Adaptive Step Goals for Health Behaviors

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Western University, Canada

Disqualifiers: Medical conditions, Pregnancy, Lifestyle programs, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

1249 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

A cohort analytic study (i.e., observational study following a cohort over time to compare outcomes between those exposed and unexposed to an intervention) was conducted over a 17-week period (March 7, 2022 to June 30, 2022). The study consisted of a five-week baseline period (March 7, 2022 to April 10, 2022). During the baseline, Telus Wellbeing users earned FI for meeting personalized but static daily step goals. A 12-week intervention period followed (April 11, 2022 to June 30, 2022). During the intervention period, users were randomized by a senior Telus Wellbeing software engineer into either control (i.e., continuing with their personalized static goal) or intervention groups (i.e., testing the new ML-driven 'Smart Mode' feature offering personalized and adaptive daily step goals) using a random number generator in Python (version 3.9; i.e., non-pi package random binomial). The randomization ratio was about 1:2 in favour of the intervention group. Both groups were informed they would be testing a new 'Smart Mode' feature at intervention onset, however, only those allocated to the intervention group received ML-driven goals. Notably, the study sample consisted of more highly engaged users (e.g., registered on the app at least five weeks prior to the intervention, took initiative to synchronize their activity trackers with the app). The Strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology (STROBE) statement flow chart and checklist for cohort studies is provided.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults over 18 who want to get more active in the next 12 weeks, own a smartphone, and are willing to use the Sprout app daily. It's not for those planning international travel soon, new mothers, people in other studies or programs, or those with special physical health needs.

Inclusion Criteria

Own a smartphone device

Ability to speak and read English

I am willing to use the Sprout app daily for 12 weeks.

Exclusion Criteria

Known medical conditions or physical problems that require special attention in a physical activity program

Pregnant or gave birth during the past 6 months

Current participation in lifestyle modification programs or research studies that may confound study results

Timeline

Run-in

Participants engage in a five-week baseline period to collect daily steps and assess compliance with app usage requirements.

5 weeks

Remote monitoring

Intervention

Participants are randomized into control or intervention groups. The intervention group receives adaptively personalized step goals using a machine learning algorithm, while the control group continues with static step goals.

12 weeks

Remote monitoring

Follow-up

Participants' step counts and app engagement are monitored to assess the effectiveness of the intervention.

4 weeks

Remote monitoring

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Adaptive Step Goal
• Static Step Goal

Trial Overview The study tests if personalized step goals from an algorithm can boost activity more than a fixed goal of 10k steps. Over 12 weeks, participants will either get adaptive goals based on their past steps or a constant goal. Both groups earn money rewards.

Participant Groups

Group I: Adaptive Step Goal (Intervention) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The 'Smart Mode' feature used a propriety ML algorithm to generate 16 user clusters based on daily step count patterns from approximately 100,000 global Telus Wellbeing users over the previous two years (March 1, 2020 to March 1, 2022; characteristics of these users unknown). The algorithm then compared time series data from participants' five-week baseline against the repository of 16 user cluster patterns to determine to which cluster they would be assigned. Once assigned, a difference in proportions was calculated (ratio of previous week's average daily step count over the step count goal for that week vs. ratio of average daily step count from two weeks prior over step count goal for that week \[e.g., 8000 steps/7500 steps=1.067 vs. 8000 steps/9500 steps=0.8421\]). Chi-square testing was used to assess statistical significance of the difference (p\<0.05). This was done to determine whether the next calculated goal would go up, down, or stay the same.

Group II: Static Step Goal (Control) Active Control 1 Intervention

Over the course of the 12-week intervention period controls continued with their static daily step goal, equivalent to their baseline period weekly average daily step count. Control participants received an out-of-app push notification at 8:00 a.m. each Monday during the intervention period reminding them of their static daily step goal. If the participant achieved their daily step goal before 8:00 p.m. on any day a push notification was sent to congratulate them on reaching their goal for the day. No notifications were sent past 8:00 p.m. Participants achieving daily step goals were rewarded with FI in the form of points (i.e., "SproutBucks"). They could redeem "SproutBucks" either "on-platform" (e.g., gift cards to StarbucksTM, BestBuyTM, iTunesTM, VisaTM) or "off-platform" (e.g., employer specific rewards like vouchers for fitness membership discounts). The value of "SproutBucks" was unique to companies, ranging from $0.00 to $1.00 USD per daily goal achieved.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Western University, Canada

Lead Sponsor

Trials

270

Recruited

62,500+