Clinical trial NCT03047590: Comparison of Affect-based, Self-selected, and Traditional Exercise Prescriptions
Official title: Comparison of Affect-based, Self-selected, and Traditional Exercise Prescriptions
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Physical Activity
Keywords: exercise behavior
exercise prescription
affect-based exercise
affect-guided exercise
self-paced exercise
self-selected exercise
Lead sponsor: Duke University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2017-02-09
Enrollment: 159
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: This study will evaluate adherence to four types of walking programs. Participants will be randomized to walking programs that included either (1) affect-based exercise intensity, (2) self-selected (or "choice-based") exercise intensity, (3) heart-rate based exercise intensity, or (4) heart-rate guided exercise intensity with the emphasis on affective benefits.

Detailed description: The purpose of this study is to determine if an "affect-based" or "choice-based" exercise prescription is more effective for behavior change than a traditional, "moderate-intensity" exercise prescription. Prior research suggests that "choice-based" or "self-selected" exercise intensity is more pleasant and adhered to than "moderate-intensity exercise" (Williams et al., 2014). Similarly, affect-based exercise prescriptions (i.e., an exercise prescription where intensity is regulated based on the pleasure-displeasure one feels while exercising) appear to have merit (Baldwin, Kangas, Denman, Smits, Yamada, \& Otto, 2016).

However, choice-based and affect-based exercise prescriptions have not been compared to each other. Further, it is unknown if it is the intensity regulation that matters (e.g., "choose an intensity that feels good" or the focus on affect (e.g., "focus on feeling good). Third, prior research has not objectively measured physical activity behavior.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Must be fluent in English
* Must be able to walk
* Exercise less than 90 minutes per week at a moderate-intensity
* Must be able to attend laboratory visits
* Must have mobile internet accent and a personal smartphone (iPhone iOS 9+ or Android OS 4.3+)
* Can safely exercise at an intensity that is at least "moderate"

Exclusion Criteria:

* People who are recommended to have medical clearance prior to exercising, according to the American College of Sports Medicine's preparticipation screening criteria, will be excluded

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in objectively measured exercise behavior
timeFrame: This will be measured throughout the baseline assessment period (2 weeks) and intervention period (4 weeks)
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change in self-reported exercise behavior
timeFrame: This will be measured throughout the baseline assessment period (2 weeks) and intervention period (4 weeks)
measure: Change in affective attitudes
timeFrame: Measured during baseline assessment period and at the end of the intervention
measure: Self-reported intrinsic motivation (questionnaires)
timeFrame: Two weeks into study intervention
measure: Enjoyment
timeFrame: Measured at the end of the intervention period (4 weeks)
measure: Change in weight
timeFrame: Measured at the beginning and end of the study (6 weeks).
measure: Change in resting heart rate
timeFrame: Measured at the beginning and end of the study (6 weeks).
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Durham
country: United States
facility: Duke University IBRC Lab
state: North Carolina
Study officials:
References:
citation: Baldwin AS, Kangas JL, Denman DC, Smits JA, Yamada T, Otto MW. Cardiorespiratory fitness moderates the effect of an affect-guided physical activity prescription: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Cogn Behav Ther. 2016 Nov;45(6):445-57. doi: 10.1080/16506073.2016.1194454. Epub 2016 Jun 16.
citation: Williams DM, Dunsiger S, Miranda R Jr, Gwaltney CJ, Emerson JA, Monti PM, Parisi AF. Recommending self-paced exercise among overweight and obese adults: a randomized pilot study. Ann Behav Med. 2015 Apr;49(2):280-5. doi: 10.1007/s12160-014-9642-7.