This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a social incentive-based gamification intervention to increase physical activity in the 3 months after hospital discharge.
This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a social incentive-based gamification intervention to increase physical activity in the 3 months after hospital discharge. To do this, the investigators will conduct a two-arm randomized, controlled trial during the 3-months after hospital discharge comparing a control group that uses a wearable device to track physical activity to an intervention group that uses the same wearable devices and receives a supportive social incentive-based gamification intervention to adhere to a step goal program. Patients will be enrolled during hospitalization from medicine and oncology floors into three phases. In phase 1 (hospitalization), patients inpatient step counts will be monitored. In phase 2 (week 1 post-discharge), patients will have a baseline step count estimated. In phase 3 (weeks 2-13 post-discharge), patients will be randomly assigned to the control or intervention group. Patients will be considered enrolled in the trial if they complete the run-in periods (phases 1 and 2) and then are randomized into phase 3. The enrollment phase will be part of another randomized trial which evaluates the impact of three recruitment strategies on patient enrollment. This trial will be completed and unmasked to patients before they begin the phase 1 of our study. The investigators will also explore patients' physical activity while in the hospital and if that differs across floors that have or have not deployed a nursing mobility protocol. Changes in patient functional decline and 30-day hospital readmission will also be explored.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
233
Participants in the intervention arm will receive social incentives as part of the intervention. See arm descriptions for more detail.
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Change in mean daily step count from the baseline period to the intervention period, using a wearable pedometer (Nokia Steel) to measure step count.
The primary outcome variable is the change in mean daily step count from the baseline period (week 1 post-discharge) to the intervention period (weeks 2-13 post-discharge). This will be measured using the Nokia Steel wearable device. .
Time frame: 13 weeks
30-day hospital readmission post-discharge, using the state's hospital database
A secondary outcome variable is 30-day hospital readmission post-discharge, which will be obtained from the state-based registry.
Time frame: 13 weeks
Functional decline from admission to 3 months post-discharge, measured using validated survey assessments.
A secondary outcome variable is functional decline from admission to 3 months post-discharge, which will be obtained from information collected through validated survey assessments.
Time frame: 13 weeks
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