Physical Activity
Conditions
Keywords
physical activity, adults age 65 and older, financial incentives
Brief summary
The goal of this randomized and controlled trial is to test whether a financial incentive of a donation to achieve a social goal is more effective to motivate and sustain a daily walking habit than the same dollar value given to an older adult. The investigators will achieve this using a novel computer platform utilizing a digital pedometer-internet interface.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALFinancial incentive
Participants will receive a direct financial incentive in the amount of $20 for each week when their daily pedometer step count equals or exceeds their goal at least 5 out of 7 days.
BEHAVIORALSocial Goal
Participants will be asked to identify a charity to which they would like to donate the payment for reaching their walking goal. Each week they will be asked to designate which charity should receive a donation if they meet or exceed their goal. If they meet the goal, they will be notified that a donation of $20 in their name has been sent to the charity.
BEHAVIORALPersonal financial incentives & social goals
Participants will be able to allocate their reward for reaching their walking goal: the $20 reward can be divided between personal financial incentive and a charitable donation. Each week, the participant will be asked to choose whether to keep, give, or split the reward, if they meet or exceed their goal. If they choose to send some of the money to charity, they will be asked to identify a charity to which they would like to donate the payment. If they meet their goal, they will be notified by email or mail (based on their preference), that a donation of the selected amount has been sent to the charity.
BEHAVIORALdaily pedometer use and weekly feedback
Daily use of pedometer for 5 months. Walking goal set based on level of walking during 2-week run-in period. Weekly feedback provided on meeting walking goal - defined as achieving goal number of steps for 5 of 7 days per week.
Sponsors
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
University of Pennsylvania
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Adult 65 years of age and older * Can read and speak English * Access to a personal computer with high-speed internet connection and functional Universal Serial Bus (USB) port for the study duration * Able to walk 1/4 mile (i.e., 2 to 3 blocks) without stopping * No pedometer use in last 30 days
Exclusion criteria
Major medical conditions including: * serious heart and lung diseases * diabetes requiring insulin therapy * severe arthritis * neurologic disorders * dementia * heavy alcohol use * recent knee or spinal surgery
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| mean proportion of days that step per day goals were attained | 16 weeks |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| mean number of steps per day | 16 weeks |
| mean proportion of days that step per day goals were attained during follow-up | 4 weeks |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed