Digital App Interventions for Preventive Health Care

(Streaks Trial)

Overseen By Ahra Ko

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania

Disqualifiers: Under 18, No U.S. phone number

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

10000 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores ways to boost engagement with healthy behaviors using a digital app. It features two methods: one tracks consecutive days of engagement (streaks), and the other tracks the total number of days (tally). The goal is to determine which method maintains higher involvement. Adults in the U.S. with a valid phone number and an interest in using a web app for daily activities may be suitable for this study. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research on digital health engagement strategies.

Do I need to stop 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 using a digital app, so it's unlikely that your medications will be affected.

What prior data suggests that these digital app interventions are safe for increasing engagement with a target behavior?

Research has shown that digital apps, like those tested in this study, are generally safe for users. These apps often employ techniques to help people build good habits, such as the Streaks app. However, many of these apps have not undergone thorough scientific testing and may lack specific safety features. While they aim to change behavior positively, their effectiveness and safety may not be fully proven.

Similarly, apps for managing health data, like the Tally app, are commonly used in healthcare to track patient information and results. This suggests they can be useful, but detailed safety information for apps like Tally is not always available in the sources.

Overall, digital health apps are widely used and appear to be well-tolerated. However, since these specific apps are still under study, detailed safety data may not yet be available. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about these digital app interventions because they aim to boost engagement in preventive health care in a way that's both interactive and motivational. Unlike traditional methods that may rely on passive reminders or generic advice, these app-based techniques actively encourage users by tracking their progress with unique features like "Tally" and "Streaks." The "Tally" approach highlights cumulative accomplishments, motivating users to build long-term habits, while the "Streaks" method focuses on consecutive achievements, promoting daily consistency. These dynamic, personalized strategies could significantly enhance user commitment compared to standard care, potentially leading to better health outcomes.

What evidence suggests that this trial's interventions could be effective for increasing engagement with a target behavior?

Research has shown that mobile apps can effectively encourage healthy habits. In this trial, participants will join different treatment arms to test two digital app interventions. For the tally app, studies have found that digital health tools improve health by engaging users with features like tracking overall progress. Another study showed that technology-based interventions can enhance basic healthcare, suggesting apps help people stay on track with their health goals.

In the streak app arm, studies indicate that tracking daily streaks motivates people to maintain healthy habits. One study found that seeing a streak of consecutive days boosts commitment and persistence in reaching goals. These findings suggest that both tally and streak methods, as tested in this trial, help people stay engaged and build healthier routines. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals interested in preventive health care and willing to use a digital web application on their phone or computer. Specific eligibility criteria are not provided, so it's open to anyone who wants to increase engagement with daily health-related behaviors.

Inclusion Criteria

I am over 18, live in the U.S., have a phone number, and can use a web app.

Exclusion Criteria

Adults without a valid U.S. phone number

I am under 18 years old.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Intervention

Participants engage with a digital web application to complete daily lessons, with feedback provided on either streaks or tallies

4 weeks

Daily virtual engagement

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for engagement and completion of lessons after the intervention period

2 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Interventions for increasing engagement with a target behavior

Trial Overview The study is testing two different motivational interventions: one that tracks consecutive days of completing daily lessons (streak group) and another that counts total days completed (tally group), both delivered through a web app.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Tally Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

In the tally group, participants will see how many cumulative days they have completed daily lessons and will be encouraged to extend their tally.

Group II: Streaks Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

In the streak group, participants would see how many consecutive days they have completed daily lessons and will be encouraged to extend their streak

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Pennsylvania

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,118

Recruited

45,270,000+

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Collaborator

Trials

1,841

Recruited

28,150,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11494719/

Look, over there! A streaker! – Qualitative study examining ... Results. Run streaking was reported to lead to several benefits, health improvements and a sense of accomplishment, although many run streakers ...

2. ichgcp.net ichgcp.net/clinical-trials-registry/556385-do-streaks-motivate-achievement

Can Daily Streaks Help You Build Healthy Habits? A ... University of Pennsylvania study examines whether tracking daily streaks motivates better health habit adherence than counting total ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749597825000032

The motivating power of streaks: Increasing persistence is ... We introduce and test a novel incentive scheme designed to enhance persistence by increasing commitment to the goal of maximizing earnings.

4. bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12913-025-12489-z

Mobile applications, physical activity, and health promotion This paper studies the role of mobile applications in promoting physical activity and user loyalty to them.

5. bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjhp.70026

Living well? The unintended consequences of highly popular ... This study highlights the negative behavioural and psychological consequences of commercial fitness apps as reported by users on social media.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12127858/

Behaviour change techniques, intervention features and ... Selected apps contained a high number of behaviour change techniques and intervention features. Most included apps lacked an evidence base and safety features.

7. streaksapp.com streaksapp.com/

STREAKS. The to-do list that helps you form good habits. For ... With the iOS Health app, Streaks can automatically track certain goals. · Walk 5,000 steps · Measure your heart rate · Record your blood pressure · Run for 5 miles ...

8. ajph.aphapublications.org ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307980

Behavioral Interventions for Increasing Seat Belt Use and ... To test low-cost, scalable interventions designed to encourage seat belt use (primary outcome) and discourage handheld phone use while driving.

9. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21642850.2024.2416505

Look, over there! A streaker! – Qualitative study examining ... The aim of the study is to examine 'run streaking' (ie running on consecutive days, for a minimum period of time or distance, typically at least one mile)

10. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949761225000239

Impact of Digital Interventions in Occupational Health Care The current key focuses are promoting mental health, preventing overwork, managing the labor force, and enhancing safety.