Testing Health Games for Adolescent Physical Activity

June 8, 2012 updated by: University of California, San Diego

Health Games Research: Advancing Effectiveness of Interactive Games for Health

This is a RWJF funded study that will apply behavioral choice theory and learning theory principles to 'map' exergames to determine how behavior change principles influence sustained use of health games by adolescents.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Detailed Description

This research will assess and map four different exergame sports (bowling, boxing, tennis, and a mat/aerobics) games developed by Xavix for behavioral principles and evaluate how those behavior change principles impact game play sustainability. In the first phase of the study, we mapped and coded video games based on behavior contingencies of antecedents to the behavior, the behavior, and consequences to the behavior. Each of the games and subgames will be categorized as hi fidelity and lo fidelity.

Field Trial A home visit was scheduled for eligible and interested participants and an accelerometer was send to the participant's home to wear for one week prior to the home visit. Participants were randomized to one of four XaviX sports games: tennis, bowling, boxing, or J-mat. Two research assistants visited the participant's home to complete assent and consent forms, install the game on a television in the home, and give an overview on how to play the game. Participants were given a paper game log and instructed to record time spent playing the XaviX games. Participants were asked to play the exergame for as much or as little as they like for the next 4 weeks. The participant and parent completed a baseline survey during the visit. Participants continued to wear the accelerometer during the first week of exergame play and then returned the accelerometer by mail.

During the four weeks of exergame play, participants were contacted by telephone by study staff three times, approximately once a week, to complete short surveys about their game play and attitudes about the exergame, and to address any questions from participants. At week four, participants were mailed an accelerometer and instructed to wear it for seven days. After week four, a second home visit was conducted to collect the game cartridge and system, administer final surveys to the participant and a parent, and distribute the incentive. Participants received $50 for completing all study measurements.

Lab Trial In the lab phase, participants that completed the field trial and were randomized to the bowling, boxing, or J-Mat exergames were eligible to participate in the lab trial. During the lab trial, participants will play two subgames (a hi fidelity and a lo fidelity game) from the game that they were randomized to. Participants also completed a relative reinforcing value (RRV) task to assess reinforcing value of Xavix subgames ranked on theoretical fidelity and exertion. The RRV task is a method to measure the responsiveness of individuals to two or more choices. In the context of competing choice options, the RRV task assesses how much work an individual would be willing to do given increasing response effort to gain access to each option.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

63

Phase

  • 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

    • California
      • La Jolla, California, United States, 92037-0811
        • UCSD, Atkinson Hall, 3rd Floor

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

Ages Eligible for Study

11 years to 15 years (CHILD)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Are 11 - 15 years
  • Provide assent and have a legal guardian that will participate and provide parental permission/consent
  • Have a functioning telephone and at least one functioning television

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Own another exergame in their home (such as a Wii or Dance Dance Revolution game)

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: PREVENTION
  • Allocation: RANDOMIZED
  • Interventional Model: PARALLEL
  • Masking: NONE

