Physical Activity Intervention for Individuals Newly Diagnosed With MS (ActivNMS)

Physical Activity Behavior Change Intervention in Persons Newly Diagnosed With Multiple Sclerosis - ActivNMS Trial - COM-B Construct Testing

The proposed study is a parallel-group randomized controlled trial (RCT) designed to establish the behavioral mechanism underlying a 16-week physical activity (PA) behavioral intervention through its effects on the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behavior (COM-B) constructs. The success of this study will provide robust evidence for supporting its refinement via refined COM-B constructs and Behavior Change Techniques to facilitate or maximize the intervention effects on PA levels, which will be examined in the subsequent clinical trial. Such an approach will involve an RCT that examines the effects of a 16-week remotely delivered, Internet-based PA behavioral intervention via video behavioral coaching and newsletter compared with a waitlist control (WLC) condition for yielding improvements in the COM-B constructs among persons newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (PNDwMS, disease duration ≤ 2 years). The investigators hypothesize that participants in the PA behavioral intervention condition will demonstrate greater improvements in the COM-B constructs than those in the WLC condition. The investigators plan to recruit 50 PNDwMS, with a distribution of 25 participants in the PA behavioral intervention and 25 participants in the WLC condition. The primary outcomes are the self-report COM-B constructs (listed in the Outcomes section), which will be remotely assessed at baseline and post-intervention through an online battery of questionnaires via REDCap.

Specific Aim 1: to establish mechanisms for the behavior change intervention using a 2-arm pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the intervention compared with the waitlist control (WLC) among PNDwMS. The investigators hypothesize that the 16-week COM-B-based behavioral intervention delivered by one-on-one behavior coaching and newsletters will result in larger changes in COM-B constructs (i.e., knowledge, outcome expectations, goal, intention, behavioral regulation, self-efficacy, fatigue, social support, and social and environmental barriers) than in the WLC group.

Specific Aim 2: to examine change in self-reported physical activity levels in PNDwMS who received the COM-B-based intervention compared with those who are in the waitlist control condition. The investigators hypothesize that the 16-week COM-B-based behavioral intervention will result in larger changes in self-reported physical activity outcomes than in the WLC group.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Multiple Sclerosis
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: COM-B-based Physical Activity Behavior Change Intervention

Detailed Description

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a prevalent neurological disease of the central nervous system that is the leading cause of neurological disability among young adults in the United States. This disease results in the progressive loss of walking, substantial worsening of cognition, symptoms of fatigue, as well as compromised quality of life (QoL). There is evidence that physical activity is beneficially associated with walking mobility, cognitive function, symptoms of fatigue, depression, anxiety, and pain in persons with MS. Nonetheless, this population is strikingly sedentary and physically inactive, including persons newly diagnosed with MS (diagnosed with MS for two years or less). Indeed, approximately 40% of persons with MS reported stopping physical activity after an MS diagnosis, and persons recently diagnosed with MS have not been included in physical activity intervention research. Yet, the early stage of MS represents an ideal time point for initiating physical activity for life-long benefits. There is further evidence that physical activity and exercise interventions delivered remotely can yield benefits in managing MS symptoms and comorbidities, and disability progression. In this study, the investigators aim to primarily test the effect of a 16-week remotely delivered behavioral intervention, compared with a control condition (i.e., waitlist control), on the psychological constructs based on the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behavior model in persons newly diagnosed with MS (disease duration ≤ 2 years). Consequently, this could provide more evidence for the understanding of the intervention mechanism on physical activity behavior in people newly diagnosed with MS. Participants will complete a battery of questionnaires remotely over the internet before and immediately after the 16-week program. The first assessments occur upon enrollment in the study (Baseline Assessment) and the second occurs right after the intervention (16- week Assessment). In this study, participants will be randomly assigned into 1 of 2 conditions: a physical activity condition (receive the intervention immediately after baseline assessment) or a waitlist condition (receive the intervention after the 16-week assessment). Participants in both conditions will receive access to an Internet delivered program for 16 weeks as well as one-on-one coaching through Zoom. The participants could opt in/out of receiving the intervention after the follow-up assessment. The investigators will ask that participants in the physical activity condition wear a Fitbit (this is different from the accelerometer) for tracking physical activity daily during the 16- week period. The investigators will further ask that information from the Fitbit be recorded into a logbook daily.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 50
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Lexi Huynh, PhD; Phone Number: 312-996-6615; Email: activnms@uic.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Illinois
    • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60612
      • University of Illinois Chicago
      • Contact: Lexi Huynh, PhD; Phone Number: 312-996-6615; Email: activnms@uic.edu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• aged 18 years or older
• self-reported diagnosis of MS by a neurologist within the past 2 years
• relapse-free for the past 30 days
• ability to speak and read English as the primary language
• internet and e-mail access
• willingness to complete study protocol
• ambulatory without an assistive device (PDDS < 3)
• insufficiently active (Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ) < 14)
• visual ability and literacy to read newsletter with font size 14 points
• on a stable disease-modifying therapy for 6 months

