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Spinal Cord InjuriesPhase 2NCT05317832

Using Smartphones to Improve Physical Activity Levels of Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury

A Phase 2 study testing WI program, WI Program Reminder and JITAI Goal Setting in people with Spinal Cord Injuries, run by Temple University at 1 site in United States.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

The overarching goal of this research study is to evaluate a sensor-enabled, just-in-time adaptive intervention (JITAI) strategy to increase and sustain physical activity levels among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) in their communities. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 75 years
Conditions the study is for
Spinal Cord Injuries
What is being tested?
WI program, WI Program Reminder and JITAI Goal Setting
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
196 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
25 May 2023to 30 Jun 2027
Phase
Phase 2
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 75 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Inclusion Criteria: Participants with SCI will be included if they are:

  • 18-75 years of age
  • have a traumatic or non-traumatic SCI (classification of neurological level of injury at cervical level 5 (C5) and below)
  • are at least 6-months post-SCI
  • use a manual or a power wheelchair as their primary means of mobility (>80% of time)
  • can use their arms to exercise
  • show readiness to physical activity as assessed by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire
  • have experience using a smartphone and smartwatch.

Exclusion Criteria: Participants will be excluded if they have:

  • any secondary complications that medically restrict their activity in any way such as cardiovascular disease, pressure injuries, contractures, and infections
  • are diagnosed with traumatic brain injury.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Shivayogi V Hiremath, PhD contact

2152040496

shiv.hiremath@temple.edu

United States1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Temple University

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19121

    Shivayogi V Hiremath, PhD, 215-204-0496, shiv.hiremath@temple.edu

    Shivayogi V Hiremath, PhD

    Recruiting

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: mHealth-based Just-In-Time Adaptive Intervention to Improve Physical Activity Levels of Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury

The overarching goal of this research study is to evaluate a sensor-enabled, just-in-time adaptive intervention (JITAI) strategy to increase and sustain physical activity levels among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) in their communities. A primary objective of this study is to evaluate the integration of a JITAI with a web-based physical activity intervention program. We hypothesize that the integration of web-based physical activity intervention program with JITAI will result in significantly higher physical activity levels compared to the standard web-based physical activity intervention program alone. A secondary objective of this study is to extend existing algorithms that use commercial wearable technology to robustly detect physical activity behaviors to facilitate the delivery of tailored just-in-time actionable feedback and physical activity recommendations for individuals with SCI.

Read the detailed description

The integration of the JITAI, which provides feedback and physical activity recommendations due to sensor-based assessments of physical activity, with a standard web-based physical activity intervention program will be tested via a clinical trial. Specifically, individuals with SCI will be randomized to web-based physical activity intervention program (WI) or web-based physical activity intervention program combined with the JITAI (WI + JITAI). Within the WI + JITAI arm, a micro-randomized trial - a clinical trial design for optimizing mobile-Health interventions - will be used to randomize participants several times a day to various types of tailored feedback and physical activity recommendations.

Aim 1: Evaluate the efficacy of the WI + JITAI compared to the standard WI alone. We hypothesize that the integration of WI + JITAI will result in significantly higher physical activity levels compared to the standard WI alone.

Aim 2: Use a micro-randomized trial design to optimize the delivery of just-in-time physical activity feedback and recommendations in promoting physical activity.

Aim 3: Investigate moderators of the effect of WI + JITAI vs. standard WI alone. Moderators will include age, gender, race/ethnicity, level of injury, function, mobility, pain, and fatigue.

The proposed study will yield novel insights about JITAIs and JITAIs combined with more traditional, WI programs, which will help researchers design engaging physical activity interventions for individuals with disability in the community that may improve their health and quality of life.

