ATOMIC (Active Teens Multiple Sclerosis) Physical Activity Research Program

Summary

The investigators have previously shown that youth with MS are very inactive, and that vigorous physical activity is associated with higher levels of well-being and lower MS disease activity in youth. Yet, no effective physical activity interventions have been developed for youth with MS to date. The investigators have taken input from youth with MS to create a Smartphone-based app (the ATOMIC - Active Teens with Multiple Sclerosis - App) that provides tailored physical activity information and coaching, provides tools to increase social connectedness, and promotes physical activity. This proposed research will therefore address the problem of inactivity in youth with MS by studying an intervention to increase physical activity.

Conditions

• Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Physical Activity (PA) Intervention

The ATOMIC intervention consists of four primary components: one-on-one chats with a PA coach, informational posts, PA self-monitoring through an activity tracker and educational modules regarding different aspects of becoming PA delivered through the MS-specific PA app. An overarching goal of moving youth with MS towards meeting current Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) recommendations will be used in addition to initial results from accelerometer monitoring and evaluation of current PA intentions to establish step goals, with planned weekly incremental increases (10% weekly to goal).

BEHAVIORAL

Waitlist attention-control

For a period of 6-months, participants will receive the control conditions that involve contact from study personnel and a nutritional educational module to ensure equivalent social contact in both arms of the study. After the 6-months, participants will receive the same intervention as the intervention arm.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Alabama at Birmingham

  collaborator OTHER

• Queen's University

  collaborator OTHER

• National Multiple Sclerosis Society

  collaborator OTHER

• The Hospital for Sick Children

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• E. Ann Yeh, MA, MD, FRCPC, Dip ABPN · The Hospital for Sick Children

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

11 Years

Max Age

21 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2020-12-01

Primary Completion

2025-09-30

Completion

2025-09-30

Countries

• United States
• Canada

Study Locations