Physical ActivityNCT01643538
Social Goals and Individual Incentives to Promote Walking in Older Adults
A study testing Financial incentive, Social Goal and Personal financial incentives & social goals in people with Physical Activity, run by University of Pennsylvania at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The goal of this randomized and controlled trial is to test whether a financial incentive of a donation to achieve a social goal is more effective to motivate and sustain a daily walking habit than the same dollar value given to an older adult. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 65 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Physical Activity
- What is being tested?
- Financial incentive, Social Goal and Personal financial incentives & social goals
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 94 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Aug 2012to Sep 2013
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 65 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Adult 65 years of age and older
- Can read and speak English
- Access to a personal computer with high-speed internet connection and functional Universal Serial Bus (USB) port for the study duration
- Able to walk 1/4 mile (i.e., 2 to 3 blocks) without stopping
- No pedometer use in last 30 days
Who cannot join
- Major medical conditions including:
- serious heart and lung diseases
- diabetes requiring insulin therapy
- severe arthritis
- neurologic disorders
- dementia
- heavy alcohol use
- recent knee or spinal surgery
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104
About this study
Official title: Social Goals and Individual Incentives to Promote Walking in Older Adults (Way to Walk II)
The goal of this randomized and controlled trial is to test whether a financial incentive of a donation to achieve a social goal is more effective to motivate and sustain a daily walking habit than the same dollar value given to an older adult. The investigators will achieve this using a novel computer platform utilizing a digital pedometer-internet interface.
- Conditions
- Physical Activity
- Being tested
- Financial incentive, Social Goal, Personal financial incentives & social goals, daily pedometer use and weekly feedback
- Keywords
- physical activity, adults age 65 and older, financial incentives
- Medical subject headings
- Motor Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Financial incentiveBehavioural
Participants will receive a direct financial incentive in the amount of $20 for each week when their daily pedometer step count equals or exceeds their goal at least 5 out of 7 days.
Social GoalBehavioural
Participants will be asked to identify a charity to which they would like to donate the payment for reaching their walking goal. Each week they will be asked to designate which charity should receive a donation if they meet or exceed their goal. If they meet the goal, they will be notified that a donation of $20 in their name has been sent to the charity.
Personal financial incentives & social goalsBehavioural
Participants will be able to allocate their reward for reaching their walking goal: the $20 reward can be divided between personal financial incentive and a charitable donation. Each week, the participant will be asked to choose whether to keep, give, or split the reward, if they meet or exceed their goal. If they choose to send some of the money to charity, they will be asked to identify a charity to which they would like to donate the payment. If they meet their goal, they will be notified by email or mail (based on their preference), that a donation of the selected amount has been sent to the charity.
daily pedometer use and weekly feedbackBehavioural
Daily use of pedometer for 5 months. Walking goal set based on level of walking during 2-week run-in period. Weekly feedback provided on meeting walking goal - defined as achieving goal number of steps for 5 of 7 days per week.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Control Arm | Active comparator | Daily use of pedometer for 5 months. Walking goal set based on level of walking during 2-week run-in period. Weekly feedback provided on meeting walking goal - defined as achieving goal number of steps for 5 of 7 days per week.
