The Physical Activity Loyalty Card Scheme

Physical Activity Clinical Trial

— PAL  

Official title:

The Physical Activity Loyalty Card Scheme: A Randomised Controlled Trial to Encourage Physical Activity

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT01575262
• Other study ID #: PAL-v1
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2/Phase 3
• First received: April 10, 2012
• Last updated: April 10, 2012
• Start date: March 2011
• Est. completion date: October 2011

Study information

• Verified date: April 2012
• Source: Queen's University, Belfast
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: United Kingdom: Research Ethics Committee
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of using incentives to encourage adults to be physically active.

Description:

The investigators developed the Physical Activity Loyalty Card (PAL) Scheme which integrates a novel physical activity tracking system with web-based monitoring and nudge initiatives. The tracking system used Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology and a "loyalty card" (PAL Card) which contained a passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag. Sensors were placed along footpaths in the outdoor environment, in the gym and exercise studio, and participants scanned their PAL card at the sensor when doing physical activity (e.g. walking). A transaction (card ID, sensor ID, and timestamp) was recorded and sent via SMS to a secure data centre. Participants logged onto a personal account on the study website (www.palcard.co.uk) and received real-time feedback on various aspects of their physical activity including minutes, distance and calories expended.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 406
• Est. completion date: October 2011
• Est. primary completion date: July 2011
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 18 Years to 65 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• males and females

• aged 18-65 years old

• able to complete 15 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity

• based at least 4 days per week (and 6 hours per day) at worksite

Exclusion Criteria:

• advised by General Practitioner not to participate in exercise

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Single Blind (Outcomes Assessor)

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Health Behavior
• Physical Activity

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Non-cash incentives
Participants used their PAL card to self-monitor physical activity levels (intrinsic motivation) and minutes of physical activity were converted to points (1 minute of PA = 1 point; capped at 30 points per day) over the 12-week intervention period. Points were redeemed for rewards (extrinsic motivation) at week 6 and week 12.
• Self-monitoring physical activity levels
For those in the 'No Incentive' arm, participants used their PAL card to self-monitor their physical activity levels but did not collect points or earn rewards.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United Kingdom	Queen's University Belfast	Belfast	Antrim

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Queen's University, Belfast

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United Kingdom, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Physical activity	change in moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA)measured using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ); MVPA using an objective physical activity measure (physical activity tracking system)	baseline, week 12 and 6 months	No
Secondary	SF-8	health	baseline, week 12 and 6 months	No
Secondary	Euroqol 5D	Quality of life	baseline, week 12 and 6 months	No
Secondary	Physical Activity Self-Efficacy Scale	Physical activity self-efficacy	baseline, week 12 and 6 months	No
Secondary	Work absenteeism	Number of sick days from work	baseline, week 12 and 6 months	No
Secondary	Exit questionnaire	Participant satisfaction with study involvement	week 12	No