Stay Strong: A Physical Activity Program for Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans
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The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02360293 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : February 10, 2015
Results First Posted : January 6, 2020
Last Update Posted : January 6, 2020
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This project is Project three of a four project Prevention Coaching Lab CREATE grant entitled "Transforming Prevention into Action" aimed at effectively engaging patients and their families to improve their health and medical care.
This project will test the feasibility and effectiveness of the prevention focused, internet mediated healthy lifestyle Stay Strong program tailored to the needs, preferences and demographics of OEF/OIF/OND Veterans.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Exercise | Behavioral: Stay Strong w/coaching Behavioral: Stay Strong | Not Applicable |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 465 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Prevention |
Official Title: | Stay Strong: A Physical Activity Program for Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans |
Actual Study Start Date : | September 25, 2017 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | May 31, 2019 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | September 30, 2019 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: Stay Strong w/coaching
participants in the Stay Strong w/coaching (Experimental) arm are provided a wearable device, scale, telephone coaching, tailored push notifications, personalized goals, and enhanced online/app support.
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Behavioral: Stay Strong w/coaching
Pts randomly placed in the Stay Strong w/coaching group receive an app-mediated physical activity intervention. Pts are asked to wear a physical activity monitoring device and weigh regularly using a Bluetooth scale while participating in the study. Pts will be asked to upload the device data at least weekly and will receive tailored push notifications. Each week the pt will receive a new automatically calculated personalized physical activity goal. Stay Strong coaches will call pts up to 3 times in the first 6-8 weeks of the study to help pts meet physical activity goals including problem solving support. Pts will also be reminded to follow-up with their healthcare provider as needed for the remainder of the 12-month program. |
Active Comparator: Stay Strong
participants in the Stay Strong (active comparison) arm will only be provided a wearable device with standard online/app support.
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Behavioral: Stay Strong
Pts randomly placed in the Stay Strong arm are asked to wear a physical activity monitoring device and weigh regularly using a Bluetooth scale while participating in the study. Pts will be asked to upload the device data at least weekly. Pts will have access to a standard app-mediated intervention that is linked to the wearable device. |
- Change in Physical Activity (PA) as Measured by the Study-provided Monitoring Device [ Time Frame: Change from Baseline in objectively monitored physical activity at one year after randomization ]Physical activity is measured as Active Minutes by a wearable Fitbit Charge 2 device; daily activity is averaged over a one week period for which at least 5 days of valid data are available.
- Change in Weight as Measured From VA Medical Record [ Time Frame: Change from Baseline in weight at one year after randomization ]Weights were extracted from VHA's Corporate Data Warehouse, vital signs package due to the high number of missing weights from the study provided blue tooth scale.
- Change in Depression Score as Assessed by the Personal Health Questionnaire Depression Scale (PHQ-8) [ Time Frame: Change from Baseline Depression score at one year after randomization ]The Personal Health Questionnaire Depression Scale (PHQ) will be administered via online survey. Personal Health Questionnaire (8 item version),Reporting Scores on a Scale Lower Scores Indicate a Better Outcome, Range: 0-24
- Change in Pain Measures as Assessed by the VA Pain Intensity [ Time Frame: Change from Baseline in Pain measures at one year after randomization ]Pain intensity will be elicited via online survey. Neuropathic Pain in Past Week Reporting Scores on a Scale, Lower Scores Indicate a Better Outcome, Range: 0-10

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 64 Years (Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Inclusion Criteria:
- OEF/OIF/OND Veteran
- Can identify a VA Medical Center and VA Health Care Provider responsible for his/her care in the system
- Interested in starting a physical activity program in the next 30 days
- Access to a computer with an internet connection and a working USB port.
- A smartphone running a compatible iOS or Android operating system.
- Younger than Age 65
Exclusion Criteria:
- Veteran self-reports that a health care provider has told the patient that it is currently unsafe to exercise in an unsupervised or unmonitored setting. (Can become eligible with written medical clearance).
- History of eating disorders or a BMI < 20
- Not competent to consent to a research study by self-reporting a legal guardian who makes medical decisions for the Veteran.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT02360293
United States, Michigan | |
VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI | |
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, 48105 |
Principal Investigator: | Laura J. Damschroder, MPH | VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI |
Documents provided by VA Office of Research and Development:
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Responsible Party: | VA Office of Research and Development |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT02360293 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
CRE 12-305 |
First Posted: | February 10, 2015 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | January 6, 2020 |
Last Update Posted: | January 6, 2020 |
Last Verified: | December 2019 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.: | No |
Exercise App-mediated Veterans |