Evaluation of the Novel Use of Gamification With Alternative Goal-setting Experiences (ENGAGE)

June 2, 2020 updated by: Mitesh Patel, University of Pennsylvania
To use a randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of four goal-setting strategies within a gamification intervention to increase physical activity among adults at elevated risk for ASCVD.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is the leading cause of mortality in the United States. While increased physical activity can reduce this risk, less than half of adults in the United States meet the minimum recommendation guidelines for physical activity. Gamification, or the application of game design elements to non-game settings, has demonstrated promise in increasing physical activity when designed using insights from behavioral economics. However, the best way to design goal-setting within these interventions has not been well-examined. In this randomized controlled trial, the investigators will evaluate the effectiveness of four different goal-setting strategies within a gamification intervention to increase physical activity among adults with elevated risk for ASCVD. The trial will include a 2-week run-in period to estimate a baseline, followed by an 8-week introductory phase, an 8-week maintenance phase, and then after the intervention is completed an 8-week follow-up period.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
500

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Pennsylvania
      • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104
        • Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 18 years or older;
  • ability to read and provide informed consent to participate in the study;
  • diagnosis of clinical ASCVD or a 10-year ASCVD risk score ≥ 7.5% calculated according to the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines;
  • Smartphone or tablet compatible with application for the wearable activity tracking device.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Conditions that would make participation infeasible such as inability to provide informed consent, illiteracy or inability to speak, read, and write English;
  • conditions that would make participation unsafe such as pregnancy or being told by a physician not to exercise;
  • already enrolled in another study targeting physical activity;
  • any other medical conditions or reasons he or she is unable to participate in a physical activity study for 24 weeks;
  • baseline step count of 10,000 steps or greater.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Control
Participants receive a daily message with their step count on the prior day to serve as an active control for 24 weeks (daily performance feedback). No other interventions during the 24-week study
Behavioral: Daily performance feedback
Participants will receive daily performance feedback on their daily step count.
Experimental: Choice + Immediate
Participants choose a step goal between 1000-3000 steps greater than their baseline (choice). They are asked to reach their full step goal upon intervention start (immediate). They will be in a gamification intervention for the first 16 weeks and then receive only daily feedback during the 8-week follow-up
Behavioral: Daily performance feedback
Participants will receive daily performance feedback on their daily step count.
Behavioral: Choice + Immediate
Participants in the choice + immediate goal arm will choose a step goal and must attempt to achieve this new step goal immediately at the start of the study.
Behavioral: Gamification
All participants in the intervention arms will be entered into a gamification platform that has points and levels designed to incorporate insights from behavioral economics.
Experimental: Choice + Gradual
Participants are asked to choose a step goal between 1000-3000 steps greater than their baseline (choice). They will be asked to increase their step goal by even increments of 12.5% each week for the 8 weeks of the ramp-up period (gradual). After the 8-week ramp-up period, they will be asked to maintain the step goal for the study. They may change their goal within the range at anytime. They will be in a gamification intervention for the first 16 weeks and then receive only daily feedback during the 8-week follow-up
Behavioral: Daily performance feedback
Participants will receive daily performance feedback on their daily step count.
Behavioral: Gamification
All participants in the intervention arms will be entered into a gamification platform that has points and levels designed to incorporate insights from behavioral economics.
Behavioral: Choice + Gradual
Participants in the choice + gradual goal arm will choose a step goal and will gradually work towards the chosen step goal over the first 8-weeks of the study.
Experimental: Assigned + Immediate
Participants in this arm will be assigned a step goal 2000 steps greater than their baseline (assigned). They will be asked to reach their full step goal as soon as the intervention begins (immediate). They will be in a gamification intervention for the first 16 weeks and then receive only daily feedback during the 8-week follow-up
Behavioral: Daily performance feedback
Participants will receive daily performance feedback on their daily step count.
Behavioral: Gamification
All participants in the intervention arms will be entered into a gamification platform that has points and levels designed to incorporate insights from behavioral economics.
Behavioral: Assigned + Immediate
Participants in the assigned + immediate goal arm will be assigned a step goal and must attempt to achieve this new step goal immediately at the start of the study.
Experimental: Assigned + Gradual
Participants in this arm will be assigned a step goal 2000 steps greater than their baseline (assigned). They will be asked to achieve their step goal of 2000 steps incrementally over the 8 weeks of the ramp-up period (gradual). After the first 8 weeks, they will be asked to maintain their full step goal of 2000 for the the study. They will be in a gamification intervention for the first 16 weeks and then receive only daily feedback during the 8-week follow-up
Behavioral: Daily performance feedback
Participants will receive daily performance feedback on their daily step count.
Behavioral: Gamification
All participants in the intervention arms will be entered into a gamification platform that has points and levels designed to incorporate insights from behavioral economics.
Behavioral: Assigned + Gradual
Participants in the assigned + gradual goal arm will be assigned a step goal and will gradually work towards the chosen step goal over the first 8-weeks of the study.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in mean daily steps from baseline to maintenance period.
Time Frame: Baseline to weeks 9-16
The primary outcome is change in mean daily steps from baseline to weeks 9-16 (maintenance period).
Baseline to weeks 9-16

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in mean daily steps from baseline to follow-up period.
Time Frame: Baseline to the weeks 17 to 24
The secondary outcome is change in mean daily steps from baseline to the weeks 17 to 24 (follow-up period).
Baseline to the weeks 17 to 24

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in minutes of MVPA from baseline to maintenance and follow-up periods.
Time Frame: Baseline to weeks 9-16 and weeks 17-24
An exploratory outcome is change in minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) from baseline to weeks 9-16 (maintenance) and weeks 17-24 (follow-up period).
Baseline to weeks 9-16 and weeks 17-24
Change in minutes of sleep from baseline to maintenance and follow-up periods.
Time Frame: Baseline to weeks 9-16 and weeks 17-24
An exploratory outcome is change in minutes of sleep from baseline to weeks 9-16 (maintenance) and weeks 17-24 (follow-up period).
Baseline to weeks 9-16 and weeks 17-24

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Pennsylvania

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Mitesh S Patel, MD, MBA, MS, University of Pennsylvania

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 14, 2019

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
June 1, 2020

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 1, 2020

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
November 14, 2018

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 19, 2018

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 21, 2018

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 4, 2020

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 2, 2020

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 831258

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be made available

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings