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

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if "Smart Mode," a new feature, can increase activity levels by providing personalized, adaptive step goals. A machine learning algorithm will adjust step goals for participants in the intervention group based on their activity patterns. Meanwhile, the control group will maintain a fixed daily step goal throughout the trial. The study seeks individuals who wish to become more active and are willing to use the Telus Wellbeing app daily for 12 weeks. Participants must have a smartphone and be comfortable using the app. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research and potentially enhance personal activity levels.

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 physical activity and app usage, so it's unlikely that medications would be affected.

What prior data suggests that the Adaptive Step Goal is safe for users?

Research has shown that adaptive step goals, like those in the 'Smart Mode' feature, are generally manageable for most people. These goals adjust based on a person's previous activity levels, ensuring they remain challenging yet achievable. Importantly, adaptive goals aim to prevent overexertion, as step goals can increase, decrease, or remain constant depending on individual performance.

One study examined a similar method and found that maintaining realistic step goals helps sustain motivation without causing stress or negative effects. This finding suggests that the adaptive step goal system should be safe for users. Reports of major negative effects are absent, indicating it works well for most people.

Overall, while specific safety data for this trial's treatment is not available, the adaptive goals prioritize user well-being, making it a promising option for potential participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the "Adaptive Step Goal" trial because it uses a cutting-edge machine learning algorithm to tailor step goals based on individual patterns, which is different from the static goals typically used in similar programs. This adaptive approach personalizes health targets, potentially increasing motivation and engagement by adjusting goals to better fit each person's activity level. By comparing users' progress to historical data from thousands of others, the treatment can dynamically adjust goals, potentially leading to sustained improvements in physical activity and overall health.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for improving step goals?

This trial will compare the effectiveness of adaptive step goals with static step goals. Research has shown that flexible step goals, like those in the adaptive step goal arm of this trial, can help people become more active. One study found that participants with flexible goals walked more than those with fixed goals. Another study demonstrated that an automated program with flexible goals significantly increased participants' daily steps. This flexible approach adjusts goals based on individual progress, making them more personalized and achievable. These findings suggest that flexible step goals could effectively encourage more physical activity in daily life. ^{2 3 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

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 for a Trial Participant

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

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

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.

How Is the Trial Designed?

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+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8820277/

Adaptive Goals and Reinforcement Timing to Increase ... This trial found that adaptive goals outperformed static goals for initiating any MVPA, and immediate reinforcement outperformed delayed non-contingent ...

2. jmir.org jmir.org/2016/2/e34/

and Internet-Based Adaptive Walking Program for Adults: A ... The current study examines the effectiveness of an automated adaptive intervention in increasing steps. Methods. Intervention. Walkadoo [MeYou ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749379724003155

Effectiveness of a Just-In-Time Adaptive App to Increase ... This study evaluates “SNapp”, a just-in-time adaptive app intervention to promote walking through dynamically tailored coaching content.

4. nature.com nature.com/articles/s43856-024-00537-4

Hourly step recommendations to achieve daily goals for ... The results suggest that the daily step goals (5000, 7500, or 10,000 steps) influenced the steps behaviour of the participants. The number of ...

5. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04505241

Evaluating Mechanisms of Action of Adaptive Goal-Setting ... The maximum steps goal permitted by the algorithm will be 20,000 steps/day, to ensure that goals remain within an attainable range for most individuals.

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. ajpmonline.org ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(21)00546-8/fulltext

Adaptive Goals and Reinforcement Timing to Increase ... Adaptive goal setting is a relatively new approach, where PA goals increase, decrease, or stay the same during a PA intervention in response to ...

8. mhealth.jmir.org mhealth.jmir.org/2022/3/e28801

Evaluating the Impact of Adaptive Personalized Goal Setting ... In this study, we aim to evaluate the impact of personalized goal setting in the context of gamified mHealth interventions.