Smart Walk: A Culturally Tailored Smartphone-Delivered Physical Activity Intervention for African American Women

Last updated: May 15, 2025
Sponsor: Arizona State University
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

2

Condition

Diabetes Prevention

Diabetes And Hypertension

Treatment

Smart Walk

Fitbit

Clinical Study ID

NCT06337708
STUDY00017286
R01HL168170
  • Ages 24-65
  • Female
  • Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Summary

The purpose of this study is to test a culturally tailored, smartphone-delivered intervention designed to increase physical activity and reduce risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes among African American women.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Self-reported African American/Black female

  • Aged of 24-65 years

  • Insufficiently Active (< 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity perweek as measured by Exercise Vital Sign Questionnaire)

  • BMI > 30 kg/m2

  • English speaking and reading

  • Ownership of a smartphone with the ability to download applications (i.e., apps)

  • Ownership of a smartphone with the ability to receive text messages

  • Willingness to receive a physical activity intervention delivered through theirsmartphone

  • Willingness to include their first name or create an alias to be used on theirprofile page on the Smart Walk app

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Plans to relocate out of Phoenix area in next 12 months

  • Endorsing an item on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q), unless adoctor's note for study participation in provided

  • Resting systolic blood pressure greater than 180 mmHG and/or a diastolic bloodpressure greater than 120 mmHG , as assessed at baseline or at any other studyassessment

  • Self-reported participation in another diet or weight loss study at screening

  • Pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the next 12 months

Study Design

Total Participants: 240
Treatment Group(s): 2
Primary Treatment: Smart Walk
Phase: 2
Study Start date:
April 08, 2024
Estimated Completion Date:
March 31, 2028

Study Description

This study addresses major public health concerns among African American women: physical inactivity and cardiometabolic disease risk.

African American women experience a high burden of cardiometabolic diseases, including heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Regular aerobic physical activity is an established behavior to prevent and treat these conditions. Yet, the many African American women are insufficiently active, with only 27-40% meeting national aerobic physical activity guidelines.

This study will test the efficacy of Smart Walk, a culturally tailored, theory-based smartphone-delivered intervention designed to increase physical activity and improve cardiometabolic disease risk factors among African American women. In a 12-month trial, participants will be randomly assigned to either the Smart Walk intervention or a Fitbit-only comparison arm for an active 4-month intervention period, followed by an 8-month minimal contact follow-up period.

Specific Aims:

  1. Test the effects of Smart Walk to increase physical activity and promote adherence to national aerobic physical activity guidelines; compared to Fitbit-only comparison group.

  2. Test the effects of Smart Walk to improve cardiometabolic risk factors; compared to Fitbit-only comparison group.

  3. Compare cost and cost effectiveness of the two intervention groups from a societal perspective.

  4. Examine if protocol adherence predicts outcomes and potential mediation and moderation of intervention effects on physical activity and cardiometabolic outcomes.

Connect with a study center

  • Arizona State University

    Phoenix, Arizona 85004
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

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