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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04942535

STEP Together: An Effectiveness-Implementation Study of Social Incentives and Physical Activity

Higher levels of physical activity have been demonstrated to improve health across a wide range of contexts and reduce cognitive decline as adults become older, but more than half of all adults in the United States do not meet their physical activity goals. One type of physical activity that is broadly applicable to people of all ages is walking. This study will use a Hybrid Type 1 effectiveness-implementation design to adapt and test the effectiveness of two successful social incentive-based interventions, a gamification strategy and financial incentives donated to charity on the participants behalf, to increase physical activity among low-income, mostly minority families in community settings.

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Key information

Conditions

Physical Activity Behavior Motor Activity

Age range

14 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Able to read and speak English;
  • Has a smartphone or tablet;
  • Lives in the Philadelphia area;
  • Age 14 or older;
  • Able to provide informed consent;
  • Enrolled as a member of a 2 to 10 member family team with least one member 60 years or older.

Exclusion criteria

  • Already participating in another physical activity study;
  • An 18-month physical activity program is infeasible (e.g., metastatic cancer, unable to ambulate or provide informed consent) or unsafe (currently pregnant or told by a physician not to exercise);
  • Do not have sufficient eyesight or dexterity to operate device;
  • Average step count greater than 7,500 steps/day during the run-in period.

Treatment and study plan

Social Incentive Gamification

Behavioral

Participants enroll as a family team. They are asked to use a Fitbit activity tracker daily. Each participant sets a daily step goal based on their baseline step count.

Each participant signs a pre-commitment contract. Participants are entered into a game with their family members. Each family receives 70 points weekly. Each day, a family member is selected at random to represent the family. If that person's step goal was achieved, the family keeps its points; if not, they lose 10 points. The participant is notified the following day if they were the family rep.

At the end of the week, if the family has 40 points or more, they advance 1 level. If they have less than 40 points, the family drops down 1 level. Each family team starts in the middle of 5 levels.

At the end of the intervention, families in the top 2 levels receive a small gift.

In the 6 month follow-up, participants receive a daily text message stating whether or not they achieved their step goal on the prior day.

Social Goals through Incentives to Charity

Behavioral

Participants enroll as a family team. They are asked to use a Fitbit activity tracker daily. Each participant sets a daily step goal based on their baseline step count.

Families select a charity at the beginning of the intervention. They are informed that $20 is available each week to be donated to a charity of their choice. Each day, a family member is selected at random to represent the family. If that person's step goal was achieved, the family gets credit for meeting their goal; if not, the entire family does not get credit. The participant is notified the following day if they were the family rep.

If the family achieves their goal on at least 4 of 7 days in a week, $20 is donated to charity.

In the 6 month follow-up, participants receive a daily text message stating whether or not they achieved their step goal on the prior day.

Daily performance feedback

Behavioral

Participants enroll as a family team. They are asked to use a Fitbit activity tracker daily. Each participant sets a daily step goal based on their baseline step count.

Participants receive a daily text message stating whether or not they achieved their step goal on the prior day.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in mean daily step counts during the 12 month intervention

    Time frame: Months 1-12

    Change in mean daily steps from baseline to the end of the 12 month intervention period. Steps will be measured using the Fitbit Inspire 2 wearable device.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in mean daily step counts during the 12 month intervention and 6 month follow up

    Time frame: Months 1-18

    Change in mean daily steps from baseline to the end of the 12 month intervention and 6 month follow up. Steps will be measured using the Fitbit Inspire 2 wearable device.

  2. Change in mean minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during the 12 month intervention

    Time frame: Months 1-12

    Change in mean daily minutes of MVPA from baseline to the end of the 12 month intervention period. Minutes of MVPA will be measured using the Fitbit Inspire 2 wearable device.

  3. Change in mean minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during the 12 month intervention and 6 month follow up

    Time frame: Months 1-18

    Change in mean daily minutes of MVPA from baseline to the end of the 12 month intervention and 6 month follow up. Minutes of MVPA will be measured using the Fitbit Inspire 2 wearable device.

  4. Difference in proportion of weeks physical activity guidelines were achieved during the 12 month intervention

    Time frame: Months 1-12

    Difference between study arms in the proportion of weeks that physical activity guidelines (150 minutes per week of MVPA) were achieved. Minutes of MVPA will be measured using the Fitbit Inspire 2 wearable device.

  5. Difference in proportion of weeks physical activity guidelines were achieved during the 12 month intervention and 6 month follow up

    Time frame: Months 1-18

    Difference between study arms in the proportion of weeks that physical activity guidelines (150 minutes per week of MVPA) were achieved. Minutes of MVPA will be measured using the Fitbit Inspire 2 wearable device.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine

Other

Collaborators

  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Registry information

Official study title

STEP Together: A Hybrid Type 1 Effectiveness-Implementation Study of Social Incentives Strategies to Increase Physical Activity

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Jun 28, 2021
Registry last updated
Apr 7, 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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