A Trial of Habit Formation Theory for Exercise in Older Adults
Condition: Sedentary Behavior; Aging; Activity, Motor; Behavior, Health
Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase 1

Summary: 
      This personalized trial will evaluate the effects of five behavioral change techniques (BCTs)
      described in Habit Formation Theory (Goal setting, Action Planning, Self-Monitoring,
      Behavioral Practice/Rehearsal and Habit Formation) delivered by text message to enhance
      low-intensity walking by 2,000 more steps per day/5 days per week in healthy Northwell
      employees aged 45-75 years old.
    

Detailed description: 
      This pilot study uses a virtual, single-arm, personalized design to evaluate the effects of
      the five behavioral change techniques (BCTs) described in Habit Formation Theory (Goal
      Setting, Action Planning, Self-Monitoring, Behavioral Practice/Rehearsal and Habit Formation)
      delivered by text message to enhance low-intensity walking by 2,000 more steps per day/5 days
      per week in healthy Northwell employees aged 45-75 years old. Up to sixty participants will
      complete a 12-week personalized trial of their walking behavior and assess all five
      behavioral change techniques described in habit formation theory. Prior to beginning the
      trial, participants will be sent a Fitbit® activity tracking watch that monitors number of
      steps per day. Participants will be instructed to wear the Fitbit device all day and night,
      even when they are sleeping. The single-arm, personalized trial will be comprised of a 2-week
      baseline/screening phase and a 10-week intervention phase. During the baseline phase,
      participant's baseline levels of physical activity (operationalized as average steps per day
      measured using the Fitbit device) and adherence to the trial protocol (operationalized as
      wearing the Fitbit device for a minimum of 10 hours per day and completing daily survey
      measure) will be assessed. Participants who are adherent to the study protocol, defined as
      adherence to Fitbit use and survey measures on 80% or more days during baseline, will proceed
      to the intervention phase. At the beginning of the intervention, participants will develop a
      walking plan with the goal of walking 2,000 more steps per day than their average levels of
      baseline activity (e.g., if you walked an average of 6,000 steps per day during baseline, the
      new goal would be 8,000). The walking plan will include details about the day, time, and
      location of walking behavior. Participants will commit to walking according to this plan 5
      days per week (e.g., walking 8,000 steps per day on 5 planned days. A time-sensitive text of
      all 5 BCTs will delivered to the participant when the context (e.g., day of week, time of
      day) that they pre-selected is encountered. Participants will later receive a text message
      with a link to a secure survey in which they will note whether they engaged with the five
      behavioral change techniques which were prompted. The goal of the intervention is to help
      participants make their walking behavior habitual and automatic. Participants will be
      assessed in terms of their satisfaction with the personalized trial design, their
      Fitbit-measured daily steps, adherence to their walking plan, and the automaticity of their
      walking behavior. After completion of the intervention phase, participants will be allowed to
      keep the Fitbit device.
    

Intervention name(s): Goal setting; Action Planning; Self-monitoring of behavior; Behavioral Practice/Rehearsal; Habit Formation
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral; Behavioral; Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Goal setting: set or agree on a goal defined in terms of behavior to be achieved.; Action planning: prompt detailed planning of performance of behavior (must include a setting [walking to the mailbox], frequency, duration, and intensity.; Self-Monitoring of behavior: establish a method for person to monitor and record their number of steps based on their Fitbit.; Behavioral rehearsal: prompt practice or rehearsal of walking one or more times in a context when the performance may not be necessary, in order to increase habit and skill.; Prompt rehearsal & repetition of walking 2,000 steps or more in the same context repeatedly so that the context elicits the behavior.
Intervention model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Health Services Research
Keywords: Habit Formation; Physical Activity; Behavior Change; Virtual; Personalized Trial; Personalized; Feasibility