Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

NCT number NCT03081013
Other study ID # HSRNIG13nov007
Secondary ID
Status Completed
Phase N/A
First received
Last updated
Start date December 2016
Est. completion date December 2018

Study information

Verified date September 2019
Source Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School
Contact n/a
Is FDA regulated No
Health authority
Study type Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The study aims:

1. To test the effect of providing social comparison information on increasing physical activity among Singaporean adolescents.

2. To test whether providing social comparison information increases physical activity more when it is provided publicly compared to when it is provided anonymously.


Description:

Childhood and adolescent obesity represents a major public health challenge worldwide. Singapore is no exception as the prevalence of obesity among children was estimated at 12%. Overweight and obese children are more likely to become obese adults, to develop non-communicable diseases at a younger age, and to have a shorter life expectancy. One of the main reasons behind the growing obesity epidemic is low levels of physical activity. Previous literature shows evidence of a steep decline in physical activity among boys after the primary school years and low levels of activity among girls throughout the primary and high school years in Singapore. Daily step counts are found to be up to 35% short of the recommended daily steps for adolescents. Low levels of physical activity are also associated with lower psychological well-being among adolescents. Thus, it is important that interventions aimed at increasing physical activity target adolescent years.

In this study, the investigators propose to test the effectiveness of providing social comparison information on increasing physical activity among adolescents. Participating adolescents will be randomized into a group and groups will be randomized into one of two study arms in a 4-month walking program:

Private arm: At the end of each week, participants will be provided with the number of steps logged by the participants in their group. The number of steps will be ranked from highest to the lowest without any identifiable information about the participants.

Public arm: At the end of each week, participants in this arm will be provided with the same information as in the other arm plus the names of the participants corresponding to the number of steps logged.

Social comparison information will be provided to the study participants via SMS. We will conduct a 4-month two-arm RCT to test whether social comparison information increases physical activity more when it is disclosed publicly compared to when it is provided anonymously. The primary outcome is the average number of steps taken per week by participants. Study outcomes relating to physical activity and health-related quality of life for participants will be evaluated at baseline and 4 months. Step activity will be tracked in real time via Fitbit wireless pedometers throughout the study.


Recruitment information / eligibility

Status Completed
Enrollment 311
Est. completion date December 2018
Est. primary completion date August 2018
Accepts healthy volunteers Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Gender All
Age group 13 Years to 16 Years
Eligibility Inclusion Criteria:

- The study's target population is adolescents aged 13-16 years. Participants should be Singaporean citizens or permanent residents. Participants should be English-speaking. Participants should be willing to wear a pedometer for 4 months. Only participants who provide at least 8 (out of 14 days) valid days of pedometer data including at least 2 days of the weekend at baseline will be included.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Participants will be asked to complete a short screener questionnaire to ensure that they are healthy enough to participate. Participants reporting the following will be excluded:

- Having any medical condition that may limit their ability to walk as a means of physical activity

- Are unwilling to wear a wireless pedometer for 4 months

Participants will also be screened with a Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q). Those who answer 'YES' to any PAR-Q question will be permitted to enroll only if they provide written approval from a medical doctor.

Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


Intervention

Behavioral:
Social information
Social comparison information will be provided to the study participants weekly via SMS
Device:
Fitbit
Fitbit is a wireless pedometer that tracks steps of participants and will be offered in conjunction with a tailored website with customised information for participants.

Locations

Country Name City State
Singapore Duke-NUS Medical School Singapore

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor Collaborator
Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Singapore, 

References & Publications (17)

Chia M. Pedometer-assessed physical activity of Singaporean youths. Prev Med. 2010 May-Jun;50(5-6):262-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2010.03.004. Epub 2010 Mar 11. — View Citation

Donaldson SI, Graham JW, Hansen WB. Testing the generalizability of intervening mechanism theories: understanding the effects of adolescent drug use prevention interventions. J Behav Med. 1994 Apr;17(2):195-216. — View Citation

Finkelstein EA, Tan YT, Malhotra R, Lee CF, Goh SS, Saw SM. A cluster randomized controlled trial of an incentive-based outdoor physical activity program. J Pediatr. 2013 Jul;163(1):167-72.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2013.01.009. Epub 2013 Feb 14. — View Citation

Kirkcaldy BD, Shephard RJ, Siefen RG. The relationship between physical activity and self-image and problem behaviour among adolescents. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2002 Nov;37(11):544-50. — View Citation

Larimer ME, Neighbors C. Normative misperception and the impact of descriptive and injunctive norms on college student gambling. Psychol Addict Behav. 2003 Sep;17(3):235-43. — View Citation

Lee KS, Trost SG. Validity and reliability of the 3-day physical activity recall in Singaporean adolescents. Res Q Exerc Sport. 2005 Mar;76(1):101-6. — View Citation

Maturo CC, Cunningham SA. Influence of friends on children's physical activity: a review. Am J Public Health. 2013 Jul;103(7):e23-38. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301366. Epub 2013 May 16. Review. — View Citation

Must A, Strauss RS. Risks and consequences of childhood and adolescent obesity. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1999 Mar;23 Suppl 2:S2-11. Review. — View Citation