Exclusion Criteria:

• pregnant
• have an elevated risk for undertaking strenuous or maximal exercise based on two or more affirmatives on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Waitlist Control
Experimental: Treatment; COM-B-based Physical Activity Behavior Intervention	Behavioral: COM-B-based Physical Activity Behavior Change Intervention; Participants will receive a remote-delivered physical activity program for 16 weeks that includes access to electronic newsletters and regular chats over Zoom with a behavioral coach: The newsletters provide behavioral strategies such as information on the benefits of physical activity, goal setting and monitoring, for increasing and maintaining physical activity levels. Throughout the 16-week period, the investigators will ask participants to wear a Fitbit and record step count into a logbook daily for tracking physical activity. The newsletter will be emailed to participants weekly throughout the program. The newsletters include knowledge, skills, and resources related to physical activity in the early stages of MS. The program also involves 7 1-on-1 coaching chats with a coach to guide participants through the program and navigate challenges. These chats are conducted over Zoom and generally last about 15 - 30 minutes each. These sessions will not be recorded.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Knowledge and Information Provision Questionnaire (NIP)	The Knowledge and Information Provision questionnaire will be administered remotely for self-report assessment of knowledge about physical activity. 3 items; Likert scale 1 - 4 (No - Yes, comprehensively)	Baseline and week 16
Multidimensional Outcome Expectations for Exercise Scale (MOEES)	The MOEES will be administered remotely for self-report assessment of outcome expectations for physical activity/exercise. 15 items; Likert scale 1 - 5 (Strongly disagree - Strongly agree)	Baseline and week 16
Behavioral Intention	The behavioral intention will be administered remotely for physical activity behavioral intentions. 5 items; Likert scale 1- 4 (Not true - Completely true)	Baseline and week 16
Exercise Goal Setting Scale (EGS)	The EGS will be administered remotely to capture goal-setting skills. It includes 10 items rates on a Likert scale with anchors of 1 (Does not describe) and 5 (Describes completely)	Baseline and week 16
Behavioral Regulation Action Planning (BRAP) Subscale	The BRAP will be administered remotely for capturing the action planning construct. 5 items; Likert scale 1 - 4 (Not true - Completely true)	Baseline and week 16
Behavioral Regulation Action Control (BRAC) Subscale	The BRAC will be administered remotely for capturing the action control construct. 6 items; Likert scale 1 - 4 (Not true - Completely true)	Baseline and week 16
HAPA Self-efficacy Subscales (Action, Recovery, Maintenance Subscale)	The Self-efficacy subscales will be administered remotely for capturing the self-efficacy levels in physical activity action, recovery, and maintenance. 9 items; Likert scale 1 - 4 (Not true - Exactly true)	Baseline and week 16
Hamburg Quality of Life Questionnaire Multiple Sclerosis - Fatigue Subscale (HAQUAMSF)	The HAQUAMSF will be administered remotely for measuring fatigue 4 items; Likert scale 1 - 5 (Not at all - Very much)	Baseline and week 16
The PA-Related Social Support Scale (PASS)	The PA-Related Social Support Scale will be administered remotely for capturing physical activity social support 7 items; Likert scale 1 - 4 (Almost never - Almost always)	Baseline and week 16
The Physical and Social Environment Barriers - Self-developed questionnaire	The Physical and Social Environment Barriers will be administered remotely for capturing barriers in physical and social environment. 9 items; Likert scale 1 - 4 (Is not applicable - Applicable)	Baseline and week 16

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Physical Activity Behavior	Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ); scores range between 0 (min) and 119 (max), higher scores indicate greater engagement in physical activity behavior.	Baseline and week 16
Physical Activity Behavior	International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ); scores range between 0 (min) and 107 (max), higher scores indicate greater engagement in physical activity behavior.	Baseline and week 16
Formative Evaluation	Self-report survey to assess participant satisfaction and collect feedback from participant.	Week 16

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Demographic information	Self-report questionnaire will be administered remotely to capture age, sex, race, ethnicity, education, marital status, income	Baseline
Clinical characteristics	Self-report questionnaire will be administered remotely to capture MS type, disease duration, Patient Determined Disease Steps (PDDS)	Baseline and week 16

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Illinois at Chicago
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Robert Motl, PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• Study Website

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 22, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 25, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): July 28, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 28, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 25, 2026
• Last Verified: July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Physical Activity; Behavioral Intervention; Newly Diagnosed MS
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Autoimmune Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS; Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System; Demyelinating Diseases; Behavior; Multiple Sclerosis; Motor Activity
• Other Study ID Numbers: STUDY2026-0787

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will not be shared. The data will be analyzed after follow-up data collection, and findings will be published on scientific journals
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Pre-enrollment on ClinicalTrials.gov
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: No Criterial for access
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL

Drug and device information, study documents

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