary outcomes of HTN self-care knowledge, self-care behaviors, self-efficacy, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, cardiac hospitalization, and quality of life at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. The investigators will randomize 220 participants to either the N-SCDG intervention group, in which participants will receive sensors that track physical activity and will play the N-SCDG on a mobile smart phone, or a control group that will receive sensors, an app that tracks physical activity, and standardized written HTN educational materials.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Adults in a Native American tribal community in southeastern U.S.
  • Age 18 years or older
  • Systolic BP ≥140mm Hg and/or diastolic BP ≥90mm Hg on 2 separate measurements or who are on antihypertensive medication will be included.
  • Pass a mini-cognitive screen
  • Able to independently walk without using a walker or requiring human assistance (ambulation/locomotion item on the Outcome and Assessment Information).

Exclusion criteria

  • Severe visual (e.g., legal blindness) or tactile (e.g., severe arthritis) impairments that adversely prevent use of a smart phone or sensor devices;
  • Chronic kidney disease stage 4-5,
  • Diagnosis of end stage or terminal illness (e.g., cancer or heart failure)
  • Prior heart transplantation or implantation of a durable mechanical circulatory support device (e.g., left ventricular assist devise) due to unique self-care needs.

Treatment and study plan

Sensor-controlled digital game

Behavioral

The SCDG will involve a narrative, the goal of which is to help an avatar in the game avoid hospitalization by using game points, earned via the participant's real-time behaviors, in game tasks that help maintain the avatar's optimal Hypertension health status. Real-time behaviors of weight-monitoring and physical activity will be tracked by an off-the-shelf sensors and app (Withings). The data from the Withings sensors will then be routed to our SCDG app.

The digital game paired with sensors will enable objective tracking of real-time behaviors such as physical activity, and weight monitoring, and provide personalized, contextually relevant feedback to motivate engagement in and generate habit formation of heart failure related self-management behaviors.

Other names: SCDG

Sensor only

Behavioral

Real-time behaviors of physical activity will be tracked by an off-the-shelf sensor and app (Withings). This group will also be provided with standardized evidence-based Hypertension educational material. However, the data from the Withings sensor will not be routed to the SCDG.

Primary outcomes

  1. Mean of Daily Steps on Physical Activity Sensor Logs at 3 months

    Time frame: 3 months

    This outcome measure will be measured by calculating the average daily steps at end of 3 months. These measures will be collected from sensor logs within the apps for both IG and CG.

  2. Mean of Daily Steps on Physical Activity Sensor Logs at 6 months

    Time frame: 6 months

    This outcome measure will be measured by calculating the average daily steps at end of 6 months. These measures will be collected from sensor logs within the apps for both IG and CG.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change from baseline in Mean Systolic Blood Pressure as measured by a FDA approved digital sphygmomanometer at 3 months.

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 months

    Systolic blood Pressure (SBP) of participants will be measured at baseline using a FDA approved digital sphygmomanometer (A&D UA-767). The A&D UA-767 is a fully automated device based on the oscillometric method and has been validated against a mercury sphygmomanometer. Participants will be instructed to refrain from using tobacco products, alcohol, or caffeine for 30 minutes before measurement. Participants will sit quietly, resting the left arm on a flat surface (at the heart's level) for at least 5 minutes before the first measurement. Three measurements will be taken at 1-minute intervals; the second and third readings recorded in mmHg will be averaged to obtain the mean SBP.

  2. Change from baseline in Mean Systolic Blood Pressure as measured by a FDA approved digital sphygmomanometer at 6 months.

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 months

    Systolic blood Pressure (SBP) of participants will be measured at baseline using a FDA approved digital sphygmomanometer (A&D UA-767). The A&D UA-767 is a fully automated device based on the oscillometric method and has been validated against a mercury sphygmomanometer. Participants will be instructed to refrain from using tobacco products, alcohol, or caffeine for 30 minutes before measurement. Participants will sit quietly, resting the left arm on a flat surface (at the heart's level) for at least 5 minutes before the first measurement. Three measurements will be taken at 1-minute intervals; the second and third readings recorded in mmHg will be averaged to obtain the mean SBP.

  3. Change from baseline in Mean Diastolic Blood Pressure as measured by a FDA approved digital sphygmomanometer at 3 months.

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 months

    Diastolic blood Pressure (DBP) of participants will be measured at baseline using a FDA approved digital sphygmomanometer (A&D UA-767). The A&D UA-767 is a fully automated device based on the oscillometric method and has been validated against a mercury sphygmomanometer. Participants will be instructed to refrain from using tobacco products, alcohol, or caffeine for 30 minutes before measurement. Participants will sit quietly, resting the left arm on a flat surface (at the heart's level) for at least 5 minutes before the first measurement. Three measurements will be taken at 1-minute intervals; the second and third readings recorded in mmHg will be averaged to obtain the mean DBP.

  4. Change from baseline in Mean Diastolic Blood Pressure as measured by a FDA approved digital sphygmomanometer at 6 months.

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 months

    Diastolic blood Pressure (DBP) of participants will be measured at baseline using a FDA approved digital sphygmomanometer (A&D UA-767). The A&D UA-767 is a fully automated device based on the oscillometric method and has been validated against a mercury sphygmomanometer. Participants will be instructed to refrain from using tobacco products, alcohol, or caffeine for 30 minutes before measurement. Participants will sit quietly, resting the left arm on a flat surface (at the heart's level) for at least 5 minutes before the first measurement. Three measurements will be taken at 1-minute intervals; the second and third readings recorded in mmHg will be averaged to obtain the mean DBP.

