Enhance Physical Activity in Low-income Black and Hispanic Adults

July 17, 2026 updated by: Boston University Charles River Campus

A Multi-level Telehealth Intervention to Enhance Physical Activity in Low-income Black and Hispanic Adults

The present study aims to test the efficacy of a multi-level telehealth intervention to Enhance Physical Activity (EPA) in 300 low-income Black and Hispanic/Latino adults. EPA is eight weeks with four weekly, hour-long parts: virtual group exercises, virtual group discussions, individual PA participation, and individual phone check-ins. A control group will receive health education. The specific aims are to: 1) test if physical activity increases significantly more among participants assigned to EPA vs. wait-list controls and 2) test if physical function improves significantly more among participants in EPA vs. controls. An exploratory third aim will test mechanisms of change associated with EPA.

Study Overview

Status

Status

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Withdrawn

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

In the U.S., 77% of Black and 79% of Hispanic/Latino (HLs) adults do not meet physical activity (PA) guidelines to engage in moderate to vigorous PA for 150 minutes each week compared to 73% of White adults. Low PA leads to chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity that result in disability and premature death. For Black and HL adults, low PA compounds predispositions to these conditions. Despite the urgent need to increase PA among Black and HL adults, solutions to increase PA are not tailored to this population. Poverty is more than double for Black (19.5%) and HLs (17%) compared to non-HL White adults (8.2%) and meeting PA standards increases with income. Lack of access to costly exercise facilities and living in unsafe neighborhoods contribute to low PA among Black and HL adults. As an alternative to traditional approaches, virtual guidance (i.e., telehealth) is a feasible and effective way to overcome the lack of access to facilities and PA participation in unsafe environments. The present study aims to test the efficacy of a multi-level telehealth intervention to Enhance Physical Activity (EPA) in 300 low-income Black and HLs. This full-scale, well-powered efficacy study builds on a Phase 1 pilot-controlled trial of EPA that showed high feasibility and acceptability in low-income Black and HLs. EPA is eight weeks with four weekly, hour-long parts: virtual group exercises, virtual group discussions, individual PA participation, and individual phone check-ins. Using a socio-ecological model of behavior change, EPA addresses PA and physical function at both intrapersonal (individual PA participation and individual phone check-ins) and interpersonal (virtual group exercises and virtual group discussions) levels. A control group will receive health education with the option to receive EPA later. All participants will attend four visits: pre-test, post-test 1 after EPA, post-test 2 (6 months after post-test 1), and post-test 3 (12 months after post-test 1). EPA is unique compared to other PA interventions as it combines standard PA intervention components with factors vital for increasing PA in Black and HLs while leveraging social connection: culturally relevant support, group discussions targeting discrimination, a telehealth format accessible to low-income people, and activities using everyday items or body weight to account for lack of equipment. The specific aims are to: 1) test if PA increases significantly more among participants assigned to EPA vs. wait-list controls and 2) test if physical function improves significantly more among participants in EPA vs. controls. An exploratory aim is to test mechanisms of change associated with EPA. Based on the sociocultural component of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Framework, we hypothesize that social connection will mediate PA and physical function outcomes for those who receive the EPA intervention. This research can elucidate behavioral mechanisms responsible for low PA in low-income Black and HL adults and lead to scalable and sustainable multi-level interventions to support increased PA for Black and HL communities.

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

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

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

40 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • being between 40-70 years old
  • ability to speak and read English or Spanish
  • ability to comply with study procedures and schedule
  • having <150 minutes of weekly physical activity
  • willingness to give informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • not independently ambulatory
  • having other serious health problems that would make it difficult to participate for the duration of the study

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: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

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.
Experimental: Intervention
Participants will receive the EPA intervention.
Behavioral: Enhance Physical Activity (EPA)
EPA is eight weeks with four weekly, hour-long parts: virtual group exercises, virtual group discussions, individual PA participation, and individual phone check-ins.
Active Comparator: Control
This is the control group who will receive written information about health.
Behavioral: Enhance Physical Activity (EPA)
EPA is eight weeks with four weekly, hour-long parts: virtual group exercises, virtual group discussions, individual PA participation, and individual phone check-ins.

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
Self-Reported Physical activity
Time Frame: 12 months
physical activity via the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly
12 months
Objectively measured Physical activity
Time Frame: 12 months
accelerometers
12 months
Physical function
Time Frame: 12 months
physical function via the Short Physical Performance Battery
12 months

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
Social determinants of health
Time Frame: 12 months
surveys from the PhenX toolbox
12 months
Social connection
Time Frame: 12 months
Social Connectedness questionnaire
12 months
Strength
Time Frame: 12 months
strength with a hand-held dynamometer
12 months

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.
Boston University Charles River Campus

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: Simone V Gill, PhD, Boston University Charles River Campus

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 (Estimated)

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.
December 1, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

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.
January 30, 2024

Study Completion (Estimated)

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.
November 30, 2024

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).
January 10, 2023

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.
January 18, 2023

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.
January 27, 2023

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.
July 20, 2026

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.
July 17, 2026

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.
January 1, 2023

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.
  • PA20183

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Deidentified data will be shared with any interested parties and will be disseminated via conferences.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

All scientific data generated from this project will be made available as soon as possible, and no later than the time of publication or the end of the funding period, whichever comes first. The duration of preservation and sharing of the data will be a minimum of 10 years after the funding period.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

There are no anticipated factors or limitations that will affect the access, distribution or reuse of the de-identified scientific data generated by the study.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • Study Protocol
  • Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP)
  • Analytic Code

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.

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