Computer Agents to Promote Walking in the Elderly

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This proposal is a randomized control trial using innovative interactive health technologies to promote and sustain walking behavior among elderly patients. The technology uses an Embodied Conversational Agent (ECA), a computer character that simulates face-to-face conversation. The trial will be block randomized by literacy status and include an intensive two-month, daily contact intervention via a Tablet PC ECA in the subject's home, an automated telephone program, and then an in-clinic, kiosk-based ECA for an additional 10 months, to promote maintenance of walking behavior. The study will occur in 2 phases, a pilot phase in which 20 subjects will be enrolled for the purpose of pre- testing the intervention and all data collection instruments, and a main study phase in which an additional 264 subjects will be enrolled.

Official Title
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Computer Agents to Promote Walking in Older Adults With Low Health Literacy

Conditions
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Aging

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: ECA Interaction


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: 65 years old or greater English-speaking Actively being cared for by a primary care provider at Boston Medical Center Exclusion Criteria: Non-ambulatory Any medical condition or disorder that would limit participation in moderate intensity physical activity (such as sustained walking), including life-threatening disorders, myocardial ischemia, complex cardiac arrhythmias or significant left ventricular dysfunction, and major functional disabilities relating to gait or balance Medications that would compromise patient's ability to participate Had more than 2 falls in the past year (i.e. fall risk) Moderate to severe dementia Severe depression Currently exercising, i.e., engaged regularly in moderate-intensity or more vigorous physical activity 3 or more days per week for at least 20 minutes per day

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Control<br>Subjects are given a pedometer and step count log in which to record their daily step counts for 1 year. | |
| Active Comparator: ECA Interaction<br>Subjects are given pedometers and step count logs in which to record their daily steps for 1 year. Subjects are also given a tablet computer and instructed to interact with the ECA (Embodied Conversational Agent) Tanya every day for 2 months. | Behavioral: ECA Interaction<br>* The technology uses a computer character (Embodied Conversational Agent (ECA)) that simulates face-to-face conversation. The ECA talks to the patient and the patient responds by tapping a touch-screen.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Increase in physical activity (measured as step counts from pedometer) |  | 1 year |