Trial Outcomes & Findings for Increasing Steps Per Day in Rural Veterans (NCT NCT03930238)

NCT ID: NCT03930238

Last Updated: 2024-10-17

Results Overview

The Fitbit will provide the total number of steps that each Veteran has taken per day.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

276 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

9 weeks

Results posted on

2024-10-17

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
VA MapTrek
Veterans in the intervention group receive a Fitbit and access to VA MapTrek, an interactive text-messaging platform. The only equipment needed is a Fitbit (we provide) and a smartphone (required to enroll). Each week, Veterans are assigned to a virtual walking route. Each day, they receive a text message with a link to the current route. The link will take them to a map where they can see their progress and the progress of others. A leaderboard provides information on how many steps each participant has taken. Throughout each race, participants will randomly receive challenge text messages. Completing a challenge awards bonus steps to propel their character along the map. VA MapTrek: The objective is to report activity levels in our virtual environment to Veterans, thereby encouraging them to walk more.
Fitbit Only
Veterans randomized to the control group will receive a Fitbit only. This will allow us to determine if changes in physical activity are due to VA MapTrek or simply by giving the Veterans a Fitbit. Fitbit Only: Fitbit Only
Overall Study
STARTED
153
123
Overall Study
Collected Any Fitbit Data During Baseline Period
152
114
Overall Study
COMPLETED
149
102
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
4
21

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

1 Veteran was older than 89 years of age, so their exact age could not be specified. 1 Veteran's age was missing.

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
VA MapTrek
n=153 Participants
Veterans in the intervention group receive a Fitbit and access to VA MapTrek, an interactive text-messaging platform. The only equipment needed is a Fitbit (we provide) and a smartphone (required to enroll). Each week, Veterans are assigned to a virtual walking route. Each day, they receive a text message with a link to the current route. The link will take them to a map where they can see their progress and the progress of others. A leaderboard provides information on how many steps each participant has taken. Throughout each race, participants will randomly receive challenge text messages. Completing a challenge awards bonus steps to propel their character along the map. VA MapTrek: The objective is to report activity levels in our virtual environment to Veterans, thereby encouraging them to walk more.
Fitbit Only
n=123 Participants
Veterans randomized to the control group will receive a Fitbit only. This will allow us to determine if changes in physical activity are due to VA MapTrek or simply by giving the Veterans a Fitbit. Fitbit Only: Fitbit Only
Total
n=276 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Continuous
59.9 Years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 12.7 • n=151 Participants • 1 Veteran was older than 89 years of age, so their exact age could not be specified. 1 Veteran's age was missing.
61.9 Years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 13.0 • n=123 Participants • 1 Veteran was older than 89 years of age, so their exact age could not be specified. 1 Veteran's age was missing.
60.9 Years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 12.8 • n=274 Participants • 1 Veteran was older than 89 years of age, so their exact age could not be specified. 1 Veteran's age was missing.
Sex: Female, Male
Female
23 Participants
n=153 Participants
12 Participants
n=123 Participants
35 Participants
n=276 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
130 Participants
n=153 Participants
111 Participants
n=123 Participants
241 Participants
n=276 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
6 Participants
n=153 Participants
5 Participants
n=123 Participants
11 Participants
n=276 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
147 Participants
n=153 Participants
118 Participants
n=123 Participants
265 Participants
n=276 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=153 Participants
0 Participants
n=123 Participants
0 Participants
n=276 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
1 Participants
n=153 Participants
1 Participants
n=123 Participants
2 Participants
n=276 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
n=153 Participants
0 Participants
n=123 Participants
0 Participants
n=276 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
2 Participants
n=153 Participants
0 Participants
n=123 Participants
2 Participants
n=276 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
10 Participants
n=153 Participants
4 Participants
n=123 Participants
14 Participants
n=276 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
136 Participants
n=153 Participants
114 Participants
n=123 Participants
250 Participants
n=276 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
n=153 Participants
0 Participants
n=123 Participants
0 Participants
n=276 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
4 Participants
n=153 Participants
4 Participants
n=123 Participants
8 Participants
n=276 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
153 participants
n=153 Participants
123 participants
n=123 Participants
276 participants
n=276 Participants
Lives in Urban Area
77 Participants
n=153 Participants • Address could not be determined for 1 Veteran in the Fitbit Only Group.
55 Participants
n=122 Participants • Address could not be determined for 1 Veteran in the Fitbit Only Group.
132 Participants
n=275 Participants • Address could not be determined for 1 Veteran in the Fitbit Only Group.
Marital Status
Currently Married
113 Participants
n=153 Participants
83 Participants
n=123 Participants
196 Participants
n=276 Participants
Marital Status
Previously Married
31 Participants
n=153 Participants
29 Participants
n=123 Participants
60 Participants
n=276 Participants
Marital Status
Never Married
5 Participants
n=153 Participants
4 Participants
n=123 Participants
9 Participants
n=276 Participants
Marital Status
Other
4 Participants
n=153 Participants
7 Participants
n=123 Participants
11 Participants
n=276 Participants
Body Mass Index
32.9 kg/m^2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.6 • n=152 Participants • Missing participants did not have BMI values present in their medical record.
33.7 kg/m^2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.8 • n=121 Participants • Missing participants did not have BMI values present in their medical record.
33.2 kg/m^2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.7 • n=273 Participants • Missing participants did not have BMI values present in their medical record.
Systolic Blood Pressure
130.1 mmHg
STANDARD_DEVIATION 14.6 • n=152 Participants • Missing values were due to missing systolic blood pressures in the medical record.
130.0 mmHg
STANDARD_DEVIATION 79.1 • n=121 Participants • Missing values were due to missing systolic blood pressures in the medical record.
130.0 mmHg
STANDARD_DEVIATION 14.6 • n=273 Participants • Missing values were due to missing systolic blood pressures in the medical record.
Diastolic Blood Pressure
79.1 mmHg
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.2 • n=152 Participants • Missing values due to missing diastolic blood pressure values in the medical record.
79.1 mmHg
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.3 • n=121 Participants • Missing values due to missing diastolic blood pressure values in the medical record.
79.1 mmHg
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.7 • n=273 Participants • Missing values due to missing diastolic blood pressure values in the medical record.
Number of Medications
9.6 Medications
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.9 • n=153 Participants
9.4 Medications
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.7 • n=123 Participants
9.5 Medications
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.4 • n=276 Participants
Number of Comorbidities
9.7 Comorbidities
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.9 • n=153 Participants
10.3 Comorbidities
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.4 • n=123 Participants
10.0 Comorbidities
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.7 • n=276 Participants
Days with Step Data
6.9 Days
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.0 • n=153 Participants
4.6 Days
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.8 • n=123 Participants
5.9 Days
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.2 • n=276 Participants
Number of Steps per Day
7023 Steps
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4080 • n=147 Participants • Missing values due to Veterans not syncing Fitbit steps during baseline period.
6754 Steps
STANDARD_DEVIATION 3545 • n=108 Participants • Missing values due to Veterans not syncing Fitbit steps during baseline period.
6909 Steps
STANDARD_DEVIATION 3857 • n=255 Participants • Missing values due to Veterans not syncing Fitbit steps during baseline period.

