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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06246812

Text Message and Competition-Based Interventions Among University Students

The goal of this quasi-experimental study is to assess and compare the effectiveness of text message interventions and a competition-based intervention and evaluate participants' acceptability and experiences in university students. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. What are the effects of text message interventions and competition-based interventions on university students' physical activity levels, self-efficacy, self-regulation, social support, incentive motivation, and mental well-being? 2. What are participants' perceptions regarding their experience with and acceptability of text message interventions and competition-based interventions?

Participants will

1. participate in a fitness competition 2. participate in a fitness competition and receive text messages 3. enroll in control group

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Key information

Conditions

Physical Inactivity Behavior Sedentary Behavior

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, United States

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About this study

Physical activity promotes health and wellness, yet many U.S. university students are physically inactive. Text messaging and competition-based interventions have been shown to increase physical activity. The primary objectives of this study are to 1) assess and compare the effectiveness of a competition-based intervention with and without a Social Cognitive Theory-based text-messaging campaign in improving physical activity among university students, and 2) evaluate participants' acceptability and experiences of the text messaging and the competition-based interventions. In coordination with the Deans' Fit Family Challenge (DFFC; an annual physical activity and weight loss competition between Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Auburn Campus (VCOM-Auburn), Auburn University College of Nursing (AUCON), and Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy(HCOP), a 3-group quasi-experimental design will be employed to accomplish the study objectives. A total of 300 students will be enrolled. Students across all 3 institutions who sign up for the DFFC and enroll in this study will be randomly assigned to a competition-only group or a competition + text messaging group. The 3rd group will include students across all 3 institutions who enroll in the study but are not participating in the DFFC.

Participants will submit physical activity minutes via the "Challenge Runner" app, after initially connecting the app to their fitness tracker. All participants will be asked to complete the first anonymous survey at the beginning of the study, as well as the second anonymous survey at the conclusion of the study. Variables of interest include weekly activity minutes, self-efficacy, self-regulation, social support, incentive motivation, mental well-being, participants' acceptability and experiences, and maintenance of moderate and vigorous activity 4 weeks after DFFC. Data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics to characterize the sample and inferential statistics to analyze associations.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy (HCOP), Auburn University College of Nursing (AUCON), and Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Auburn Campus (VCOM - Auburn) students
  • Possess a smartphone and a fitness tracker or smartwatch
  • Willingness to receive text messages

Exclusion criteria

  • Pregnant women
  • Disabilities or chronic diseases that prevent them from being physically active

Treatment and study plan

Deans' Fit Family Challenge

Behavioral

An annual 8-week physical activity and weight loss competition between VCOM-Auburn, AU College of Nursing, and AU Harrison School of Pharmacy

Text Message

Behavioral

Three text messages per week to promote and motive physical activity

Primary outcomes

  1. Minutes of weekly moderate to vigorous physical activity

    Time frame: week 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

    Self-reported via the ChallengeRunner online platform

Secondary outcomes

  1. Self Efficacy assessed by 9-item Exercise Self Efficacy Scale

    Time frame: week 0 and 8

    The Self Efficacy for Exercise scale consists of nine situations (weather, boredom, pain, exercising alone, not pleasurable, too busy, feel tired, stress, depressed) that might effect participation in exercise.

  2. Self Regulation assessed by 10-item Self-Regulation Scale

    Time frame: week 0 and 8

    A self-report questionnaire to assess attention control in goal pursuit.

  3. Social Support assessed by 5-item Friend Support for Exercise Habits Scale

    Time frame: week 0 and 8

    Part of the Social Support for Exercise Scale developed by Sallis and colleagues.

  4. Incentive Motivation assessed by 23-item Physical Activity Motivation Scale

    Time frame: week 0 and 8

    The 23-item Physical Activity Motivation Scale consists of six groups of factors: intrinsic, integrated, identified, introjected, external, and amotivation.

  5. Mental Well-Being assessed by The World Health Organization Five Well-Being Index

    Time frame: week 0 and 8

    A short self-reported measure of current mental wellbeing.

  6. Participants' Experience assessed by questionnaires

    Time frame: week 8

    Two multiple choice questions and two open-ended questions

  7. Participants' Acceptability assessed by questionnaires

    Time frame: week 8

    Two 5-point Likert scale questions

Other outcomes

  1. Race

    Time frame: week 0

  2. Ethnicity

    Time frame: week 0

  3. Gender

    Time frame: week 0

  4. Age

    Time frame: week 0

  5. Health Literacy assessed by Brief Health Literacy Screening Tool

    Time frame: week 0

    The BRIEF consists of the following questions: (1) How often do you have someone help you read hospital materials?"; (2) How confident are you filling out medical forms by yourself?"; (3) "How often do you have problems learning about your medical condition because of difficulty understanding written information?"; and (4) "How often do you have a problem understanding what is told to you about your medical condition?"

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Auburn University

Other

Collaborators

  • Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Registry information

Official study title

Examining the Effects of Text Message and Competition-Based Interventions on Physical Activity, Self-Efficacy, Self-Regulation, Social Support, Incentive Motivation, and Mental Well-being Among University Students

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2022
First posted
Feb 7, 2024
Registry last updated
Feb 8, 2024

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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