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

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to help NYC taxi drivers improve their fitness through a mix of health fairs, pedometers, text messages, and social support to encourage more walking and healthier living. Participants will be divided into four groups to test different combinations of these supports, collectively known as the Taxi STEP program. The goal is to determine which mix best helps drivers increase their physical activity and overall well-being. The trial seeks male taxi drivers who have held their license for at least three months, work full-time, and use text messaging on their cell phones.

As an unphased trial, this study offers drivers a unique opportunity to explore innovative ways to enhance their health and lifestyle.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on exercise and lifestyle changes, so it's unlikely that medication changes are required.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that using pedometers and text messaging is generally safe and well-received. A study on a similar program for older adults found no serious side effects. Participants increased their activity levels by using a pedometer and receiving encouraging text messages.

Additionally, studies on social support through social media or networks have yielded positive results. They indicate that people feel more motivated to exercise when they receive encouragement from friends and family, with no reported safety issues.

Overall, these methods are considered safe. They focus on lifestyle changes, such as walking more, which carry low risk. Similar studies have reported no significant negative events. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores innovative ways to boost physical activity using technology and social support. Unlike traditional exercise programs that might not involve much personal interaction or tech, these approaches integrate pedometers and text messaging to encourage daily walking. Additionally, involving family and friends as a support network adds a motivational layer that many standard programs lack. The combination of these elements could lead to more sustainable lifestyle changes and improved fitness outcomes for participants.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for fitness improvement?

Studies have shown that using a pedometer, a device that counts steps, can increase activity levels. Research also suggests that receiving text messages with health tips can encourage more walking. Support from friends or family can make exercising easier. In this trial, participants will be assigned to different groups to test these strategies: one group will use pedometers and receive social network support, another will use pedometers and receive text messages, and a third will combine pedometers, text messages, and social network support. Each of these—pedometers, text messages, and support from loved ones—has been linked to improved fitness. Combining these strategies might enhance health and lower the risk of diseases like heart problems and cancer. ^{3 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Francesca Gany, MD, MPH

Principal Investigator

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

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

I own a cell phone, use text messaging, and agree to receive study texts.

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 for a Trial Participant

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

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

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.

How Is the Trial Designed?

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+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03010163

Taxi STEP (Social Networks, Technology, and Exercise ... 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.

2. grantome.com grantome.com/grant/NIH/U01-MD010648-01

Taxi STEP (Social networks, Technology, and Exercise ... Taxi STEP is the first full project of the Taxi Network, and is a physical activity promoting, and hence a CVD/cancer risk reduction, study developed through an ...

3. ctv.veeva.com ctv.veeva.com/study/taxi-step-social-networks-technology-and-exercise-through-pedometers

Taxi STEP (Social Networks, Technology, and Exercise ... This study is divided into four groups. Group 1 includes Health Fairs implemented at NYC taxi garage bases and airport taxi holding lots and ...

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8121104/

Taxi Drivers at Risk: Tailoring Nutrition and Exercise ... Cognitive interviewing was used to refine nutrition and exercise health education materials for use in the New York City taxi driver community.

5. hsrd.research.va.gov hsrd.research.va.gov/for_researchers/cyber_seminars/catalog/transcripts/3642.doc

3642.doc - VA Health Systems Research If you were to go online and Google what percent of Americans use wearable devices you'd find something like this 20% of Americans say they use wearable tech.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12011956/

Evaluation of a text message + pedometer intervention to ... This study evaluates Safe Steps, a text + pedometer intervention tailored to older adults discharged from the ED.

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095254623000716

Effects of personalized exercise prescriptions and social ... This study aimed to examine the effects of a multi-component mobile health intervention (wearable, apps, and social media) on cancer survivors' (CS') physical ...

8. diabetesjournals.org diabetesjournals.org/spectrum/article/28/1/45/32178/High-Tech-Tools-for-Exercise-Motivation-Use-and

High-Tech Tools for Exercise Motivation: Use and Role of ... Social support derived through these social media networks, both from friends and others with similar health experiences or those interested in ...

9. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4704921/

A Text-Messaging and Pedometer Program to Promote ... Indeed, meta-analyses have shown that interventions that prompt self-monitoring by pedometers resulted in increased physical activity [11,12]; among individuals ...