Smartphone Parent-child Partner Exercises Application Study

Summary

Building upon our previous groundwork including the development of the FAMILY MOVE app and the pilot study, we will further evaluate the effectiveness of a simple parent-child partner exercise programme delivered by our FAMILY MOVE app on children's health-related quality of life through a single blinded randomized placebo-controlled trial (RCT). This RCT will sample 286 low-income parent-child pairs recruited from low income families in the community. Study participants will be randomized after baseline assessment by an independent statistician using computer randomization tool with 1:1 allocation ratio to either the FAMILY MOVE app intervention group or the HK FitNuts app control group. After both groups have completed the intervention study and follow up measurements at 1 month, 6 months and 12 months after intervention, the control group will receive the same FAMILY MOVE app. Outcome assessments will be conducted by a trained interviewer blinded to the subject group allocation at baseline, 1 month, 6 months and 12 months after intervention.

Conditions

• Physical Activity

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Family Move app intervention

All the recruited parent-child pairs will be randomized after baseline assessment by an independent statistician using computer randomization tool to either the FAMILY MOVE app intervention group or the HK FitNuts app control group with a 1:1 allocation ratio. Although both groups receive a stand-alone app, the apps have distinct design features: use of competition and point elements (FAMILY MOVE app) or use of traditional demonstration elements (HK FitNuts app). After both groups have completed the 8-week intervention study and follow up measurements at 1 month, 6 months and 12 months after intervention, the control group will receive the same FAMILY MOVE app. Outcome assessments will be conducted by a trained interviewer blinded to the subject group allocation.

BEHAVIORAL

"HK FitNuts" app intervention

The parent-child pairs in the control group will be given a link to download the "HK FitNuts" app which was developed by Hong Kong Association of Sports Medicine and Sports Science, Department of Orthopaedics \& Traumatology of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Dietitians Association to promote healthy lifestyle in Hong Kong. The app includes short video clips demonstrating basic individual exercise moves and provides other textual information related to PA. However, it does not have push notification function. In order to ensure that the intervention and control group will receive equal attention from our research team, we shall send a text about HK FitNuts and general exercise information to participants in the control group three times per week. Same as participants in the intervention group, the control group will also be asked to provide their weekly app usage and PA pattern by completing an online log at the end of each intervention week.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The University of Hong Kong

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Cindy Lo Kuen Lam · The University of Hong Kong

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

SINGLE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

7 Years

Max Age

16 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2017-06-01

Primary Completion

2018-12-31

Completion

2019-06-30

Countries

• Hong Kong

Study Locations