Neighbors C, Larimer ME, Lewis MA. Targeting misperceptions of descriptive drinking norms: efficacy of a computer-delivered personalized normative feedback intervention. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2004 Jun;72(3):434-47. — View Citation

Sallis JF, Grossman RM, Pinski RB, Patterson TL, Nader PR. The development of scales to measure social support for diet and exercise behaviors. Prev Med. 1987 Nov;16(6):825-36. — View Citation

Sallis JF, Prochaska JJ, Taylor WC. A review of correlates of physical activity of children and adolescents. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000 May;32(5):963-75. Review. — View Citation

Saunders RP, Pate RR, Felton G, Dowda M, Weinrich MC, Ward DS, Parsons MA, Baranowski T. Development of questionnaires to measure psychosocial influences on children's physical activity. Prev Med. 1997 Mar-Apr;26(2):241-7. — View Citation

Schultz PW, Nolan JM, Cialdini RB, Goldstein NJ, Griskevicius V. The constructive, destructive, and reconstructive power of social norms. Psychol Sci. 2007 May;18(5):429-34. — View Citation

Tudor-Locke C, Craig CL, Beets MW, Belton S, Cardon GM, Duncan S, Hatano Y, Lubans DR, Olds TS, Raustorp A, Rowe DA, Spence JC, Tanaka S, Blair SN. How many steps/day are enough? for children and adolescents. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2011 Jul 28;8:78. doi: 10.1186/1479-5868-8-78. Review. — View Citation

Tudor-Locke C, Johnson WD, Katzmarzyk PT. Accelerometer-determined steps per day in US children and youth. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2010 Dec;42(12):2244-50. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181e32d7f. — View Citation

Woo BS, Chang WC, Fung DS, Koh JB, Leong JS, Kee CH, Seah CK. Development and validation of a depression scale for Asian adolescents. J Adolesc. 2004 Dec;27(6):677-89. — View Citation

Yun D, Silk KJ. Social norms, self-identity, and attention to social comparison information in the context of exercise and healthy diet behavior. Health Commun. 2011 Apr;26(3):275-85. doi: 10.1080/10410236.2010.549814. — View Citation

* Note: There are 17 references in allClick here to view all references

Outcome

Type Measure Description Time frame Safety issue
Primary The average number of steps taken per week by participants These will be assessed through Fitbit pedometers at baseline and at the last 2 weeks of the trial. All participants will be issued a step counter, the Fitbit Flex™ for use during the entire 4-month RCT. 4 months
Secondary Health Outcomes: Quality of life index The quality of life will be assessed using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) for adolescents. These measures will be taken twice; at baseline and at the end of the study. 4 months
Secondary Health Outcomes: Depression Depression will be measured using Asian Adolescent Depression Scale (AADS) which is validated for Singaporean adolescents.These measures will be taken twice; at baseline and at the end of the study. 4 months
See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Active, not recruiting NCT05661799 - Persistence of Physical Activity in People With Type 2 Diabetes Over Time. N/A
Active, not recruiting NCT03903874 - Testing Scalable, IVR-supported Cancer Prevention Interventions in the Rural Alabama Black Belt N/A
Recruiting NCT03662438 - HOPE (Home-based Oxygen [Portable] and Exercise) for Patients on Long Term Oxygen Therapy (LTOT) N/A
Withdrawn NCT04540523 - Home-Based Exergaming Intervention N/A
Recruiting NCT03250000 - Changes in Microcirculation and Functional Status During Exacerbation of COPD N/A
Recruiting NCT05563805 - Exploring Virtual Reality Adventure Training Exergaming N/A
Completed NCT03430648 - Is Tau Protein Linked to Mobility Function?
Completed NCT05019482 - Intervention Program Among University Student to Promote Physical Activity and Reduce the Sedentary Time N/A
Completed NCT03253406 - Health Wearables and College Student Health N/A
Not yet recruiting NCT05985460 - A Very Brief Intervention to Increase the Intention to Practice Physical Activity N/A
Completed NCT03380143 - Whole-of-Community Youth Population Physical Activity N/A
Completed NCT03700736 - The Healthy Moms Study: Comparison of a Post-Partum Weight Loss Intervention Delivered Via Facebook or In-Person Groups N/A
Completed NCT03170921 - Psychophysiological Characterization of Different Capoeira Performances in Experienced Individuals N/A
Completed NCT04973813 - Active Choice Intervention About Physical Activity for Physically Inactive Adults N/A
Completed NCT03982095 - Survey on Lifestyle, Perceived Barriers and Development of Change in Patients With Prostate Cancer
Completed NCT03271112 - Frailty Prevention in Elders From Reunion Island N/A
Completed NCT05670223 - Healthy Activities Improve Lives N/A
Completed NCT04894929 - Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment in the Monitoring of Functional Improvement N/A
Recruiting NCT04578067 - Empowering Immigrant Women for Active and Healthy Lifestyle N/A
Completed NCT03297567 - Physical Therapy Guidelines For Hospitalized Elderly N/A