Text Messages and Physical Activity Among Teens

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to assess whether text messages can be used as a way to increase the amount of physical activity teens get each day.

Detailed Description
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This research will develop an innovative intervention that promotes physical activity to 14-17 year olds (roughly high school aged youth). It is guided by Self Determination Theory and seeks to enhance adolescents' feelings of physical activity autonomy, competence, and relatedness, key psychological needs related to motivation to be physically active. The physical activity to be promoted is walking, which has broad appeal and can be performed as part of usual-day activities. Since youth are heavy users of cell phones and texting, the intervention will send theoretically-grounded text messages designed to enhance physical activity.

Official Title
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TXT Me: Texting Motivational Messages Encouraging Adolescent Physical Activity

Conditions
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Physical Activity

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: TXT Me


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: 14-17 years old access to a computer with high speed internet access home email address cell phone that can send/receive text messages text message plan fluent in English Exclusion Criteria: mental or physical limitations that impair ability to fully participate in the program and/or complete baseline and post assessment data collection.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 14 Years
Maximum Age: 17 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

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


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: pedometers only<br>Participants randomized to this arm will receive pedometers only. They will participate in baseline and 3 months data collection. | Behavioral: TXT Me<br>* text messages, physical activity, self determination theory, extrinsic motivation, intrinsic motivation, pedometers, walking, prompts<br>|
| Experimental: pedometers + prompts<br>Participants randomized to this arm will receive pedometers plus a weekly prompt to set a step goal. They will participate in baseline and 3 months data collection. | Behavioral: TXT Me<br>* text messages, physical activity, self determination theory, extrinsic motivation, intrinsic motivation, pedometers, walking, prompts<br>|
| Experimental: pedometer + prompt + messages<br>Participants randomized to this arm will receive pedometers, weekly prompts, and 6 motivational text messages a week. They will participate in baseline and 3 months data collection. | Behavioral: TXT Me<br>* text messages, physical activity, self determination theory, extrinsic motivation, intrinsic motivation, pedometers, walking, prompts<br>|
| No Intervention: Control<br>Participants randomized to this group will participate in data collection only; they will not receive an intervention. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| physical activity | physical activity will be assessed for 7 days at each data collection period; accelerometers will be used to assess physical activity amount and intensity | 3 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Psychological need satisfaction in exercise | This scale will be used to assess psychological needs related to exercise - autonomy, relatedness, and competence | 3 months | 
| Behavioral Regulation in Exercise | This scale will be used to assess motivation for exercise | 3 months | 
| Satisfaction | Satisfaction with the study will be assessed using standard questions | 3 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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physical activity, exercise, walking, pedometers, goal setting, text messages, motivation, intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, self determination theory, prompts