Being tested
WI program, WI Program Reminder, JITAI Goal Setting, JITAI physical activity message, Notification EMA
Keywords
spinal cord injuries, physical activity, wearable sensors, mobile health, just-in-time adaptive intervention
Medical subject headings
Spinal Cord Injuries, Motor Activity

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • WI programBehavioural

    This 14-week web-based physical activity intervention (WI) program was developed by the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability. The WI program was developed with guidance from literature and practice in health behavior change and internet-based health promotion programming. The content and features of the WI program include motivational resource, updated weekly resources, and customizable features.

  • WI Program ReminderBehavioural

    Participants will be provided with reminders to use the WI program

  • JITAI Goal SettingBehavioural

    Participants will be provided with standard, tailored, or no goal for the day. The goal will focus on recommending minutes of moderate-intensity (or higher) physical activity and a reminder to perform strength exercises.

  • JITAI physical activity messageBehavioural

    Participants will be provided with minutes of moderate-intensity (or higher) physical activity achieved, minutes of physical activity remaining, or no message.

  • Notification EMAOther

    Participants will be inquired through an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) if they received a JITAI physical activity message.

  • End of day EMAOther

    Participants will be inquired, through an ecological momentary assessment (EMA), if they performed aerobic and/or strength exercises for the day.

  • Wake up time EMAOther

    Participants will be inquired, through an ecological momentary assessment (EMA), about the time they plan to wake up next day. This information will be used to provide a goal setting message for next day.

  • Weekly PA InformationOther

    Participants will have access to minutes of moderate-intensity (or higher) physical activity performed over the last 7 days.

  • Daily PA InformationOther

    Participants will have access to minutes of moderate-intensity (or higher) physical activity performed over the day.

Study groups in NCT05317832
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Web-based physical activity intervention (WI) programActive comparatorParticipants in the WI arm will take part in the WI program (weeks 3 to 16). After the WI program is completed in week 16, the participants will transition to the physical activity sustainability phase which will include participants having continued access to the information provided during the WI program (weeks 17 to 24).
Receives: Behavioral: WI program; Behavioral: WI Program Reminder; Other: Weekly PA Information
Web-based physical activity intervention (WI) program + just-in-time adaptive intervention (JITAI)ExperimentalParticipants in the WI + JITAI arm will take part in the WI program (weeks 3 to 16). After the WI program is completed in week 16, the participants will transition to the physical activity sustainability phase which will include participants having continued access to the information provided during the WI program (weeks 17 to 24). In addition, participants will have access to the JITAI that will provide just-in-time feedback and physical activity recommendations (weeks 3 to 24). The type of the feedback and recommendation messages in the WI + JITAI arm will be delivered using micro-randomization, which involves random selection of intervention components at each possible time of delivery.
Receives: Behavioral: WI program; Behavioral: WI Program Reminder; Behavioral: JITAI Goal Setting; Behavioral: JITAI physical activity message; Other: Notification EMA; Other: End of day EMA; Other: Wake up time EMA; Other: Weekly PA Information; Other: Daily PA Information

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change in moderate-intensity (or higher) physical activity

    The change in average duration of moderate-intensity (or higher) physical activity, measured via mobile-health sensor (smartwatch that is part of the just-in-time adaptive intervention system - JITAI), between baseline and WI program.

    Measured: Baseline (week 2) and WI Program (week 16)

  2. Change in moderate-intensity (or higher) physical activity

    The change in average duration of moderate-intensity (or higher) physical activity, measured via mobile-health sensor (smartwatch that is part of the just-in-time adaptive intervention system - JITAI), between baseline and physical activity sustainability.

    Measured: Baseline (week 2) and physical activity sustainability (week 24)

  3. Self-reported change in moderate-intensity (or higher) physical activity

    The change in average duration of moderate-intensity (or higher) physical activity, measured via Physical Activity Recall Assessment for People with Spinal Cord injury (PARA-SCI) survey, between baseline and WI program.

