A Study for Testing Text Messaging and Newsletter as a Strategy for Interrupting Sedentary Behavior
| Status: | Recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Neurology, Multiple Sclerosis |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Neurology, Other |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 64 |
| Updated: | 9/16/2018 |
| Start Date: | March 27, 2018 |
| End Date: | March 30, 2019 |
| Contact: | Robert W Motl, PhD |
| Email: | robmotl@uab.edu |
| Phone: | 855-357-9321 |
A Pilot Study for Testing the Feasibility and Efficacy of Text Messaging and Newsletter as a Strategy for Interrupting Sedentary Behavior (Sit Less, Move More)
The study will examine the possibility of reducing sedentary behavior (SB) in African
Americans with MS. SB consists of any waking activities that are done lying or sitting and do
not demand significant physical effort (e.g., watching television, using the computer). SB is
a major public health issue because it is associated with mortality and higher probabilities
of presenting with health conditions and morbidity. There is indication that SB is related to
physical disability, which is the inability of performing daily activities independently.
This outcome is of high concern for persons with MS, especially those from underserved
groups, such as African Americans. Thus, reducing the amount of time that people with MS
spend in SB is important, but it is hard to find ways of doing so in large groups of people
with MS. One possibility is to use text-messages to inform people about the necessity and
benefits of interrupting SB by standing up, walking, or doing another activity. Text-messages
are an ideal way to prompt behavior change because almost everyone owns a
cellphone/smartphone in today's world. Considering this potential, the investigators will be
studying whether or not it is possible to have a small group of African Americans with MS
spend less time in SB by sending informative text-messages prompting individuals to stand-up
and move around. This study will be used to inform the development of a much larger study
that will aim to reduce SB in a very large sample of persons with MS.
Americans with MS. SB consists of any waking activities that are done lying or sitting and do
not demand significant physical effort (e.g., watching television, using the computer). SB is
a major public health issue because it is associated with mortality and higher probabilities
of presenting with health conditions and morbidity. There is indication that SB is related to
physical disability, which is the inability of performing daily activities independently.
This outcome is of high concern for persons with MS, especially those from underserved
groups, such as African Americans. Thus, reducing the amount of time that people with MS
spend in SB is important, but it is hard to find ways of doing so in large groups of people
with MS. One possibility is to use text-messages to inform people about the necessity and
benefits of interrupting SB by standing up, walking, or doing another activity. Text-messages
are an ideal way to prompt behavior change because almost everyone owns a
cellphone/smartphone in today's world. Considering this potential, the investigators will be
studying whether or not it is possible to have a small group of African Americans with MS
spend less time in SB by sending informative text-messages prompting individuals to stand-up
and move around. This study will be used to inform the development of a much larger study
that will aim to reduce SB in a very large sample of persons with MS.
The investigators are conducting a pilot study to examine the feasibility and efficacy of a
technology-based behavior change intervention for reducing SB in African Americans with MS
located in the United States. The intervention combines text message- and print-based
approaches for behavior change based on Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). SCT-based content will
be the active component for changing SB, while cellphone text messages and print newsletter
will be the delivery mechanism. The use of cellphone to deliver the intervention content is
based, in part, on the fact that cellphone is an ordinary form of communication in today's
world, providing an optimal medium for reaching large groups of people remotely. The study
will yield major advancement in identifying the feasibility and efficacy of interrupting and
reducing SB via a technology-based intervention in African Americans with MS, a segment of
the MS population that has been underrepresented in MS therapeutic management studies. If
successful, this research will lay the foundation for applying the current strategy in
large-scale interventions including African Americans and possibly other minority groups with
MS.
The intervention will be 12 weeks and divided into two parts. Part 1: Weeks 1-6 will focus on
interrupting long periods of SB. At the beginning of the first week, participants will
receive a packet containing print material providing lay information on what constitutes SB
and examples of such behavior, highlighting the importance of interrupting prolonged periods
of SB and the associated health benefits. The aim of the packet is to provide the basis to
introduce the key element (i.e., SCT-based instructional cellphone text-messages) of the
intervention. This will occur during the following six weeks, wherein participants will
receive two text-messages/day (i.e., morning and afternoon) on the importance and health
benefits of interrupting SB hourly. The text-messages will prompt individuals to interrupt SB
by standing still, standing while performing tasks, or walking around. The text-messages will
include further tips and strategies for interrupting SB. The investigators have previously
developed a computerized messaging system that will be used to send the text-messages twice a
day in the proposed intervention. The investigators will supplement the text messaging by
sending bi-weekly SCT-based newsletters to participants that highlight ways of overcoming
difficulties in effectively interrupting SB. The SCT content for the messages and newsletter
has been created in previous research and will be revised for the proposed intervention. Part
2: Weeks 7-12 will focus on replacing SB with light PA. On the first day of week 7,
participants will receive a second packet of print material explaining the concept of light
PA and emphasizing the importance of moving more daily. The print material will highlight the
benefits of replacing SB with light PA and will contain instructions for goal setting (i.e.,
target number of steps/day) and self-monitoring of daily PA, including receive a pedometer
and a log for recording total steps/day. Similar to part 1, the key element for intervention
delivery will be the SCT-based instructional cellphone text-messages, which participants will
receive during the second six-week intervention period. More specifically, they will receive
two text-messages/day on the importance and health benefits of replacing SB with light PA.
