Task Instructions for Motivation

Overseen By Vishnu Murty, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Temple University

Must not be taking: Blood flow, Alertness

Disqualifiers: Head injury, CNS illness, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

80 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Participants will complete a treasure task during neuroimaging where they have to learn which keys open a treasure chest, and then they are tested on the contents of the treasure chest.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

If your current medications affect blood flow response or alertness, you will need to stop taking them to participate in this trial.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Task Instructions for Motivation?

Research shows that motivation is a key factor in recovery and health outcomes, as highlighted in studies about patient motivation and its impact on treatment success. Although not directly about Task Instructions, these findings suggest that enhancing motivation can positively influence treatment results. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

What safety data exists for the treatment known as Task Instructions?

The safety of treatments is often monitored through systems that track adverse events (unwanted side effects), which can help identify patterns and improve safety measures. These systems, like the web-based adverse event tracking system, have been used in various clinical trials to ensure participant safety by identifying unexpected side effects. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

How does the Task Instructions for Motivation treatment differ from other treatments for motivation?

This treatment is unique because it focuses on how instructions and contextual cues can influence motivation by either enhancing or decreasing it, depending on how performance goals are perceived. Unlike other treatments, it emphasizes the importance of aligning instructions with perceived goals to maintain or increase motivation. ^{11 12 13 14 15}

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals interested in a study on motivation. Specific eligibility criteria are not provided, so it's likely open to adults who can follow task instructions and undergo neuroimaging.

Inclusion Criteria

In good medical health

20/40 far acuity (either corrected or uncorrected)

Exclusion Criteria

Claustrophobia

I weigh more than 250lbs.

Consumption of smoking and/or coffee 30 minutes prior to laboratory testing

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Neuroimaging Task

Participants complete a treasure task during neuroimaging to learn which keys open a treasure chest, involving hypothesis testing and control runs.

Approximately 1 week

Multiple sessions (in-person)

Immediate Memory Test

Participants complete an immediate item memory test following the encoding phase.

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Delayed Memory Test

Participants complete a delayed item memory test 24 hours after the immediate test.

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the neuroimaging and memory tests.

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Task Instructions

Trial Overview The study involves participants completing a 'treasure task' during neuroimaging to understand how the brain engages when motivated by rewards. They'll learn which keys open a chest and recall its contents.

Participant Groups

Group I: Motivation Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Trials in which participants are motivated by hypothesis testing or not.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Temple University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

321

Recruited

89,100+

Findings from Research

A pilot study involving 150 occupational therapists revealed that most evaluate patient motivation informally, primarily through discussions and observations, rather than structured methods.

Despite the informal evaluation methods, many therapists believe that assessing motivation positively impacts their treatment approaches and outcomes, suggesting a need for better training in motivation assessment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluating patient motivation in physical disabilities practice settings. Carlson, JL.[2019]

The systematic review identified 12 different tools for measuring patient motivation in treatment, but most of these tools had poor quality ratings and serious methodological limitations.

There is a significant gap in the availability of reliable and valid measurement tools for patient motivation, as many did not use a theoretical framework or provide a clear definition of motivation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Assessing Patient Motivation for Treatment: A Systematic Review of Available Tools, Their Measurement Properties, and Conceptual Definition. Shankar, S., Miller, WC., Roberson, ND., et al.[2020]

A study involving 340 type 2 diabetes patients identified three key areas influencing their motivation to change health behaviors: willingness to make changes, perceived ability to maintain changes, and the belief that these changes are worthwhile.

The findings suggest that higher perceived ability and feelings of worthwhileness correlate with better psychosocial and behavioral management, indicating that addressing these attitudes can enhance patient motivation for behavior change.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Motivation and attitudes toward changing health (MATCH): A new patient-reported measure to inform clinical conversations. Hessler, DM., Fisher, L., Polonsky, WH., et al.[2019]

In a study of 80 participants with generalized anxiety disorder undergoing cognitive behavioral therapy, both self-efficacy and outcome expectations increased, leading to a reduction in symptoms during and after treatment.

At the individual level, higher self-efficacy was linked to decreased worry and depressive symptoms, while the overall patient group showed a surprising positive correlation between self-efficacy and worry, indicating that individual and group dynamics in therapy can have different effects on symptom change.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Within- and between-patients associations between self-efficacy, outcome expectation, and symptom change in cognitive behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder. Vîslă, A., Allemand, M., Flückiger, C.[2023]

Integrating patient-reported outcomes data into the management of chronic, non-cancer pain can significantly guide improvements in patient care and outcomes.

Standardizing care processes and using valid outcome measurement tools can enhance the effectiveness of treatment while minimizing the burden on patients and healthcare providers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Can assessing chronic pain outcomes data improve outcomes? Witkin, LR., Farrar, JT., Ashburn, MA.[2019]

In 2001, there were approximately 4.3 million visits to healthcare facilities in the U.S. due to adverse drug events (VADEs), indicating a significant patient safety concern.

The study found that VADEs were more common in elderly patients aged 65-74 and in females, highlighting the need for targeted safety measures in these populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ambulatory care visits for treating adverse drug effects in the United States, 1995-2001. Zhan, C., Arispe, I., Kelley, E., et al.[2019]

The web-based adverse event tracking system (eAETS) has effectively supported 175 clinical protocols over four years, capturing 2,440 adverse event reports, including minor symptoms that could indicate serious issues.

