Social Networks & Tech-Enhanced Exercise for Fitness Improvement

Overseen By Francesca Gany, MD, MPH

Age: 18+

Sex: Male

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Disqualifiers: CVD, Severe osteoarthritis, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

290 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This study is divided into four groups. Group 1 includes Health Fairs implemented at NYC taxi garage bases and airport taxi holding lots and pedometers. Group 2 includes Health Fairs, pedometers and text messaging to facilitate walking and living a healthier lifestyle. Group 3 includes Health Fairs, pedometers and social network support. Group 4 includes Health Fairs, pedometers, text messaging and social network support.

Research Team

Francesca Gany, MD, MPH

Principal Investigator

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for male taxi drivers over 21 in NYC who plan to stay there for at least 7 months, have been driving for over three months, and speak English, Bengali, Hindi, Spanish or French. They must own a cell phone with text messaging and be willing to receive texts. Part-time drivers and those with cardiovascular diseases or conditions like severe osteoarthritis that limit walking can't join.

Inclusion Criteria

I am over 21 years old.

Licensed taxi driver for at least three months

Planning on remaining in NYC for at least 7 months

Exclusion Criteria

I have a condition that prevents me from walking.

I work as a driver part-time, less than 35 hours a week.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Run-in

Participants undergo a 1-month run-in period before randomization

4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive health fair services, pedometers, and may receive text messaging and social network support

6 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in daily step counts and overall health

6 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Taxi STEP

Trial Overview The study tests four approaches to increase exercise among taxi drivers: Group 1 gets health fairs and pedometers; Group 2 adds text messages; Group 3 has social network support instead of texts; Group 4 combines health fairs, pedometers, text messaging plus social network support.

Participant Groups

Group I: Health Fair, Pedometer, Text Msg, Social Network Support Experimental Treatment 4 Interventions

Participants in this group will receive the health fair service with general follow-up, along with a pedometer with instructions on how to use the device to track daily step counts. Participants will also receive daily healthy living advice through encouraging text messages about walking through text messages sent by our staff to participants' cellular phones. Participants will also be asked to provide the names of family or friends who will form a social support network team. This team will provide encouragement and remind participants to maintain a healthy lifestyle and increase daily walking activities. Participants will be given tools to train their family and/or friends on how to best motivate the drivers. Participants will be randomized by envelope provided by Memorial Sloan Kettering's Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics during an in person meeting after the completion of the 1 month run-in or by phone in case we are unable to meet them in person.

Group II: Health Fair, Pedometer, Social Network Support Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Each participant in this group will receive the health fair services with general follow-up along with a pedometer with instructions on how to use the device to track daily step counts. Additionally, participants in this group will be asked to provide the names of family or friends who will form a social support network team. This team will provide encouragement and remind participants to maintain a healthy lifestyle and increase daily walking activities. Participants will be given a social network guide to train their family and/or friends on how to best motivate the participants . Participants will be randomized by envelope provided by Memorial Sloan Kettering's Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics during an in person meeting after the completion of the 1 month run-in or by phone in case we are unable to meet them in person.

Group III: Health Fair, Pedometer + Text Messaging Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

In addition to the health fair services with general follow-up, and giving each driver a pedometer with instructions on how to use the devise to track daily step counts, all participants in this group will receive daily healthy living advice and encouraging messages about walking through text messages sent by study staff to participants' cellular phone. Participants will be randomized by envelope provided by Memorial Sloan Kettering's Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics during an in person meeting after the completion of the 1 month run-in or by phone in case we are unable to meet them in person.

Group IV: Health Fair + Pedometer Active Control 2 Interventions

Participants will get free weight, height, waist, and blood pressure testing at health fairs stationed at NYC taxi garage bases and airport taxi holding lots. Health fair staff will follow up with participants who need to see a doctor due to a high blood pressure reading or other unusual result that needs a physician follow-up. All participants will be given a pedometer with instructions on how to use it to track their daily step counts. Participants will be randomized by envelope provided by Memorial Sloan Kettering's Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics during an in person meeting after the completion of the 1 month run-in or by phone in case we are unable to meet them in person.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,998

Recruited

602,000+