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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01289145

Stage-based Exercise Promotion Study

The purpose of this study is to increase regular physical activity among students by fostering self-management competencies. The intervention was implemented as paper-pencil intervention. The aim of this research project is to evaluate a motivational and volitional intervention in comparison to a control intervention.

Study participants will be recruited in lectures at Freie Universitaet Berlin and followed up twice (two and ten weeks after baseline).

The motivational intervention is expected to increase unmotivated participants' intention to be physically active. The volitional intervention is expected to promote physical activity among motivated but inactive participants. Both interventions are hypothesized to improve self-management competencies over time.

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Key information

Conditions

Obesity Behavior Body Weight Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 Endocrine System Diseases Glucose Metabolism Disorders Health Behavior Metabolic Diseases Nutrition Disorders Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Overnutrition Overweight Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Freie Universität Berlin

Berlin, 14195, Germany

About this study

An experimental study is planned over a time period of ten weeks. In the physical activity study, participants will randomly be allocated to either one of two intervention groups (IG) or to an active control group (ACG), receiving a quiz on physical activity and sports. Intervention group 1 receives a paper-pencil intervention which focuses on positive outcome expectancies (motivational intervention). Intervention group 2 receives a paper-pencil intervention which promotes the formulation of action plans for physical activity (volitional intervention).

Furthermore, all participants will receive two emails as intervention boosters until the end of the study.

Study participants will be invited to take part in the study during lectures of the Freie Universitaet Berlin. The students will be followed up twice: two weeks after T1 (paper-pencil), T2 will take place (paper-pencil). Eight weeks after T2 the T3 assessment will be conducted online.

The hypotheses are:

Participants of the motivational intervention report a larger increase in motivation to adopt physical activity from T1 to T2 and T3, as compared to the participants of the volitional or the control intervention. Effects will be larger in unmotivated participants than in already motivated participants.

Participants of the volitional intervention report a larger increase in physical activity from T1 to T2 and T3, as compared to the participants of the motivational or the control intervention. Effects will be larger in motivated participants than in unmotivated participants.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • to be capable of exercising on their own at a minimum level
  • able to fill out a questionnaire (no illiteracy)
  • adequate German language ability

Exclusion criteria

  • no internet access
  • no email address

Treatment and study plan

Motivational Intervention

Behavioral

The motivational intervention promotes positive outcome expectancies on physical activity.

Volitional intervention

Behavioral

The volitional intervention promotes the formulation of action plans for physical activity.

Active Control

Behavioral

Participants receive a quiz on physical activity and sports.

Primary outcomes

  1. Self-reported physical activity frequency and duration

    Time frame: two months

    Participants will be asked on how many days per week they were physically active and how much time they had spent on average performing these activities on each of these days (adapted version of the Godin scale)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Algorithm for Stages of Change (SOC) based on behavior and intention

    Time frame: two months

    Participants will be asked if they already are physically active and if they want to be more physically active, using a validated staging algorithm.

  2. Social Cognition

    Time frame: two months

    We will assess social cognition based on a validated psychometric scale that is worded in a behavior-specific manner (physical activity) and has several subscales.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Freie Universität Berlin

Other

Registry information

Acronym: STEPS

Important dates

Study start
2011
Primary completion
2011
Study completion
2011
First posted
Feb 3, 2011
Registry last updated
Nov 15, 2012

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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