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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01892475

TAKing Steps for Incentives

The purpose of this study is to test the overall effects of incentives on physical activity among older taxi drivers, and whether mental accounting exists in this context.

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Key information

Conditions

Physical Activity Behavior Incentives Motor Activity

Age range

50 year–75 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School

Singapore, 169857

About this study

As part of the 4-month Randomized Controlled Trial, participating taxi drivers will be assigned to 1 of 2 groups where they will receive either cash or taxi rental credits for meeting specified monthly step goals measured via a step counter. Subsequently, for an additional 3 months, drivers will be incentivized to wear step counters to test if effects of the rewards are sustained once the reward is no longer in place. Effects will be quantified in terms of step activity; and in terms of changes in Body Mass Index (BMI), Resting Heart Rate (HR), Blood Pressure (BP), self-reported General Health, Health-Related Quality of Life (HR-QOL) and work productivity.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Must be a taxi driver who is a hirer, and who drives for at least 8 hours daily over 5 days
  • Aged between 50 to 75
  • English/Mandarin-speaking

Exclusion criteria

  • Report difficulty doing 10 minutes of aerobic activities without stopping, walking up 10 stairs without stopping or performing basic activities of daily living
  • Have any medical conditions that limit their ability to walk as a means of physical activity

Treatment and study plan

Incentive-based physical activity program

Behavioral

Drivers will be offered rewards valued at a day's rental for meeting daily step targets over the specified number of days each month from Months 1 to 4, where steps will be tracked by a step counter. They will also be offered incentives for meeting the following criteria:

  • Accurately predicting step target attainment the following months (SGD10)
  • Wearing and providing step data over the month (SGD10 and a chance to win 1 of 3 cash prizes valued at SGD500)

3-month follow up

Behavioral

After the 4-month RCT, drivers will be incentivized to wear the step counter for another 3 months (i.e. Months 5 to 7) to test if effects of the rewards are sustained once the reward is no longer in place. For wearing their step counter and providing their step data, drivers will receive a modest cash incentive (amounting to SGD10) each month as well as the chance to win 1 of 3 cash prizes valued at SGD500.

Primary outcomes

  1. Steps taken

    Time frame: 7 months

    Steps will be assessed using Fitbit, which has an in-built 3-axis accelerometer that measures motion patterns. This will be evaluated monthly, from pre-Baseline through Month 7.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Body Mass Index (BMI)

    Time frame: 7 months

    BMI will be evaluated using measured height and weight, and will be assessed at Months 0 (Baseline), 4 and 7.

  2. Resting Heart Rate

    Time frame: 7 months

    Resting Heart Rate will be evaluated using a clinically validated machine (Welch Allyn SPOT Vital Signs Monitor), and will be assessed at Months 0 (Baseline), 4 and 7.

  3. Blood Pressure

    Time frame: 7 months

    Blood pressure will be evaluated using a clinically validated machine (Welch Allyn SPOT Vital Signs Monitor), and will be assessed at Months 0 (Baseline), 4 and 7.

  4. Self-reported General Health

    Time frame: 7 months

    Self-reported General Health will be evaluated using a validated survey instrument (SF12), and will be assessed at Months 0 (Baseline), 4 and 7.

  5. Health-Related Quality of Life (HR-QOL)

    Time frame: 7 months

    Health-Related Quality of Life will be evaluated using a validated instrument (EQ-5D), and will be assessed at Months 0 (Baseline), 4 and 7.

  6. Work Productivity

    Time frame: 7 months

    Work Productivity will be evaluated using a validated instrument (Work Productivity Activity Impairment Questionnaire) and other work-related data, and will be assessed throughout Months 0 (Baseline), 4 and 7.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School

Other

Registry information

Official study title

TAKing Steps for Incentives (TAKSI) - A Randomized Controlled Trial to Motivate and Sustain Physical Activity Using Financial Incentives

Acronym: TAKSI

Important dates

Study start
2013
Primary completion
2015
Study completion
2015
First posted
Jul 4, 2013
Registry last updated
Jan 5, 2016

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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