The text-messages will recommend participants to watch for prolonged periods of SB and try
and substitute these for light PA, such as light intensity walking and light-intensity focal
exercise (e.g., stationary walk, marching). The text-messages will also remind participants
to use the pedometer to set incremental personal goals for steps/day and to gauge the
replacement of SB with light PA by watching the pedometer readings. The investigators further
will include tips and strategies for replacing SB with light PA based on common daily
activities. Bi-weekly SCT-based newsletters will be used to supplement the stimulus from the
text-messages, by reinforcing the importance of sitting less and moving more.
technology-based behavior change intervention for reducing SB in African Americans with MS
located in the United States. The intervention combines text message- and print-based
approaches for behavior change based on Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). SCT-based content will
be the active component for changing SB, while cellphone text messages and print newsletter
will be the delivery mechanism. The use of cellphone to deliver the intervention content is
based, in part, on the fact that cellphone is an ordinary form of communication in today's
world, providing an optimal medium for reaching large groups of people remotely. The study
will yield major advancement in identifying the feasibility and efficacy of interrupting and
reducing SB via a technology-based intervention in African Americans with MS, a segment of
the MS population that has been underrepresented in MS therapeutic management studies. If
successful, this research will lay the foundation for applying the current strategy in
large-scale interventions including African Americans and possibly other minority groups with
MS.
The intervention will be 12 weeks and divided into two parts. Part 1: Weeks 1-6 will focus on
interrupting long periods of SB. At the beginning of the first week, participants will
receive a packet containing print material providing lay information on what constitutes SB
and examples of such behavior, highlighting the importance of interrupting prolonged periods
of SB and the associated health benefits. The aim of the packet is to provide the basis to
introduce the key element (i.e., SCT-based instructional cellphone text-messages) of the
intervention. This will occur during the following six weeks, wherein participants will
receive two text-messages/day (i.e., morning and afternoon) on the importance and health
benefits of interrupting SB hourly. The text-messages will prompt individuals to interrupt SB
by standing still, standing while performing tasks, or walking around. The text-messages will
include further tips and strategies for interrupting SB. The investigators have previously
developed a computerized messaging system that will be used to send the text-messages twice a
day in the proposed intervention. The investigators will supplement the text messaging by
sending bi-weekly SCT-based newsletters to participants that highlight ways of overcoming
difficulties in effectively interrupting SB. The SCT content for the messages and newsletter
has been created in previous research and will be revised for the proposed intervention. Part
2: Weeks 7-12 will focus on replacing SB with light PA. On the first day of week 7,
participants will receive a second packet of print material explaining the concept of light
PA and emphasizing the importance of moving more daily. The print material will highlight the
benefits of replacing SB with light PA and will contain instructions for goal setting (i.e.,
target number of steps/day) and self-monitoring of daily PA, including receive a pedometer
and a log for recording total steps/day. Similar to part 1, the key element for intervention
delivery will be the SCT-based instructional cellphone text-messages, which participants will
receive during the second six-week intervention period. More specifically, they will receive
two text-messages/day on the importance and health benefits of replacing SB with light PA.
The text-messages will recommend participants to watch for prolonged periods of SB and try
and substitute these for light PA, such as light intensity walking and light-intensity focal
exercise (e.g., stationary walk, marching). The text-messages will also remind participants
to use the pedometer to set incremental personal goals for steps/day and to gauge the
replacement of SB with light PA by watching the pedometer readings. The investigators further
will include tips and strategies for replacing SB with light PA based on common daily
activities. Bi-weekly SCT-based newsletters will be used to supplement the stimulus from the
text-messages, by reinforcing the importance of sitting less and moving more.
Inclusion Criteria:
- African American
- Definite diagnosis of MS
- Relapse free in the last 30 days
- Ambulatory with or without assistance
- Having a Patient-Determined Disease Steps score of 0-5
- Daily engagement in sedentary behavior ≥ 480 min/day
- Health contribution score of <14 calculated from the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise
Questionnaire
- Absence of major musculoskeletal problems, and/or cardiovascular, cardiopulmonary,
and/or metabolic diseases that can influence physical activity and sedentary behavior
levels
Exclusion Criteria:
We found this trial at
1
site
1720 2nd Ave S
Birmingham, Alabama 35233
Birmingham, Alabama 35233
(205) 934-4011
Phone: 205-934-5905
University of Alabama at Birmingham The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) traces its roots...
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