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 9 weeks

The Fitbit will provide the total number of steps that each Veteran has taken per day.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
VA MapTrek
n=149 Participants
Veterans in the intervention group receive a Fitbit and access to VA MapTrek, an interactive text-messaging platform. The only equipment needed is a Fitbit (we provide) and a smartphone (required to enroll). Each week, Veterans are assigned to a virtual walking route. Each day, they receive a text message with a link to the current route. The link will take them to a map where they can see their progress and the progress of others. A leaderboard provides information on how many steps each participant has taken. Throughout each race, participants will randomly receive challenge text messages. Completing a challenge awards bonus steps to propel their character along the map. VA MapTrek: The objective is to report activity levels in our virtual environment to Veterans, thereby encouraging them to walk more.
Fitbit Only
n=102 Participants
Veterans randomized to the control group will receive a Fitbit only. This will allow us to determine if changes in physical activity are due to VA MapTrek or simply by giving the Veterans a Fitbit. Fitbit Only: Fitbit Only
Total Number of Steps Per Day
8756 Steps per day
Standard Deviation 6251
7334 Steps per day
Standard Deviation 4596

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 9 weeks

Population: Percentage of challenges met.

Percentage of challenges that were met will be assessed.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
VA MapTrek
n=3842 Challenges
Veterans in the intervention group receive a Fitbit and access to VA MapTrek, an interactive text-messaging platform. The only equipment needed is a Fitbit (we provide) and a smartphone (required to enroll). Each week, Veterans are assigned to a virtual walking route. Each day, they receive a text message with a link to the current route. The link will take them to a map where they can see their progress and the progress of others. A leaderboard provides information on how many steps each participant has taken. Throughout each race, participants will randomly receive challenge text messages. Completing a challenge awards bonus steps to propel their character along the map. VA MapTrek: The objective is to report activity levels in our virtual environment to Veterans, thereby encouraging them to walk more.
Fitbit Only
Veterans randomized to the control group will receive a Fitbit only. This will allow us to determine if changes in physical activity are due to VA MapTrek or simply by giving the Veterans a Fitbit. Fitbit Only: Fitbit Only
Challenge Effectiveness
2008 Percentage of Challenges Met

OTHER_PRE_SPECIFIED outcome

Timeframe: 9 weeks

Veterans will respond to an exit survey about their experiences with the study.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
VA MapTrek
n=153 Participants
Veterans in the intervention group receive a Fitbit and access to VA MapTrek, an interactive text-messaging platform. The only equipment needed is a Fitbit (we provide) and a smartphone (required to enroll). Each week, Veterans are assigned to a virtual walking route. Each day, they receive a text message with a link to the current route. The link will take them to a map where they can see their progress and the progress of others. A leaderboard provides information on how many steps each participant has taken. Throughout each race, participants will randomly receive challenge text messages. Completing a challenge awards bonus steps to propel their character along the map. VA MapTrek: The objective is to report activity levels in our virtual environment to Veterans, thereby encouraging them to walk more.
Fitbit Only
n=123 Participants
Veterans randomized to the control group will receive a Fitbit only. This will allow us to determine if changes in physical activity are due to VA MapTrek or simply by giving the Veterans a Fitbit. Fitbit Only: Fitbit Only
Completion of an Exit Survey
100 Participants
55 Participants

Adverse Events

VA MapTrek

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Fitbit Only

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Jacob Simmering

University of Iowa

Phone: 319-384-1107

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place