Incentives, Physical Activity
Conditions
Keywords
Physical Activity, Incentives, Mental Accounting, Older adults
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to test the overall effects of incentives on physical activity among older taxi drivers, and whether mental accounting exists in this context.
Detailed description
As part of the 4-month Randomized Controlled Trial, participating taxi drivers will be assigned to 1 of 2 groups where they will receive either cash or taxi rental credits for meeting specified monthly step goals measured via a step counter. Subsequently, for an additional 3 months, drivers will be incentivized to wear step counters to test if effects of the rewards are sustained once the reward is no longer in place. Effects will be quantified in terms of step activity; and in terms of changes in Body Mass Index (BMI), Resting Heart Rate (HR), Blood Pressure (BP), self-reported General Health, Health-Related Quality of Life (HR-QOL) and work productivity.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALIncentive-based physical activity program
Drivers will be offered rewards valued at a day's rental for meeting daily step targets over the specified number of days each month from Months 1 to 4, where steps will be tracked by a step counter. They will also be offered incentives for meeting the following criteria: 1. Accurately predicting step target attainment the following months (SGD10) 2. Wearing and providing step data over the month (SGD10 and a chance to win 1 of 3 cash prizes valued at SGD500)
BEHAVIORAL3-month follow up
After the 4-month RCT, drivers will be incentivized to wear the step counter for another 3 months (i.e. Months 5 to 7) to test if effects of the rewards are sustained once the reward is no longer in place. For wearing their step counter and providing their step data, drivers will receive a modest cash incentive (amounting to SGD10) each month as well as the chance to win 1 of 3 cash prizes valued at SGD500.
Sponsors
Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
50 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Must be a taxi driver who is a hirer, and who drives for at least 8 hours daily over 5 days * Aged between 50 to 75 * English/Mandarin-speaking
Exclusion criteria
* Report difficulty doing 10 minutes of aerobic activities without stopping, walking up 10 stairs without stopping or performing basic activities of daily living * Have any medical conditions that limit their ability to walk as a means of physical activity
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Steps taken | 7 months | Steps will be assessed using Fitbit, which has an in-built 3-axis accelerometer that measures motion patterns. This will be evaluated monthly, from pre-Baseline through Month 7. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Resting Heart Rate | 7 months | Resting Heart Rate will be evaluated using a clinically validated machine (Welch Allyn SPOT Vital Signs Monitor), and will be assessed at Months 0 (Baseline), 4 and 7. |
| Blood Pressure | 7 months | Blood pressure will be evaluated using a clinically validated machine (Welch Allyn SPOT Vital Signs Monitor), and will be assessed at Months 0 (Baseline), 4 and 7. |
| Body Mass Index (BMI) | 7 months | BMI will be evaluated using measured height and weight, and will be assessed at Months 0 (Baseline), 4 and 7. |
| Health-Related Quality of Life (HR-QOL) | 7 months | Health-Related Quality of Life will be evaluated using a validated instrument (EQ-5D), and will be assessed at Months 0 (Baseline), 4 and 7. |
| Work Productivity | 7 months | Work Productivity will be evaluated using a validated instrument (Work Productivity Activity Impairment Questionnaire) and other work-related data, and will be assessed throughout Months 0 (Baseline), 4 and 7. |
| Self-reported General Health | 7 months | Self-reported General Health will be evaluated using a validated survey instrument (SF12), and will be assessed at Months 0 (Baseline), 4 and 7. |
Countries
Singapore
Outcome results
None listed