We Walk Plus Study for Older Adults With Intellectual Disabilities

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Determine the feasibility and acceptability of We Walk Plus intervention to promote physical activity and improve cognition for older adults with intellectual disabilities (ID).

Detailed Description
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We Walk Plus study consists of: (1) a user friendly physical activity tracker (i.e., Fitbit Charge HR ); (2) user-centered social networking (e.g., Fitbit community); and (3) the iCardia platform for monitoring daily Fitbit physical activity and wear time and sending personalized text-messages targeting physical activity and self-efficacy. The specific aims of this two-arm RCT pilot are to: 1) assess the feasibility and acceptability of the We Walk Plus intervention and 2) explore the preliminary efficacy of We Walk Plus on physical activity and well-being.

Official Title
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We Walk Plus Study: A Walking Program Using Physical Activity Monitors and Social Networking for Older Adults With Intellectual Disabilities

Conditions
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Intellectual Disability

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: We Walk Plus Intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Men and women with mild or moderate intellectual disabilities; ages 35-60; able to speak, read English and willing to provide consent to enroll; able to follow instructions and walk, physically inactive; willing to receive SMS, wear Fitbit throughout the study; living with family or in a community residence; support persons are willing to assist participants to ensure the Fitbit functions properly. Exclusion Criteria: Inability to follow instructions; diagnosis of coronary disease or uncontrolled hypertension, smokers, physically active; participating in a health promotion program; having mental illness or behavior problems; support persons unable or unwilling to assist participants with Fitbit devices, if needed.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 35 Years
Maximum Age: 60 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: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Sequential Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Participants are randomized to the intervention or control group
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: We Walk Plus Intervention<br>The intervention group will receive a Fitbit, SMS and will be assigned to a private Fitbit community (4-5 participants per group) for 12 weeks. During the intervention, participants will receive weekly personalized SMS on their mobile phones including encouraging messages, reminders, and tips to increase steps, and weekly step goals. The investigators will use a secure, web-based platform, iCardia, to support continuous real-time remote monitoring of activity data from Fitbit devices and personalized communication via SMS based on incoming data. The investigators will set up the Fitbit networking settings on participants' phones to give notifications when there are posts to this group. Individual goals and a weekly team goal of steps will be set up by the research team. Each member will be awarded a badge upon reaching each individual's weekly goal. Teams will also be awarded badges when all team members reach their individual weekly goals. | Behavioral: We Walk Plus Intervention<br>* The frequency and content of weekly personalized SMS are based on each participant's preference. Prior to implementation of intervention, the investigators will conduct focus groups to learn participants' social network activities and preferences, strategies that can be used to encourage engagement via a private Fitbit community network.<br>|
| No Intervention: Attention control group<br>The attention control group will also receive a Fitbit and will be asked to continue with normal daily activities. During the initial in-person session, they will receive the same PA recommendations as the intervention group to walk at least 30 minutes for 5 days or more a week or 10,000 steps a day. However, a plan for improving PA will not be discussed. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Physical activity | daily steps | 12 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cardiovascular fitness | modified six-minute walk test | 12 weeks | 
| Self-efficacy to physical activity | Physical Activity Self-efficacy/Social Support scale will be used to assess confidence to perform physical activity | 12 weeks | 
| Attention & executive function | Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test -a standard test from the NIH toolbox which has been adapted and validated for individuals with ID to assess one's limited capacities to deal with an abundance of environmental stimulation. | 12 weeks | 
| Working memory | List Sorting Working Memory Test-a standard test from the NIH toolbox which has been adapted and validated for individuals with ID to assess the ability to store information. | 12 weeks | 
| Executive function | Dimensional Change Card Sort Test -a standard test from the NIH toolbox which has been adapted and validated for individuals with ID to assess one's capacity to plan, organize, and monitor the executive of behaviors. | 12 weeks | 
| Processing speed | Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test- a standard test from the NIH toolbox which has been adapted and validated for individuals with ID to assess the amount of information that can be processed within a certain unit of time. | 12 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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physical activity, older adults with an intellectual disability, walking