Physical Activity: Feasibility Study

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The Physical Activity Self-efficacy (PAS) intervention is a web-based behavioral intervention newly developed to promote physical activity in adults with obesity. The conceptual framework for the PAS intervention is based on self-efficacy theory. The objective of this study is to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of implementing the PAS online intervention for adults with obesity recruited from a local weight management center in the United States of America (USA). The study design is a prospective, double-blind, parallel group randomized pilot trial. Thirty participants will be randomly assigned to the PAS group or usual care group to achieve a 1:1 group assignment. Recruitment of participants is scheduled to begin in January 2024 or earlier at a local weight management center within a private healthcare system in the USA. There are five eligibility criteria for participation in this study (e.g., a body mass index ≥ 25.00 kg/m2). Eligibility verification and data collection will be conducted online. Three waves of data collection will take up to 14 weeks depending on participants' progress in the study. Instruments designed to measure demographic information, anthropometric characteristics, self-efficacy, and acceptability will be included in the survey battery. A research-grade accelerometer will be used to measure free-living physical activity objectively. Data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistical models under an intention-to-treat approach. This study will be sponsored by the Transdisciplinary Areas of Excellence Seed Grant Program from Binghamton University.

Official Title
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Obesity and Physical Activity: Feasibility Study

Conditions
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Online Intervention, Accelerometers, Obesity, Physical Activity, Self-efficacy

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Physical Activity Self-efficacy (PAS) intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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There are five eligibility criteria for participation in this study. Values for each of the eligibility criteria will be based on self-report by the potential participant. Potential participants who do not meet one or more of the eligibility criteria will be informed that they are ineligible for the study and then will be taken to the exit page from the PAS website (http://pasintervention.com/login). The first criterion is being between 18 and 64 years old, consistent with evidence-based age groupings for global recommendations on physical activity for health. The second criterion is a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25.00 kg/m2, consistent with many physical activity interventions in adults with obesity. A justification for this criterion is the need to promote physical activity in a BMI-based population in which few individuals may meet public health guidelines for physical activity. The third criterion is the ability to access the online intervention. This criterion will be assessed by asking them to confirm that they will have access to a technological device (e.g., computer, smart phone) that can access the online intervention via a web browser. The fourth criterion is a willingness to comply with instructions for physical activity monitoring. This criterion will be assessed by asking them if they are willing to wear a physical activity monitor on their waist for two 7-day intervals and complete a daily log sheet regarding wear time during each of the two 7-day intervals in the study. A justification for this criterion is based on previous studies where a similar question was asked to potential participants at screening. Those who indicate a willingness to comply with instructions for physical activity monitoring will be asked to provide information about their non-dominant hand. The final criterion is a willingness to respond to study-related contacts (e.g., email, text message, phone call). A justification for this criterion is that participants will be asked to complete some tasks in a specifically structured schedule.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 64 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: Supportive Care
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Quadruple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Physical Activity Self-efficacy (PAS) group<br>Participants assigned to the PAS group will proceed through the weight management program provided by the center and will be given 4 weeks of 24-hour access to the PAS intervention during data collection for this study. The login credential for PAS participants will provide access to both the PAS intervention and to a secure website to complete data collection at W1, W2, and W3. | Behavioral: Physical Activity Self-efficacy (PAS) intervention<br>* The PAS intervention will be a web-based intervention to address the unique barriers to physical activity in adults with obesity, based on self-efficacy theory and effective behavioral change techniques. Self-efficacy is specified as a mediating psychological variable in the conceptual model for the promotion of physical activity. Self-efficacy refers to domain-specific beliefs (e.g., job-, transport-, domestic-, leisure-related physical activity) about their ability to execute differing levels of performance given situational demands. There is a rich literature on the importance of targeting self-efficacy as a modifiable mediating variable in PA-promoting interventions. Also, the PAS intervention will consist of effective behavioral change techniques (e.g., action planning, teach to use prompts/cues, goal setting, etc.).<br>* Other names: PAS intervention;|
| No Intervention: Usual Care (UC) group<br>Participants assigned to the UC group will proceed through the weight management program provided by the center. The login credential for UC participants will provide access to a secure website to complete data collection (i.e., a survey battery, physical activity monitoring) at W1, W2, and W3. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| the feasibility of implementing the PAS intervention (e.g., recruitment rate, eligibility rate) for adults with obesity recruited from a local weight management center in the USA. | The feasibility of implementing the PAS online intervention for adults with obesity recruited from a local weight management center in the USA will be assessed with descriptive statistics. Descriptive statistics will include (a) recruitment rate, (b) eligibility rate, (c) consent rate, (d) participation rates, and (e) retention rates. | By Week 7 | 
| the acceptability of implementing the PAS intervention (e.g., engagement, accelerometer-based assessment of physical activity) for adults with obesity recruited from a local weight management center in the USA. | The acceptability of implementing the PAS online intervention for adults with obesity recruited from a local weight management center in the USA will be assessed with descriptive statistics. Descriptive statistics will include acceptability of the PAS intervention (e.g., engagement behavior, subjective experience) and acceptability of accelerometer-based assessment of physical activity. | By Week 7 | 
| a preliminary effect size estimate for each direct effect depicted in the conceptual model for the PAS online intervention. | Within 7 days after the W1 and W3 survey battery, participants will be asked to enter a code into the PAS intervention website in order to start wearing a physical activity monitor for the next consecutive 7 days. They will be instructed to wear a research-grade accelerometer, ActiGraph wGT3X-BT, on their waist. The primary measure of physical activity in this study will be the average minutes per day of Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) based on both widely accepted recommendations for health-enhancing physical activity. Instruments designed to measure the acceptability of accelerometer-based assessment of physical activity and self-reported physical activity will also be included in the W1 and W3 physical activity monitoring. | By Week 14 | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Self-efficacy to engage | After completion of the introductory challenges, PAS participants will be asked at W2 to respond to the following item: How confident are you in your current ability to get yourself to complete at least 24 post-introductory challenges within the next four weeks? | By Week 7 | 
| Physical activity self-efficacy | Physical activity self-efficacy will be measured from participants at W1, W2, and W3 with the physical activity self-efficacy scale. The 48-item scale is a modified version of the exercise self-efficacy scale. | By Week 3, By Week 7, By Week 14 | 
| Self-efficacy to regulate physical activity | Self-efficacy to regulate physical activity will be measured from participants at W1, W2, and W3 with the self-efficacy to regulate physical activity scale. The 13-item scale is a modified version of the barriers self-efficacy scale. | By Week 3, By Week 7, By Week 14 | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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physical activity, obesity, self-efficacy, information and communication technology, accelerometers