Incentivizing Reflection and Output in Exercise

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03742778
• Recruitment Status: Completed
• First Posted: November 15, 2018
• Last Update Posted: June 11, 2020
• Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): University of Pennsylvania

Study Description

Brief Summary:

This study will test whether incentivizing post-workout activities (i.e., reflecting on workouts) is more effective than incentivizing actual workouts. This study has two conditions: reflection condition (with incentives for reflecting on workouts) vs. output (with incentives for working out). The focus of the incentives will be reinforced by three text messages per week and weekly emails.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Healthy	Behavioral: Incentivizing reflection; Behavioral: Incentivizing exercise	Not Applicable

Detailed Description:

Gym members register online to participate in a 28-day workout program. Upon registration, participants are assigned to one of two conditions (a condition that incentivizes reflecting on workouts or a condition that incentivizes workouts). Upon registration, participants are prompted to create a workout schedule and are given advice that reflecting on workouts can help build exercise habits. Over the 28-day intervention period, participants receive text message reminders prior to their scheduled workouts and emails reminding them of their schedules. In both conditions, participants receive points every day that they go to the gym, which can be redeemed for a gift card after the intervention period. In the reflection condition, participants can receive bonus points for responding to each of three text messages each week asking about them to reflect on their gym visits. In the output condition, participants receive the same text messages, but receive bonus points for their first three workouts each week, rather than for responding to text messages.

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Actual Enrollment: 1200 participants
• Allocation: Randomized
• Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)
• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Official Title: Incentivizing Reflection and Output in Exercise
• Actual Study Start Date: January 31, 2018
• Actual Primary Completion Date: February 28, 2019
• Actual Study Completion Date: February 28, 2019

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/treatment
Experimental: Incentivizing reflection; Participants will receive three texts each week asking a question to reflect on their latest workout, and will receive 500 points for each text they answer. These bonus points are on top of points participants receive for each workout (200 points per workout). Example text: "Which best describes how you felt right after your last workout? 1-Energized, 2-Proud, or 3-Tired? Send your personal reply (e.g., "1")"	Behavioral: Incentivizing reflection; Participants receive bonus incentives for reflecting on their workouts
Experimental: Incentivizing Exercise; Participants will receive three texts each week asking a question for them to reflect on. Regardless of whether or not they respond to the texts, participants receive 500 bonus points for their first three workouts during the week. These bonus points are on top of points participants receive for each workout (200 points per workout). Example text: "Which best describes how you are feeling now? 1-Energized, 2-Proud, or 3-Tired? Send your personal reply (e.g., "1")"	Behavioral: Incentivizing exercise; Participants receive bonus incentives for exercising

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Gym visits per week [ Time Frame: During the 28-day intervention period ]
   Number of days the participant goes to the gym
2. Gym visits per week [ Time Frame: During the 4-week post-intervention period ]
   Number of days the participant goes to the gym
3. Gym visits per week [ Time Frame: During the 10-week post-intervention period ]
   Number of days the participant goes to the gym
4. Whether or not a participant visits the gym in a given week [ Time Frame: During the 28-day intervention period ]
   Binary variable capturing whether or not a participant had any gym visits in a given week
5. Whether or not a participant visits the gym in a given week [ Time Frame: During the 4-week post-intervention period ]
   Binary variable capturing whether or not a participant had any gym visits in a given week
6. Whether or not a participant visits the gym in a given week [ Time Frame: During the 10-week post-intervention period ]
   Binary variable capturing whether or not a participant had any gym visits in a given week

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. Gym visits per week [ Time Frame: During the 52-week post-intervention period ]
   Number of days the participant goes to the gym
2. Whether or not a participant visits the gym in a given week [ Time Frame: During the 52-week post-intervention period ]
   Binary variable capturing whether or not a participant had any gym visits in a given week

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• 24 Hour Fitness member

Exclusion Criteria:

-

Contacts and Locations

Locations

United States, Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104

Sponsors and Collaborators

University of Pennsylvania

More Information

• Responsible Party: University of Pennsylvania
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03742778
• Other Study ID Numbers: 827107-1257
• First Posted: November 15, 2018
• Last Update Posted: June 11, 2020
• Last Verified: June 2020

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

Keywords provided by University of Pennsylvania:

exercise; Incentives; reflection; output