Physical Activity Promotion to Foster Healthy Aging
The Roybal Center for Personalized Trials: Physical Activity Promotion to Foster Healthy Aging was established to test whether behavioral actions or interventions that generally promote health and wellness in older adults are effective for specific individuals. These types of studies are also called N-of-1 trials. They offer all the scientific structure of large research studies (randomization, data collection and analysis), but they provide individuals with their own, detailed results so that they can better understand if a treatment works for them. All three studies used behavior change techniques (BCTs) such as setting goals, planning time for walking, checking step count on an activity tracking watch, and receiving feedback about walking behavior. BCTs were sent via text message and all study participants wore activity tracking watches. Participants in these studies highly rated their personalized trials experience and found individual results helpful.
Our Center has completed three projects to date:
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Behavior Change Techniques (BCTs) to Improve Low Intensity Physical Activity in Older AdultsThis study sent text messages designed to encourage persons to walk 2,000 steps more five days per week for 8 weeks. The study found that no one BCT was more effective than another BCT, and that use of the BCT messages did not improve walking behavior for most people. However, some people did find them extremely helpful to increase their step count by 2,000 steps per day, five days per week. This study reinforces that the effectiveness of behavior change techniques can vary very much from person-to-person.
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A Trial of Habit Formation Theory for Exercise in Older AdultsThis study showed that older adults are willing to participate in personalized trials to create a walking habit. The study asked persons to create a walking plan (days, time, place, length of walk) and then sent BCTs to help them create a habit of regular walking for 12 weeks. Half of the participants were able to stick to their plan and create a walking habit.
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A Behavior Change Technique (BCT) Intervention for Physical Activity Among Individuals on StatinsThe purpose of this research is to understand how long an individual needs to receive behavior change interventions to increase how often they take daily statin medication. Check back soon for more results!
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A Behavior Change Technique Intervention for Medication Adherence Among Individuals on StatinsThe purpose of this research is to understand how long an individual needs to receive behavior change interventions to increase how often they take their daily statin medication. Check back soon for results!
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Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Behavioral Change Intervention for People with Type 2 Diabetes and Diabetes DistressThe purpose of this research is to test the effect of an intervention that pairs continuous glucose monitoring with text-message delivered behavior change interventions for physical activity and mood on health outcomes in adults with type 2 diabetes and diabetes distress. Check back soon for results!
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A Personalized Mind-Body Intervention (MBI) for Improving Sleep Among Women Working in HealthcareThe purpose of this research is to test if a mind-body intervention of yoga, mindfulness meditation, and guided walking can increase sleep duration in female healthcare workers aged 40-60. Check back soon for results!
Contact Us
Questions, or interested in collaborating? Reach out to us at RoybalTrials@northwell.edu
