Skip to content

Move@NUS: a Digital Intervention Cohort Promoting Healthy Movement Behaviours

Move@NUS: Pilot Study of a Digital Intervention Cohort to Promote Healthy Sleep, Screen Viewing, and Physical Activity Habits for Improved Health and Wellbeing

Status
Not yet recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06597890
Enrollment
150
Registered
2024-09-19
Start date
2024-09-09
Completion date
2025-02-28
Last updated
2024-09-19

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Physical Inactivity, Sedentary Behavior, Sleep Insufficiency, Well-Being, Psychological

Keywords

smartphone, smartwatch, Apple Watch, ecological momentary assessment (EMA), ecological momentary intervention (EMI), mhealth, digital health

Brief summary

The aim of the Move@NUS pilot study is to determine the feasibility of establishing a digital intervention cohort to monitor and improve the health and wellbeing of students by encouraging them to engage in healthy movement behaviours (i.e., physical activity, sleep, and limiting smartphone-based recreational screentime). The digital intervention cohort consists of: * 6-months of continuous monitoring of movement behaviours, wellbeing and related factors via an Apple Watch and repeated bursts of ecological momentary assessments (EMAs). * 3x embedded randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of small-scale smartphone-based interventions designed to nudge participants toward participating in healthier movement behaviours.

Detailed description

Good overall mental and physical health and wellbeing can be promoted by engaging in healthy movement behaviours - getting adequate sleep, being physically active, and minimising recreational time spent watching a screen or being sedentary. The objectives of this study are to determine the feasibility of: * establishing a digital cohort study and continuously monitoring health behaviours and wellbeing (and related factors) for 6 months, and * rapidly evaluating the effects of ecological momentary interventions (EMIs; small-scale interventions that provide support in real-time, delivered via the smartwatch and app) for promoting healthy movement behaviours via a series of embedded RCTs. The investigators will enrol up to 150 first-year university students into an innovative hybrid study that combines a digital cohort with embedded randomised controlled trials (RCTs). The digital cohort consists of 6 months of continuous observations of movement behaviours, wellbeing, and related factors via a smartwatch (Apple Watch) and repeated bursts of smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA) surveys. Throughout the 6-month monitoring period, participants are enrolled in 3 embedded RCTs evaluating the effects of EMIs that, in turn, target sleep, physical activity, and smartphone-based recreational screentime. For each embedded-RCT we assess engagement and acceptability outcomes (e.g., whether a push notification is opened, whether it is responded to), and preliminary efficacy (i.e., whether there is a between group difference in the target behaviour from pre- to post-intervention). Participants also complete traditional questionnaires at baseline, 3-, and 6-month follow-up.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALeducational content (sleep hygiene)

app-based sleep hygiene-related educational content

app-based self-selection of sleep hygiene strategies

BEHAVIORALreminders

daily reminders sent via push notifications

BEHAVIORALreview of behavioural goal

app-based review of behavioural goal

BEHAVIORALeducational content (sleep guidelines)

app-based educational content on recommended sleep guidelines

BEHAVIORALcomparison of current behaviour to ideal behaviour

use of smartwatch/smartphone data to assess current behaviour and compare it to ideal behaviour

BEHAVIORALgoal setting

prompt participant to set a goal in relation to targeted behaviour

BEHAVIORALeducational content (Vigorous Intermittent Lifestyle Physical Activity (VILPA))

app-based educational content on VILPA

BEHAVIORALscreentime breaks

repeated daily reminders to break up screentime

Sponsors

National University of Singapore
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Intervention model description

3x sequential 3-group randomised controlled trials (RCTs), embedded within the 6-month digital cohort study.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 25 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

Participants are eligible to join the study if they: * are enrolled in the first year of an undergraduate degree at the National University of Singapore, * own or use an Apple smartphone with a data plan, * are willing to download and use a smartphone app, and * have an Apple smartwatch (Series 6/SE or newer) and are willing to wear it continuously for the 6-month study duration. Participants will be excluded if they are: * pregnant, or * planning to be overseas for more than 6 weeks (per trip) during the upcoming semester.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
RCT 1. Sleepweek 1 (pre-intervention), week 3 (intervention midpoint), week 5 (post-intervention), and continuously throughout the 6-month studySleep duration, as assessed via Apple Watch
RCT 2. Physical activityweek 6 (pre-intervention), week 8 (intervention midpoint), week 10 (post-intervention), and continuously throughout the 6-month studyStep counts, as assessed via Apple Watch
RCT 3. Screentimeweek 6 (pre-intervention), week 8 (intervention midpoint), week 10 (post-intervention), and continuously throughout the 6-month studyScreenshots of passively captured smartphone screentime data
WellbeingContinuously over 6-monthsMental wellbeing, WHO-5 Well-Being Index (WHO-5; World Health Organisation). Min value 0, max value 100; higher scores indicate greater wellbeing.

Contacts

Primary ContactSarah M Edney, PhD
sarah.edney@mymail.unisa.edu.au+6591709231
Backup ContactMingyue C Chen
mingyuecchen@u.nus.edu.sg+6591709231

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 14, 2026