Out of the reported AEs, 1,053 did not align with the initial risk profiles, leading to corrective recommendations in 13% of the protocols, highlighting the system's role in enhancing subject safety by identifying unanticipated patterns.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The impact of minor adverse event tracking on subject safety: a web-based system. Shenvi, NV., Gebhart, SS.[2009]

The definition of an adverse drug event (ADE) should be tailored to the specific purpose of the evaluation, with stricter definitions needed for scientific studies and more flexible ones for clinical use.

Postmarketing safety data for drugs is limited at launch, but can be supplemented through systems like the FDA's Spontaneous Reporting System and targeted research projects, emphasizing the importance of robust epidemiological evidence for regulatory actions like drug recalls.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse drug events: identification and attribution. Rogers, AS.[2022]

Spontaneous adverse event reports are crucial for regulatory decision-making during the postmarketing phase, despite being biased and incomplete.

There is a need for further research to enhance the understanding of adverse event reporting and the motivations of reporters, which could improve the quality and quantity of these important data.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Epidemiologists and adverse event data--a challenge to the field. Bortnichak, EA., Dai, WS.[2004]

In a study analyzing 1,567,659 hospital discharges in Spain from 2005-2007, 96,607 adverse drug events (ADEs) were identified, representing 5.55% of all discharges, with a significant portion (82.86%) deemed not preventable.

The study found that adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were more common in women and led to longer hospital stays, highlighting the importance of monitoring and reporting ADEs for improving patient safety.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Adverse drug events in patients hospitalized in internal medicine]. Zapatero Gaviria, A., Barba, R., Ruiz Giardin, JM., et al.[2013]

The study identified and validated 25 autonomy-supportive motivational strategies for teachers, based on Self-Determination Theory, aimed at enhancing student motivation in physical education classes.

These strategies were organized by perceived difficulty and their implementation was analyzed, providing a structured approach for teachers to foster a motivating learning environment that supports student autonomy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Proposal for Modeling Motivational Strategies for Autonomy Support in Physical Education. Moreno-Murcia, JA., Barrachina-Peris, J., Ballester Campillo, M., et al.[2021]

Task rules in an open-ended writing activity can enhance intrinsic motivation by providing a clearer sense of direction, as shown in experiments with 1,176 participants, but they can also reduce feelings of psychological freedom, which may negatively impact enjoyment.

Specifically, the presence of task rules was found to significantly increase direction and decrease freedom, indicating that while structure can guide creativity, it may also constrain it, highlighting a complex relationship between rules and intrinsic motivation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

More direction but less freedom? How task rules affect intrinsic motivation. Mutter, ER., Liu, Z., Gollwitzer, PM., et al.[2023]

The field of motivation lacks clear definitions and frameworks, which complicates the interpretation of research findings and their practical applications.

Future research should focus on understanding how motivational constructs influence achievement behavior, the impact of social processes on motivation, and how to maintain motivation over time despite challenges.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Coming to Terms with Motivation Constructs. Schunk, DH.[2019]

In two studies involving a computer game, the impact of performance instructions on intrinsic motivation was influenced by contextual cues, such as prior performance feedback and the emphasis on skill versus fantasy.

When instructions matched the perceived goals of the activity, participants reported greater positive feelings, indicating that aligning instructions with goal salience can enhance motivation rather than diminish it.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of instruction on intrinsic interest: the importance of context. Sansone, C., Sachau, DA., Weir, C.[2019]

Participants with low intrinsic motivation exerted more effort on tasks labeled as 'easy' compared to those labeled as 'difficult', even though both tasks were impossible to solve, indicating that perceived task difficulty influences effort levels.

When participants received positive feedback on their performance, they were able to maintain motivation and put in more effort on challenging tasks, suggesting that positive outcomes can enhance motivation and effort in learning situations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Motivational influences of task difficulty information on task effort]. Ichimura, K., Ueda, Y., Kusumi, T.[2019]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluating patient motivation in physical disabilities practice settings. [2019]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Assessing Patient Motivation for Treatment: A Systematic Review of Available Tools, Their Measurement Properties, and Conceptual Definition. [2020]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Motivation and attitudes toward changing health (MATCH): A new patient-reported measure to inform clinical conversations. [2019]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Within- and between-patients associations between self-efficacy, outcome expectation, and symptom change in cognitive behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder. [2023]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Can assessing chronic pain outcomes data improve outcomes? [2019]

6. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ambulatory care visits for treating adverse drug effects in the United States, 1995-2001. [2019]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The impact of minor adverse event tracking on subject safety: a web-based system. [2009]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse drug events: identification and attribution. [2022]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Epidemiologists and adverse event data--a challenge to the field. [2004]

10. Spain pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Adverse drug events in patients hospitalized in internal medicine]. [2013]

11. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Proposal for Modeling Motivational Strategies for Autonomy Support in Physical Education. [2021]

12. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

More direction but less freedom? How task rules affect intrinsic motivation. [2023]

13. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Coming to Terms with Motivation Constructs. [2019]

14. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of instruction on intrinsic interest: the importance of context. [2019]

15. Japan pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Motivational influences of task difficulty information on task effort]. [2019]