Subjects in the Control Group will only receive pedometers and weekly feedback on their performance through the same mechanisms and with the same frequency as participants in the other three study arms. There will be no financial incentives or charity donations in this group. Receives: Behavioral: daily pedometer use and weekly feedback |
| Personal Financial Incentives Arm | Experimental | Daily use of pedometer for 5 months. Walking goal set based on level of walking during 2-week run-in period. Weekly feedback provided on meeting walking goal - defined as achieving goal number of steps for 5 of 7 days per week. Each week, if pedometer is used and walking goal is met for 5 out of 7 days, participant will receive $20. Financial incentive is terminated after 4 months. Daily use of pedometer continues for an additional 4 weeks. Receives: Behavioral: Financial incentive; Behavioral: daily pedometer use and weekly feedback |
| Social Goals Arm | Experimental | Daily use of pedometer for 5 months. Walking goal set based on level of walking during 2-week run-in period. Weekly feedback provided on meeting walking goal - defined as achieving goal number of steps for 5 of 7 days per week. Each week participants will be asked to designate which charity should receive a donation if they meet or exceed their goal. If they meet the goal, they will be notified that a donation of $20 in their name has been sent to the charity. Charity donation is terminated after 4 months. Daily use of pedometer continues for an additional 4 weeks. Receives: Behavioral: Social Goal; Behavioral: daily pedometer use and weekly feedback |
| Combined Financial Incentives & Social Goals Arm | Experimental | Daily use of pedometer for 5 months. Walking goal set based on level of walking during 2-week run-in period. Weekly feedback provided on meeting walking goal - defined as achieving goal number of steps for 5 of 7 days per week. Each week, the participant will be asked to choose whether to keep, give, or split the reward, if they meet or exceed their goal. If they choose to send some of the money to charity, they will be asked to identify a charity to which they would like to donate the payment. If they meet their goal, they will receive money and/or be notified that a donation of the selected amount has been sent to the charity, depending on their selected preference. Incentives are terminated after 4 months. Daily use of pedometer continues for an additional 4 weeks. Receives: Behavioral: Personal financial incentives & social goals; Behavioral: daily pedometer use and weekly feedback |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
mean proportion of days that step per day goals were attained
Measured: 16 weeks
Secondary outcomes (2)
mean number of steps per day
Measured: 16 weeks
mean proportion of days that step per day goals were attained during follow-up
Measured: 4 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted18 Jul 2012 (estimated)
- Study startAug 2012
- Primary completionJul 2013
- Study completionSep 2013
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Physical ActivityStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of PennsylvaniaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 94 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Pennsylvania
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Karen Glanz, PhD, MPH, Principal investigator, University of PennsylvaniaJason Karlawish, MD, Principal investigator, University of Pennsylvania
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01643538
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 69924
- Status last verified
- Feb 2014
- First submitted
- 16 Jul 2012
- Last updated
- 5 Mar 2014
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
Publications
Harkins KA, Kullgren JT, Bellamy SL, Karlawish J, Glanz K. A Trial of Financial and Social Incentives to Increase Older Adults' Walking. Am J Prev Med. 2017 May;52(5):e123-e130. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2016.11.011. Epub 2017 Jan 3.
PubMed 28062271
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Mar 2014. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Social Goals and Individual Incentives to Promote Walking in Older Adults (Way to Walk II)
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01643538
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 69924
- Conditions
- Physical Activity
- Keywords
- physical activity, adults age 65 and older, financial incentives
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 94 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of PennsylvaniaUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- Study start
- Aug 2012
- Primary completion
- Jul 2013 (actual)
- Study completion
- Sep 2013 (actual)
- First posted
- 18 Jul 2012 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this randomized and controlled trial is to test whether a financial incentive of a donation to achieve a social goal is more effective to motivate and sustain a daily walking habit than the same dollar value given to an older adult. The investigators will achieve this using a novel computer platform utilizing a digital pedometer-internet interface.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 4
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Control Arm | Active comparator | Behavioral: daily pedometer use and weekly feedbackDaily use of pedometer for 5 months. Walking goal set based on level of walking during 2-week run-in period. Weekly feedback provided on meeting walking goal - defined as achieving goal number of steps for 5 of 7 days per week. Subjects in the Control Group will only receive pedometers and weekly feedback on their performance through the same mechanisms and with the same frequency as participants in the other three study arms. There will be no financial incentives or charity donations in this group. |
