Behavioral Change Techniques for Caregivers of Alzheimer's Disease Patients

Overseen By Mark Butler, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Northwell Health

Disqualifiers: Unsafe walking, No smartphone, No email, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

100 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This 12-week trial will test the efficacy of a personalized, multi-component, personalized text-message delivered behavior change technique (BCT) intervention to encourage habitual hourly physical activity among care providers of persons with Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) via the key mechanism of behavior change (MoBC) of automaticity. The main question it aims to answer is whether a multi-component, personalized BCT intervention to increase habitual walking of \>250 steps/hour will lead to successful development of habitual hourly walking among 50% of caregivers.

Who Is on the Research Team?

Ashley Goodwin, PhD

Principal Investigator

Northwell Health

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's Disease or related dementias who lead a sedentary lifestyle. It aims to help them develop a habit of hourly physical activity, specifically walking more than 250 steps per hour.

Inclusion Criteria

Identify as a caregiver (formal/paid or informal/unpaid) for persons with Alzheimer's Disease or Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD)

Self-report low levels of physical activity or walking

Exclusion Criteria

My doctor says it's unsafe for me to participate in walking activities.

Does not own or cannot regularly access a smartphone capable of receiving text messages or accessing the internet

Does not own or have access to an email address

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive a personalized, multi-component BCT intervention to encourage habitual hourly physical activity

12 weeks

Daily text-message interventions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for habit formation and changes in automaticity

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Behavior Change Technique Package

Trial Overview The study is testing a personalized text-message delivered behavior change technique (BCT) intervention over 12 weeks. The goal is to see if this approach can make hourly walking a habit for at least half of the participants.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Behavior Change Technique Package Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This will be a 12-week, single-arm, multi-component, personalized BCT intervention. Participants will be provided with 4 BCTs daily (Goal Setting, Action Planning, Self-Monitoring, and Prompt/Cue) that have been associated with habit formation theory and development of physical activity habits in prior research.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Northwell Health

Lead Sponsor

Trials

481

Recruited

470,000+

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Collaborator

Trials

1,841

Recruited

28,150,000+