Physical Activity Intervention to Promote Walking Among Female University Students

WhatsApp Physical Activity Intervention to Promote Walking Among Female University Students in Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

This study is a parallel group randomized controlled trial among female university students designed to test the effect of a physical activity intervention on daily walking. Both groups will receive messages 2-3 times per week via WhatsApp. Intervention group will receive orientation and wear a pedometer for the study period. The follow-up duration is 3 months.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Physical Activity
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Intervention; Other: Control

Detailed Description

Background: Sedentary lifestyle is a major risk factor for chronic diseases. The majority of Saudi females do not meet a recommended level of physical activity.

Study Objective: To test the effect of a physical activity intervention on daily walking.

Study Design: Parallel group randomized controlled design among female university students.

Methods: Students will be randomly assigned to either the intervention or the control arm. WhatsApp groups (2 per arm) will be formed within each study arm for communications. The intervention participants will receive a brief (15-minute) orientation on diet, exercise, and benefits of keeping a healthy weight; each will be instructed to wear a pedometer every day for 12-weeks with a daily step goal of 8,000. They will receive 2-3 health-promotional (walking and diet) messages per week via WhatsApp; group interaction is optional. The control group participants will receive 2-3 non-health related messages per week. Average daily steps will be assessed in all participants at baseline and 3-month follow-up using a 7-day pedometer measurement.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 207
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Saudi Arabia
  • Al-Qassim
    • Buraidah, Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia, 51452
      • Qassim University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 28 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• female
• student enrolled at Qassim University during 2016-2017 academic year
• owns smartphone with internet access
• willing to complete all study requirements

Exclusion Criteria:

• Physical disability that precludes physical activity
• Morbidly obese (Body Mass Index >45 kg/m2)
• Physician recommendation not to exercise

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Walking + WhatsApp; The participants assigned to the intervention group will be given a brief (15-minute) orientation where they learn about the importance of exercise, diet, and the benefits of weight reduction. They will be given further instruction on the regular use of the pedometer. They will be enrolled into a WhatsApp group. They will receive 2-3 health-promotional (walking and diet) messages per week via WhatsApp.	Behavioral: Intervention; Brief introductory session, pedometer instruction, daily pedometer use, and health messages delivered via WhatsApp 2-3 times per week.; Other Names: Walking group
Active Comparator: WhatsApp Only; The control participants will be enrolled into a WhatsApp group. They will receive 2-3 non-health related messages per week via WhatsApp.	Other: Control; Non-health related messages delivered via WhatsApp 2-3 times per week.; Other Names: Attention Control

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Walking	Change in 7-day average steps. Measurement tool = Omron pedometer HJ-320	Baseline to 3-month follow-up

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Self-reported walking	Change between baseline and follow-up for walking minutes per week. Measurement tool = International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)	Baseline to 3-month follow-up
Body Mass Index	Change in BMI score between baseline and follow-up. Objective measurement of height and weight.	Baseline to 3-month follow-up
Barriers to weight management	Change in number of barriers between baseline and follow-up. Measurement tool = Validated questionnaire.	Baseline to 3-month follow-up

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Qassim University
• Investigators: Study Director: Juliann Saquib, PhD, College of Medicine, Qassim University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 15, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 28, 2017
• Study Completion (Actual): December 28, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 3, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 3, 2017
• First Posted (Actual): May 8, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 30, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 29, 2018
• Last Verified: October 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: QassimU

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No