  5. Change from baseline in mean Blood Pressure Control at 3 months

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 months

    Blood Pressure will be measured as described above for Systolic and Diastolic blood pressure. Blood Pressure Control will be defined as yes if mean SBP < 140 mmHG and mean DBP < 90 mmHG.

  6. Change from baseline in mean Blood Pressure Control at 6 months

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 months

    Blood Pressure will be measured as described above for Systolic and Diastolic blood pressure. Blood Pressure Control will be defined as yes if mean SBP < 140 mmHG and mean DBP < 90 mmHG.

  7. Change From Baseline in Hypertension Knowledge as measured by the Hypertension Knowledge-Level Scale (HK-LS) at 3 months

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 months

    Knowledge will be measured by the Hypertension Knowledge-Level Scale (HK-LS). The scale has 22 items with six sub-dimensions of definition, medical treatment, drug compliance, lifestyle, diet, and complications, respectively. Each correct answer is worth 1 point. The maximum scale score is 22, being scored only when the respondent provides the right answer. Higher scores indicate higher knowledge.

  8. Change From Baseline in Hypertension Knowledge as measured by the Hypertension Knowledge-Level Scale (HK-LS) at 6 months

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 months

    Knowledge will be measured by the Hypertension Knowledge-Level Scale (HK-LS). The scale has 22 items with six sub-dimensions of definition, medical treatment, drug compliance, lifestyle, diet, and complications, respectively. Each correct answer is worth 1 point. The maximum scale score is 22, being scored only when the respondent provides the right answer. Higher scores indicate higher knowledge.

  9. Change From Baseline in Hypertension self-efficacy as measured by the hypertension self-efficacy subscale of the High Blood Pressure Hypertension Self-Care Profile at 3 months

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 months

    The hypertension self-efficacy subscale of the High Blood Pressure Hypertension Self-Care Profile has 20 items. Items in this subscale include a 4-point scale format asking how confident are individuals in performing certain behaviors necessary to manage HTN (e.g., physical activity, nutrition). Responses were rated from 1 (not relevant) to 4 (very relevant). Scores are summed with higher scores indicating higher self-efficacy in managing HTN. Scores can range from 20 to 80.

  10. Change From Baseline in Hypertension self-efficacy as measured by the hypertension self-efficacy subscale of the High Blood Pressure Hypertension Self-Care Profile at 6 months

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 months

    The hypertension self-efficacy subscale of the High Blood Pressure Hypertension Self-Care Profile has 20 items. Items in this subscale include a 4-point scale format asking how confident are individuals in performing certain behaviors necessary to manage HTN (e.g., physical activity, nutrition). Responses were rated from 1 (not relevant) to 4 (very relevant). Scores are summed with higher scores indicating higher self-efficacy in managing HTN. Scores can range from 20 to 80.

  11. Change From Baseline in Hypertension self-care behaviors as measured by the hypertension behavior subscale of the High Blood Pressure Hypertension Self-Care Profile (HBP-SCP) at 3 months

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 months

    The hypertension behavior subscale of the High Blood Pressure Hypertension Self-Care Profile (HBP-SCP) has 20 items. Items in this subscale include a 4-point scale format asking how often individuals performed certain behaviors necessary to manage HTN (e.g., physical activity, nutrition). Responses were rated from 1 (not relevant) to 4 (very relevant). Scores were summed with higher scores indicating more positive self-care behaviors in managing hypertension. Scores can range from 20 to 80.

  12. Change From Baseline in Hypertension self-care behaviors as measured by the hypertension behavior subscale of the High Blood Pressure Hypertension Self-Care Profile (HBP-SCP) at 6 months

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 months

    The hypertension behavior subscale of the High Blood Pressure Hypertension Self-Care Profile (HBP-SCP) has 20 items. Items in this subscale include a 4-point scale format asking how often individuals performed certain behaviors necessary to manage HTN (e.g., physical activity, nutrition). Responses were rated from 1 (not relevant) to 4 (very relevant). Scores were summed with higher scores indicating more positive self-care behaviors in managing hypertension. Scores can range from 20 to 80.

  13. Change from Baseline in Quality of Life as measured by the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Global-10 at 3 months

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 months

    The PROMIS Global-10 is a 10-item questionnaire that assesses the general quality of life (QOL) divided into two domains-physical and mental health. Each domain's scores are derived using T-score normal population distribution mean ± standard deviation (SD) of 50 ± 10, where higher scores indicate better health.

  14. Change from Baseline in Quality of Life as measured by the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Global-10 at 6 months

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 months

    The PROMIS Global-10 is a 10-item questionnaire that assesses the general quality of life (QOL) divided into two domains-physical and mental health. Each domain's scores are derived using T-score normal population distribution mean ± standard deviation (SD) of 50 ± 10, where higher scores indicate better health.

  15. Number of Cardiac Hospitalizations in the past month at 3 months

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 months

    This measure will be obtained through participant self-report through periodic online surveys and will be confirmed by hospital discharge summary provided by the participant.

  16. Number of Cardiac Hospitalizations in the past month at 6 months

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 months

    This measure will be obtained through participant self-report through periodic online surveys and will be confirmed by hospital discharge summary provided by the participant.

Study contacts

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

Angelica Rangel, MS

CONTACT

[email protected]

512-956-8714

Jada Brooks, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

919-966-9511

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Texas at Austin

Other

Collaborators

  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Registry information

Official study title

A Sensor-controlled Digital Game-based Approach to Improve Self-care Behaviors Among Adults Diagnosed With Hypertension in a Native American Community

Acronym: N-SCDG

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Jan 4, 2023
Registry last updated
Jan 21, 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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