Clinical trial NCT01697475: Text-Messaging to Motivate Walking in Older African Americans
Official title: An Motivational Text Messaging Walking Program for Older African Americans
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Physical Activity
Motor Activity
Lead sponsor: Georgetown University
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: University of Pennsylvania
First posted: 2012-10-02
Enrollment: 36
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 60
Maximum age (years): 85
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: This study examined the impact of using a motivational mobile text messaging intervention to increase step count among older community-dwelling African Americans. Secondary aims were to study the effects of text messaging on self-reported leisure time exercise behavior.

Hypothesis:

Participants in the motivational mobile text messaging group will have an increase step count after 6-weeks.

Detailed description: Background: Older minority populations can benefit from increased physical activity, especially walking. Text messaging interventions have the potential to encourage positive changes in health behavior in these groups.

Purpose: To examine if a six week program of motivational text messaging increases physical activity (step count) among older African Americans in an urban setting.

Design: Randomized, controlled trial pilot study with assignment to motivational text messaging group or a control group.

Setting/Participants: Thirty-six African Americans aged 60 to 85.

Intervention: The intervention group received motivational text messages three times a day, three days a week, for six weeks. Both groups received pedometers and walking manuals to record step counts. Study was conducted and analyzed in 2011.

Main Outcome Measures: Primary outcome measure was step count. Secondary outcome measure was perceived activity levels assessed by the Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (LTEQ).

Results/Conclusion: In press - American Journal of Preventive Medicine (Jan 2013)

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* African American community-dwelling adults aged 60 to 85 who were recruited from senior centers.
* had to be healthy (no restrictions and medical clearance to walk)
* had to have a mobile phone with text messaging capability

Exclusion Criteria:

* (a) any physical, psychological illness, or medical problems that restricted them from walking; (b) did not own a mobile phone with text messaging capability; or (c) were not willing or able to follow study procedures.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Primary outcome measure was step count
timeFrame: 6-weeks
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Secondary outcome measure was perceived activity levels assessed by the Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (LTEQ).
timeFrame: 6-weeks
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Philadelphia
country: United States
facility: University of Pennsylvania
state: Pennsylvania
Study officials:
affiliation: Georgetown University
name: Bang Kim, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: University of Pennsylvania
name: Karen Glanz, PhD
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
References:
citation: Kim BH, Glanz K. Text messaging to motivate walking in older African Americans: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Prev Med. 2013 Jan;44(1):71-5. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2012.09.050.