Mobility DisabilityNCT07540052
Impact of Loss Aversion Messaging and Anticipated Regret for Inaction on Exercise Adherence in Older Adults
A study testing Brief Daily At-Home Strength Training Program, Loss Aversion Messaging and Standard Adherence Reminder Messaging in people with Mobility Disability and Walking Difficulty, run by Milton S. Hershey Medical Center at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if messages focused on not losing the functional benefits of exercise can help older adults with walking difficulty continue to exercise regularly. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 65 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Mobility Disability, Walking Difficulty
- What is being tested?
- Brief Daily At-Home Strength Training Program, Loss Aversion Messaging and Standard Adherence Reminder Messaging
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 148 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Nov 2026to Jan 2028
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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
- Completed 12 months of FAST intervention
Who cannot join
- No planned surgeries within the upcoming 4 months
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site
Penn State College of Medicine
Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033
Jordan D Kurth, PhD, (717) 531-4417, jkurth@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
About this study
Official title: Testing the Impact of Loss Aversion Messaging and Anticipated Regret for Inaction on Exercise Adherence in Older Adults: A Randomized Pilot Trial
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if messages focused on not losing the functional benefits of exercise can help older adults with walking difficulty continue to exercise regularly. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Do these messages make people more likely to anticipate regretting it if they do not exercise? Does more anticipated regret make it more likely they will exercise more regularly?
Read more
Researchers will compare two versions of messages to see if the content of these one of these message types is more effective than the other.
Participants will complete a daily 5-minute at home exercise program for 4 months and complete regular online surveys to track their progress and report their feelings regarding regret.
Read the detailed description
The goal of the proposed clinical trial is to identify strategies to blunt the effects of post-intervention decay in older adults with difficulty walking. While early improvements from exercise are large, they typically plateau and then decline post-intervention. This early improvement, however, creates an opportunity. Similar to daily interactions common with private companies, the investigators seek to increase the rate of conversion - that is, completing the task - while considering the improvements from engaging in exercise to be accumulated benefits. Drawing from behavioral economics, then, the investigators propose that the conversion rate to act (i.e., increase the likelihood of completing daily exercises) may be increased by using loss aversion (i.e., loss of accumulated benefits) in the form of messaging.
In this study the investigators will conduct a randomized trial among individuals (N=128) age 65 and over who have serious difficulty walking and have completed an at-home, brief strength training intervention, comparing 4 months of standard adherence reminders to standard adherence reminders supplemented with periodic loss aversion messages. The proposed trial aims to answer the questions: (1) Does the supplementation of loss aversion messaging increase anticipated regret for inaction among older adults previously enrolled in an at-home exercise program? (2) Does higher anticipated regret predict greater intention to exercise and exercise adherence post-intervention?
- Conditions
- Mobility Disability, Walking Difficulty
- Being tested
- Brief Daily At-Home Strength Training Program, Loss Aversion Messaging, Standard Adherence Reminder Messaging
- Keywords
- exercise adherence, older adults, mobility disability, walking difficulty, pilot study, randomized controlled trial
- Medical subject headings
- Mobility Limitation
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Brief Daily At-Home Strength Training ProgramBehavioural
FAST is a brief, daily, at-home exercise program designed for older adults with difficulty walking. The program includes 5 exercises performed for 30 seconds each, during which time participants try to complete as many repetitions as they can, followed by 30 seconds of rest.
The 5 exercises are: chair stands, countertop pushups, aerobic steps, resistance band rows, and walking laps. Participants are sent daily reminders and links for self-monitoring their performance.
Loss Aversion MessagingBehavioural
Loss aversion messages will be included with those messages in the experimental condition on a maximum of 3 out of the 7 days each week. There will be 3 themes (related to their performance of daily exercises) featured as topics for the loss aversion messages. The three themes are: 1) standing up from a chair (i.e., chair stands), 2) going up and down stairs (i.e., aerobic steps), and 3) walking longer distances (i.e., walking laps).
Standard Adherence Reminder MessagingBehavioural
Standard reminders to perform exercise will be delivered daily.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Loss Aversion Messaging | Experimental | Standard reminders to perform exercise will be delivered daily. Loss aversion messages will be included with those messages in the experimental condition on a maximum of 3 out of the 7 days each week. There will be 3 themes (related to their performance of daily exercises) featured as topics for the loss aversion messages. The three themes are: 1) standing up from a chair (i.e., chair stands), 2) going up and down stairs (i.e., aerobic steps), and 3) walking longer distances (i.e., walking laps). Receives: Behavioral: Brief Daily At-Home Strength Training Program; Behavioral: Loss Aversion Messaging; Behavioral: Standard Adherence Reminder Messaging |
| Standard Adherence Messaging | Active comparator | Standard reminders to perform exercise will be delivered daily. Receives: Behavioral: Brief Daily At-Home Strength Training Program; Behavioral: Standard Adherence Reminder Messaging |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Anticipated Regret of Inaction
One is equivalent to definitely not anticipating regret and 8 indicates definitely anticipating regret.
Measured: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12, and Week 16
Secondary outcomes (2)
Intention to Complete Exercise Program
One indicates definitely not intending to complete all of the exercise program over the next week and 8 indicates definitely intending to complete all of the exercise program over the next week.
Measured: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12, and Week 16
Adherence to Exercise Program
A percentage of days on which the exercise program was completed (0-100%).
