Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Interventions (or programs) to promote physical activity (PA) often fail to show long-term effects, and the suspicion is that PA behaviors need to become habits in order to be maintained. Recent research on habits indicates that habit formation may be facilitated by repeated and consistent environmental cues. The aim of this study is to test how well text messaging cues (SMS) do at getting people into the habit of doing PA in the workplace.
Who can participate?
Employees of the Française des Jeux compagnie that do not currently do any exercise, have medical clearance to start an exercise program and are able to attend a fitness center for a 60 minute session twice a week.
What does the study involve?
The employees are randomly allocated into one of two groups. Those in group 1 (PA group) take part in a 28 day supervised PA program. Those in group 2 (PA+SMS group) take part in the same program and are sent text messaging cues before their PA sessions. The exercise habits of each participant is assessed every week by the Self-Report Behavioral Habit Index using an online application.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Not provided at time of registration.
Where is the study run from?
Francaise des Jeux, Vitrolles (France)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
June 2013 to June 2015
Who is funding the study?
Société Diagana sport santé (Diagana sport santé company) and Fondation Française des Jeux (Fondation of Française des Jeux) (France)
Who is the main contact?
Mrs Marion Fournier
marion.fournier.nice@gmail.com
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Mrs Marion Fournier
ORCID ID
Contact details
261 route de grenoble
Nice
06203
France
+33643759198
marion.fournier.nice@gmail.com
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
N/A
Study information
Scientific title
Testing the effect of text messaging cues to promote physical activity habits: a worksite-based randomized controlled trial
Acronym
Physical activity habits
Study hypothesis
To test the efficacy of text messaging cues (SMS) to promote physical activity (PA) habit formation in the workplace.
Ethics approval
Commission scientifique de la faculté des sciences du sport de l'Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis
Study design
Randomized controlled trial (RCT)
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised parallel trial
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Prevention
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use contact details to request a participant information sheet
Condition
We studied sedentary employees at their workplace.
Intervention
1. Experimental: Physical activity + SMS group:
The group attended 2 sessions of supervised physical activity sessions and received 4 SMS per week.
All sessions were held at the same time of day (during lunch break) and on the same day of the week (Tuesday and Thursday). One session consisted of Nordic walking and the other consisted of circuit training. The session contents were individualized according to each individual's PA level using a heart rate monitor. The PA+SMS group received four text messages per week, always at the same time to favor cue consistency. For each session, one SMS was sent the evening before (7 pm) to remind and help the participants to plan their behavior
2. Active Comparator: Physical activity:
The physical activity group attended two one-hour PA sessions per week supervised by two professional PA instructors. One session consisted of Nordic walking and the other consisted of circuit training.
Intervention type
Behavioural
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measures
Primary Outcome Measure:
1. The strength of the PA habit was measured using the Self-Report Behavioural Automaticity Index (SRBAI)
Time Frame: from October 2013 to June 2014, assessed every week. Participants received an email every Thursday at 2 pm from the communication service of their company to ask them to complete the SRBAI for the behavior using an online survey-managing website. If they missed to report, they received another email to remind them on the following Monday at 2 pm. They provided their answers using a 10-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating stronger habit strength.
Secondary outcome measures
Level of Physical activity using IPAQ (International Physical Activity Questionnaire). Time Frame: on October 2013, June 2014 and June 2015. Participants has to answer the IPAQ questionnaire by email three times to evaluate their physical activity level.
Overall trial start date
01/06/2013
Overall trial end date
30/06/2015
Reason abandoned
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Be employee of the Française des Jeux compagnie
2. Not be involved in any exercise training
3. Have a medical clearance to start an exercise program
4. Have the ability to attend the fitness center for a 60-min session twice a week
Participant type
Healthy volunteer
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
49
Participant exclusion criteria
Being active according to the IPAQ
Recruitment start date
01/06/2013
Recruitment end date
15/10/2013
Locations
Countries of recruitment
France
Trial participating centre
Francaise des Jeux
297 Route de la Seds
Vitrolles
13127
France
Sponsor information
Organisation
Laboratoire motricité humaine et sport santé
Sponsor details
261 route de grenoble
Nice
06203
France
04 92 29 65 00
muriel.semeria@unice.fr
Sponsor type
Research organisation
Website
Funders
Funder type
Industry
Funder name
Société Diagana sport santé (Diagana sport santé company)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Funder name
Fondation Française des Jeux (Fondation of Française des Jeux)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Primary goal is to publish a scientific paper on the effects of the intervention on habits formation. A secondary paper on the effect of the physical activity programme on physical and psychological measures can also be envisaged.
Intention to publish date
01/09/2015
Participant level data
Available on request
Results - basic reporting
Publication summary