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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT01410812

Tying Devices as a Means of Increasing Exercise

The investigators propose that healthy behaviors such as exercise could be increased through the use of tying devices - mechanisms that force a coupling of addictive activities (listening to the next chapter of a page-turner novel) with engagement in a healthy behavior (exercise).

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Key information

Conditions

Healthy

Age range

18 year–75 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States

About this study

The study will test the effect of the following treatments as a means of increasing gym attendance over 10 weeks: 1. Participants receive access to 4 iTunes audio novels on their own iPods and prompted to listen to those novels only when exercising at the gym; 2: Participants receive 4 iTunes audio novels for a loaned iPod that they will only have access to at the gym; 3: Participants receive weekly emails asking them about their exercise.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Stable health as determined by the screening of their medical history
  • Own an iPod
  • An interest in exercising more regularly
  • Belong to the Pottruck Gym at University of Pennsylvania
  • Interested in exercising more through the use of aerobic exercise machines

Exclusion criteria

  • Recent myocardial infraction
  • congestive heart failure
  • uncontrolled hypertension
  • self-report of 6 or more alcoholic beverages per day or use of any illicit drugs
  • bulimia nervosa or related behaviors
  • diabetes medication

Treatment and study plan

Control

Behavioral

Receive weekly emails asking participants about their exercise and receive cash.

Suggested Tying Intervention

Behavioral

Participants receive 4 iTunes audio novels for their own iPods to listen to only at the gym

Forced Tying Intervention

Behavioral

Participants receive cash and also 4 iTunes audio novels for a loaned iPod accessible only at the gym to listen to only at the gym.

Primary outcomes

  1. Average Weekly Gym Attendance From Baseline to Week 9

    Time frame: 9 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Dollar Amount Participants Would Pay for Enrollment

    Time frame: 9 weeks

    Willingness to pay is measured as the dollar amount a participant would pay to be enrolled in a program such as the treatment. Participant who would pay more are said to be more willing to pay, as opposed to those who would pay less or not at all.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Pennsylvania

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2011
Primary completion
2011
Study completion
2012
First posted
Aug 5, 2011
Registry last updated
Dec 19, 2018

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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