| Personal Financial Incentives Arm | Experimental | Behavioral: Financial incentive, Behavioral: daily pedometer use and weekly feedbackDaily use of pedometer for 5 months. Walking goal set based on level of walking during 2-week run-in period. Weekly feedback provided on meeting walking goal - defined as achieving goal number of steps for 5 of 7 days per week. Each week, if pedometer is used and walking goal is met for 5 out of 7 days, participant will receive $20. Financial incentive is terminated after 4 months. Daily use of pedometer continues for an additional 4 weeks. |
| Social Goals Arm | Experimental | Behavioral: Social Goal, Behavioral: daily pedometer use and weekly feedbackDaily use of pedometer for 5 months. Walking goal set based on level of walking during 2-week run-in period. Weekly feedback provided on meeting walking goal - defined as achieving goal number of steps for 5 of 7 days per week. Each week participants will be asked to designate which charity should receive a donation if they meet or exceed their goal. If they meet the goal, they will be notified that a donation of $20 in their name has been sent to the charity. Charity donation is terminated after 4 months. Daily use of pedometer continues for an additional 4 weeks. |
| Combined Financial Incentives & Social Goals Arm | Experimental | Behavioral: Personal financial incentives & social goals, Behavioral: daily pedometer use and weekly feedbackDaily use of pedometer for 5 months. Walking goal set based on level of walking during 2-week run-in period. Weekly feedback provided on meeting walking goal - defined as achieving goal number of steps for 5 of 7 days per week. Each week, the participant will be asked to choose whether to keep, give, or split the reward, if they meet or exceed their goal. If they choose to send some of the money to charity, they will be asked to identify a charity to which they would like to donate the payment. If they meet their goal, they will receive money and/or be notified that a donation of the selected amount has been sent to the charity, depending on their selected preference. Incentives are terminated after 4 months. Daily use of pedometer continues for an additional 4 weeks. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 65 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Adult 65 years of age and older
- Can read and speak English
- Access to a personal computer with high-speed internet connection and functional Universal Serial Bus (USB) port for the study duration
- Able to walk 1/4 mile (i.e., 2 to 3 blocks) without stopping
- No pedometer use in last 30 days
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- serious heart and lung diseases
- diabetes requiring insulin therapy
- severe arthritis
- neurologic disorders
- dementia
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Financial incentiveParticipants will receive a direct financial incentive in the amount of $20 for each week when their daily pedometer step count equals or exceeds their goal at least 5 out of 7 days. | Behavioural | Personal Financial Incentives Arm |
| Social GoalParticipants will be asked to identify a charity to which they would like to donate the payment for reaching their walking goal. Each week they will be asked to designate which charity should receive a donation if they meet or exceed their goal. If they meet the goal, they will be notified that a donation of $20 in their name has been sent to the charity. | Behavioural | Social Goals Arm |
| Personal financial incentives & social goalsParticipants will be able to allocate their reward for reaching their walking goal: the $20 reward can be divided between personal financial incentive and a charitable donation. Each week, the participant will be asked to choose whether to keep, give, or split the reward, if they meet or exceed their goal. If they choose to send some of the money to charity, they will be asked to identify a charity to which they would like to donate the payment. If they meet their goal, they will be notified by email or mail (based on their preference), that a donation of the selected amount has been sent to the charity. | Behavioural | Combined Financial Incentives & Social Goals Arm |
| daily pedometer use and weekly feedbackDaily use of pedometer for 5 months. Walking goal set based on level of walking during 2-week run-in period. Weekly feedback provided on meeting walking goal - defined as achieving goal number of steps for 5 of 7 days per week. | Behavioural | Combined Financial Incentives & Social Goals Arm, Control Arm, Personal Financial Incentives Arm, Social Goals Arm |
Primary outcome
mean proportion of days that step per day goals were attained
Time frame: 16 weeks
2 secondary outcomes
mean number of steps per day
Time frame: 16 weeks
mean proportion of days that step per day goals were attained during follow-up
Time frame: 4 weeks
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Mar 2014.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 28062271Harkins KA, Kullgren JT, Bellamy SL, Karlawish J, Glanz K. A Trial of Financial and Social Incentives to Increase Older Adults' Walking. Am J Prev Med. 2017 May;52(5):e123-e130. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2016.11.011. Epub 2017 Jan 3.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Karen Glanz, PhD, MPH principal investigator
University of Pennsylvania
Jason Karlawish, MD principal investigator
University of Pennsylvania
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Financial incentive, Social Goal and Personal financial incentives & social goals in people with Physical Activity, run by University of Pennsylvania at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Mar 2014. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
mean proportion of days that step per day goals were attained (time frame: 16 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01643538, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Mar 2014.