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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT04041869

Residential MapTrek- Increasing Physical Activity Among Older Adults in a Residential-Living

Older adults are a growing population, with projections to reach 83.7 million by 2050. Furthermore, older adults are the most sedentary and least physically active adult population. It is estimated that nearly 90% of older adults 65 years of age or older do not meet the recommended levels of physical activity. Evidence suggests great health benefits can be achieved for older adults who are the most sedentary, and that replacing sitting with even light intensity walking can be beneficial.

The overarching goal of the project is to develop an inexpensive and scalable tool to increase volume of physical activity in our target population, older adults living in a residential facility. MapTrek is a web-based application that allows participants to take a virtual walk in interesting locations around the world while tracking their progress against the progress of other older adults living in a retirement community. Steps are counted using a commercially available accelerometer (e.g., Fitbit), and participants see their progress overlaid on Google Maps.

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Key information

Conditions

Sedentary Behavior Behavior

Age range

25 year–100 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa, 52242, United States

About this study

All participants will be provided with a Fitbit activity monitor and instructed to wear it 24 hours/day (except for bathing/swimming time) on their wrist for 12 weeks. Participants will participate in four team-based walking races, each two weeks long. Participants will view their team progress on TV monitors placed in various locations at the Oaknoll facility. The Oaknoll leadership has given the research team approval to do this at their facility. The monitors will present aggregated team data and will not report any individual data that could link back to the individual participant.

At the end of the 8 week active intervention, research team members will meet with participants at Oaknoll to administer an exit/process evaluation survey. The exit survey will ask about psychosocial predictors of physical activity as well as participants thoughts and opinions of the MapTrek game. This survey should take approximate 10-15 minutes to complete. The participants will then be asked to wear the Fitbit for four more weeks without playing MapTrek, which will act as a control condition since this is a single-arm study.

The specific aims of the study are:

  • To determine the efficacy of MapTrek for improving physical activity levels of older adults living in a residential facility from baseline to 8 weeks.
  • To determine the efficacy of MapTrek for improving psychosocial outcomes(e.g., self-efficacy, social support, outcome expectations, social isolation) among older adults living in a residential facility from baseline to 8 weeks.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • To be eligible, participants much be between 25 and 100 years of age, physically able to walk without limitations

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients with cognitive or physical limitations that prohibit walking and visual or cognitive impairments causing inability to read.

Treatment and study plan

MapTrek

Behavioral

Participants will receive a Fitbit activity monitor and access to the MapTrek game which will be visible on monitors set up in the residential facility.

Primary outcomes

  1. Physical Activity

    Time frame: 8 weeks

    Daily steps

Secondary outcomes

  1. Self-efficacy

    Time frame: 8 weeks

    Self-efficacy was measured with the Self-Efficacy for Exercise scale, a 13-item questionnaire designed to assess participants' self-efficacy related to their ability to continue exercising in the face of barriers.

  2. Social Support

    Time frame: 8 weeks

    Social support for physical activity was measured with a modified version of the Social Support and Exercise Survey. The Social Support and Exercise Survey is a 12-item (originally 13 item) questionnaire that assesses the level of support from family and friends that participants have in making health behavior changes (exercise)

  3. Outcome Expectations

    Time frame: 8 weeks

    Outcome expectations were measured with the Outcome Expectations for Exercise Scale. The Outcome Expectations for Exercise is a valid and reliable 9-item scale that assesses the participant's outcome expectations and benefits associated with exercise.

  4. Social Isolation

    Time frame: 8 weeks

    Social isolation was measured with a modified version of the Friendship Scale. The Friendship Scale is a 5-item (originally 6-item) scale that assesses 6 dimensions contributing to social isolation

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Iowa

Other

Collaborators

  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2019
Primary completion
2019
Study completion
2019
First posted
Aug 1, 2019
Registry last updated
May 15, 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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