Exercise Incentives for YMCA Based Exercise

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The investigators will conduct a randomized controlled trial to test financial incentive programs (versus control) to promote physical activity among 330 adults who have a YMCA membership. Participants will have the opportunity to earn up to $100 or $200 (depending on the condition they are assigned to) for attending at least 50 sessions at the YMCA over 6 months. Participants will have two 6-month windows during which they will have the opportunity to earn the incentive. In addition to the incentives, participants will complete research assessments every 3 months.

Official Title
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Empirical Testing of a Widely Available Insurance-based Monetary Incentive Program for Exercise: A Randomized Trial

Conditions
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Physical Inactivity

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Monetary Incentives


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: A current member, or willing to become a current member of one of the following branches of the YMCA: Bayside Family YMCA (Barrington, RI) Cranston YMCA (Cranston, RI) East Side/Mt. Hope YMCA (Providence, RI) Kent County YMCA (Warwick, RI) Newman YMCA (Seekonk, MA) South County YMCA (South Kingston, RI) Age 18 years or older Physically capable of engaging in exercise Exclusion Criteria: Not a current member, and unwilling to become a member of one of the above listed YMCA branches. Under age 18. Physically incapable of exercise Doctor has recommended that you should not exercise because of a current health condition

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 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: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Message 1 - $100<br>Participants are offered an incentive of $100 to complete 50 exercise sessions at the YMCA within 6 months (Description of incentive 1) | Behavioral: Monetary Incentives<br>* Monetary incentives, provided in the form of pre-loaded Visa debit cards are provided to encourage exercise.<br>|
| Experimental: Message 2 - $100<br>Participants are offered an incentive of $100 to complete 50 exercise sessions at the YMCA within 6 months (Description of incentive 2). | Behavioral: Monetary Incentives<br>* Monetary incentives, provided in the form of pre-loaded Visa debit cards are provided to encourage exercise.<br>|
| Experimental: Message 1 - $200<br>Participants are offered an incentive of $200 to complete 50 exercise sessions at the YMCA within 6 months (Description of incentive 1). | Behavioral: Monetary Incentives<br>* Monetary incentives, provided in the form of pre-loaded Visa debit cards are provided to encourage exercise.<br>|
| Experimental: Message 2 - $200<br>Participants are offered an incentive of $200 to complete 50 exercise sessions at the YMCA within 6 months (Description of incentive 2). | Behavioral: Monetary Incentives<br>* Monetary incentives, provided in the form of pre-loaded Visa debit cards are provided to encourage exercise.<br>|
| No Intervention: Control<br>Participants complete all assessments, and are eligible to receive compensation for participating in the research components of the study. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Number of YMCA visits | Number of sessions (max 1 per day) a person signs into the YMCA | Baseline, 6 months, 12 months, 24 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Accelerometry | Minutes of physical activity weighted by intensity, expressed in metabolic equivalent (MET) minutes per week as determined by accelerometers (Actigraph [model wGT3x-BT]) worn during one-week periods. | Measured at baseline, and months 3, 6, 9, and 12. | 
| Change in Self-report physical activity (Godin) | Self-reported minutes of leisure time physical activity (inside and outside the YMCA) per week weighted by intensity | Measured at baseline, and months 3, 6, 9, and 12. | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Incentives, Motivation