Measured: Data collected daily, assessed over the 16 weeks of intervention.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Apr 2026
- Study startNov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionDec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionJan 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Mobility DisabilityStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Milton S. Hershey Medical CenterThe 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
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 148 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Jordan Kurth, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07540052
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STUDY00028949
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 10 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 12 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 12 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Testing the Impact of Loss Aversion Messaging and Anticipated Regret for Inaction on Exercise Adherence in Older Adults: A Randomized Pilot Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07540052
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- STUDY00028949
- Conditions
- Mobility Disability, Walking Difficulty
- Keywords
- exercise adherence, older adults, mobility disability, walking difficulty, pilot study, randomized controlled trial
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 148 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Milton S. Hershey Medical CenterUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jan 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 20 Apr 2026 (actual)
- 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 clinical trial is to learn if messages focused on not losing the functional benefits of exercise can help older adults with walking difficulty continue to exercise regularly. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Do these messages make people more likely to anticipate regretting it if they do not exercise? Does more anticipated regret make it more likely they will exercise more regularly?
Researchers will compare two versions of messages to see if the content of these one of these message types is more effective than the other.
Participants will complete a daily 5-minute at home exercise program for 4 months and complete regular online surveys to track their progress and report their feelings regarding regret.
Detailed description
The goal of the proposed clinical trial is to identify strategies to blunt the effects of post-intervention decay in older adults with difficulty walking. While early improvements from exercise are large, they typically plateau and then decline post-intervention. This early improvement, however, creates an opportunity. Similar to daily interactions common with private companies, the investigators seek to increase the rate of conversion - that is, completing the task - while considering the improvements from engaging in exercise to be accumulated benefits. Drawing from behavioral economics, then, the investigators propose that the conversion rate to act (i.e., increase the likelihood of completing daily exercises) may be increased by using loss aversion (i.e., loss of accumulated benefits) in the form of messaging.
In this study the investigators will conduct a randomized trial among individuals (N=128) age 65 and over who have serious difficulty walking and have completed an at-home, brief strength training intervention, comparing 4 months of standard adherence reminders to standard adherence reminders supplemented with periodic loss aversion messages. The proposed trial aims to answer the questions: (1) Does the supplementation of loss aversion messaging increase anticipated regret for inaction among older adults previously enrolled in an at-home exercise program? (2) Does higher anticipated regret predict greater intention to exercise and exercise adherence post-intervention?
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Loss Aversion Messaging | Experimental | Behavioral: Brief Daily At-Home Strength Training Program, Behavioral: Loss Aversion Messaging, Behavioral: Standard Adherence Reminder MessagingStandard reminders to perform exercise will be delivered daily. Loss aversion messages will be included with those messages in the experimental condition on a maximum of 3 out of the 7 days each week. There will be 3 themes (related to their performance of daily exercises) featured as topics for the loss aversion messages. The three themes are: 1) standing up from a chair (i.e., chair stands), 2) going up and down stairs (i.e., aerobic steps), and 3) walking longer distances (i.e., walking laps). |
| Standard Adherence Messaging | Active comparator | Behavioral: Brief Daily At-Home Strength Training Program, Behavioral: Standard Adherence Reminder MessagingStandard reminders to perform exercise will be delivered daily. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 65 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Completed 12 months of FAST intervention
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- No planned surgeries within the upcoming 4 months
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Brief Daily At-Home Strength Training ProgramFAST is a brief, daily, at-home exercise program designed for older adults with difficulty walking. The program includes 5 exercises performed for 30 seconds each, during which time participants try to complete as many repetitions as they can, followed by 30 seconds of rest. The 5 exercises are: chair stands, countertop pushups, aerobic steps, resistance band rows, and walking laps. Participants are sent daily reminders and links for self-monitoring their performance. | Behavioural | Loss Aversion Messaging, Standard Adherence Messaging |
| Loss Aversion MessagingLoss aversion messages will be included with those messages in the experimental condition on a maximum of 3 out of the 7 days each week. There will be 3 themes (related to their performance of daily exercises) featured as topics for the loss aversion messages. The three themes are: 1) standing up from a chair (i.e., chair stands), 2) going up and down stairs (i.e., aerobic steps), and 3) walking longer distances (i.e., walking laps). | Behavioural | Loss Aversion Messaging |
| Standard Adherence Reminder MessagingStandard reminders to perform exercise will be delivered daily. | Behavioural | Loss Aversion Messaging, Standard Adherence Messaging |
Primary outcome
Anticipated Regret of Inaction
Time frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12, and Week 16
One is equivalent to definitely not anticipating regret and 8 indicates definitely anticipating regret.
2 secondary outcomes
Intention to Complete Exercise Program
Time frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12, and Week 16
Adherence to Exercise Program
Time frame: Data collected daily, assessed over the 16 weeks of intervention.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 12 Aug 2026.
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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.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Brief Daily At-Home Strength Training Program, Loss Aversion Messaging and Standard Adherence Reminder Messaging in people with Mobility Disability and Walking Difficulty, run by Milton S. Hershey Medical Center 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 1 inclusion and 1 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 12 Aug 2026. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Jordan D Kurth, PhD ((717) 531-4417, jkurth@pennstatehealth.psu.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Anticipated Regret of Inaction (time frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12, and Week 16). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 12 Aug 2026.