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Jackie Chan Studio Fitness
The Jackie Chan Studio Fitness (J-MAT) cartridge includes four types of activities that use a four panel floor mat made of flexible material that functions as the wireless interface game controller. The celebrity actor and choreographer Jackie Chan is the avatar character in the game that demonstrates and guides users in four types of aerobic and anaerobic game modes.
There were 4 arms to the intervention in the field trial of this study. Participants were randomized to one of 4 arms or exergame that were manufactured by SSD/Xavix (Shiseido Co. of Japan). Each exergame consisted of a game cartridge, the XavixPort, and game controllers (e.g., tennis racquets, boxing gloves, bowling ball, or floor mat). The XavixPort interfaces the exergame with the participant's television and contains the infrared sensors that track the movement of the game controllers. Each exergame cartridge includes multiple game modes. The four arms/exergames were: XaviX Tennis, The Jackie Chan Studio Fitness (J-MAT), XaviX Bowling, and XaviX Boxing.
Other Names:
  • Health Games
  • Exergames
EXPERIMENTAL: XaviX Tennis
XaviX Tennis simulates tennis using a tennis racket controller and an infrared sensor to detect speed and timing of the player's swing of the racquet. The Tennis cartridge includes three playing modes. In Tournament Tour players select from eight different characters with different skills and play opponents in a bracketed tournament. In Exhibition mode players choose a computer opponent or play a tennis match with a friend. The Training Games mode includes a) Serving, b) Target Challenge, c) Serve & Finish, and d) Rally Time.
There were 4 arms to the intervention in the field trial of this study. Participants were randomized to one of 4 arms or exergame that were manufactured by SSD/Xavix (Shiseido Co. of Japan). Each exergame consisted of a game cartridge, the XavixPort, and game controllers (e.g., tennis racquets, boxing gloves, bowling ball, or floor mat). The XavixPort interfaces the exergame with the participant's television and contains the infrared sensors that track the movement of the game controllers. Each exergame cartridge includes multiple game modes. The four arms/exergames were: XaviX Tennis, The Jackie Chan Studio Fitness (J-MAT), XaviX Bowling, and XaviX Boxing.
Other Names:
  • Health Games
  • Exergames
EXPERIMENTAL: XaviX Bowling
XaviX Bowling uses a wireless bowling ball game controller to simulate bowling. The cartridge includes three modes. In Regular Game up to four people can select from 8 preset bowlers with different characteristics. In Tournament Mode up to eight people can play. Challenge Games consists of three games called Against the Clock, Moving Pins, and Panel Crusher.
There were 4 arms to the intervention in the field trial of this study. Participants were randomized to one of 4 arms or exergame that were manufactured by SSD/Xavix (Shiseido Co. of Japan). Each exergame consisted of a game cartridge, the XavixPort, and game controllers (e.g., tennis racquets, boxing gloves, bowling ball, or floor mat). The XavixPort interfaces the exergame with the participant's television and contains the infrared sensors that track the movement of the game controllers. Each exergame cartridge includes multiple game modes. The four arms/exergames were: XaviX Tennis, The Jackie Chan Studio Fitness (J-MAT), XaviX Bowling, and XaviX Boxing.
Other Names:
  • Health Games
  • Exergames
EXPERIMENTAL: XaviX Boxing
XaviX Boxing uses boxing gloves as the game controller and allows players to box against five different computer opponents in Championship and Exhibition modes and to practice boxing skills in Exercise mode. Exercise mode includes Punch Fast, Panel Toucher, Punch the Red Ball, and Combination Training.
There were 4 arms to the intervention in the field trial of this study. Participants were randomized to one of 4 arms or exergame that were manufactured by SSD/Xavix (Shiseido Co. of Japan). Each exergame consisted of a game cartridge, the XavixPort, and game controllers (e.g., tennis racquets, boxing gloves, bowling ball, or floor mat). The XavixPort interfaces the exergame with the participant's television and contains the infrared sensors that track the movement of the game controllers. Each exergame cartridge includes multiple game modes. The four arms/exergames were: XaviX Tennis, The Jackie Chan Studio Fitness (J-MAT), XaviX Bowling, and XaviX Boxing.
Other Names:
  • Health Games
  • Exergames

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Exergame Sustainability as a Measure of Game Play Over a 4-week Period
Time Frame: 4 weeks
The amount of game play over a 4-week period was assessed by a self-report paper game play log on which to record the date, start and end time of game play. Participants also indicated the game mode (e.g. challenge games, tournament) and who, if anyone, they played the game with.
4 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Moderate and Vigorous Physical Activity
Time Frame: 4 weeks
Physical activity was measured by accelerometer before the participant received the XaviX game, during the first week of having the XaviX game in the home, and during the final week that the XaviX game was in the home.
4 weeks
Self-Report of Sedentary Behavior on non-school days
Time Frame: 4 weeks
Self-reported sedentary time on a typical non-school day was assessed with a previously developed measure survey adapted from Robinson (1999). Participants were asked how much time they spent doing the following sedentary behaviors: (a) watching TV (including videos on VCR/DVD); (b) playing computer or video games (like Nintendo or Sega); (c) using the internet, emailing or other electronic media for leisure; (d) doing homework; (e) reading a book or magazine (not for school); (f) riding in a car, bus, etc.
4 weeks
Attitudes about Exergames
Time Frame: 4 weeks
Self-report of attitudes about exergames and the XaviX system were assessed through a 12-item scale on feelings about exergames, a price point question for the XaviX system and XaviX game cartridges, a survey on participants' experience with the XaviX system and game and why they would play XaviX in the future.
4 weeks
Motivation to Play Exergames
Time Frame: 4 weeks
A Motivation for Exergame Play Inventory was developed to assess motivation for exergame play.
4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Greg J Norman, PhD, UCSD

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.

Helpful Links

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

May 1, 2008

Primary Completion (ACTUAL)

September 1, 2010

Study Completion (ACTUAL)

September 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 23, 2010

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 27, 2010

First Posted (ESTIMATE)

July 28, 2010

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE)

June 11, 2012

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 8, 2012

Last Verified

June 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • RWJ 64439

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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