    Measured: Baseline (week 2) and WI Program (week 16)

  4. Self-reported change in moderate-intensity (or higher) physical activity

    The change in average duration of moderate-intensity (or higher) physical activity, measured via Physical Activity Recall Assessment for People with Spinal Cord injury (PARA-SCI) survey, between baseline and physical activity sustainability.

    Measured: Baseline (week 2) and physical activity sustainability (week 24)

  5. Self-reported change in moderate-intensity (or higher) leisure time physical activity

    The change in average duration of moderate-intensity (or higher) physical activity, measured via Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire for People with SCI (LTPAQ-SCI) survey, between baseline and WI program.

    Measured: Baseline (week 2) and WI program (week 16)

  6. Self-reported change in moderate-intensity (or higher) leisure time physical activity

    The change in average duration of moderate-intensity (or higher) physical activity, measured via Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire for People with SCI (LTPAQ-SCI) survey, between baseline and physical activity sustainability.

    Measured: Baseline (week 2) and physical activity sustainability (week 24)

  7. Change in proximal physical activity

    The primary analysis for this study will address the question of whether, on average, the feedback and physical activity recommendations from JITAI will have a proximal effect on minutes of physical activity performed over the next 120 minutes during the WI program among those who are available at the previous randomization decision point.

    Measured: WI Program (week 2) and WI Program (week 16)

  8. Change in proximal physical activity

    The primary analysis for this study will address the question of whether, on average, the feedback and physical activity recommendations from JITAI will have a proximal effect on minutes of physical activity performed over the next 120 minutes during the physical activity sustainability among those who are available at the previous randomization decision point.

    Measured: Physical activity sustainability (week 17) and Physical activity sustainability (week 24)

Secondary outcomes (3)
  1. Pain level number

    The International SCI Pain Basic Data Set Version 2.0 form will allow us to collect the pain level (number) in the participants over the course of the study.

    Measured: Baseline (weeks 0 and 2), WI Program (weeks 2, 8 and 16), physical activity sustainability (week 24)

  2. Pain level type

    The International SCI Pain Basic Data Set Version 2.0 form will allow us to collect the types of pain (nociceptive, neuropathic, and other) in the participants over the course of the study.

    Measured: Baseline (weeks 0 and 2), WI Program (weeks 2, 8 and 16), physical activity sustainability (week 24)

  3. Fatigue level

    The Neuro-QOL Item Bank Version 1.0 Fatigue Short form will allow us to collect fatigue level.

    Measured: Baseline (weeks 0 and 2), WI Program (weeks 2, 8 and 16), physical activity sustainability (week 24)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted8 Apr 2022
  2. Study start25 May 2023
  3. Primary completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion30 Jun 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
The proposed study is a 24-week longitudinal study that will comprise of 2 weeks of baseline physical activity monitoring, 14 weeks of physical activity monitoring and intervention, and 8 weeks of physical activity monitoring to assess physical activity level sustainability. Individuals with SCI will be randomized to a web-based physical activity intervention (WI) program or a WI program combined with the JITAI (WI + JITAI). Within the WI + JITAI arm, a micro-randomized trial - a clinical trial design for optimizing mobile-Health interventions - will be used to randomize participants several times a day to various types of tailored feedback and physical activity recommendations.
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Participant
Enrolment
196 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05317832
Sponsor's protocol ID
27338
Other IDs
R01HD103904
Status last verified
Jun 2026
First submitted
28 Feb 2022
Last updated
24 Jun 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Sharing of data generated by the proposed research study will be carried out in several different ways. We will make our results available both to the consumers with SCI and scientific community. Conversely, we would welcome collaboration with others who could make use of the information gained in this project. Temple University and its collaborators will remain Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant and all data will remain free of identifiers and variables that could lead to disclosure of participant identity. During the study, preliminary analyses will be conducted at periodic intervals. Our plan is to disseminate our findings in the form of interdisciplinary peer-reviewed manuscripts and presentations at national and international conferences.

Publications

  • Carey RL, Le H, Coffman DL, Nahum-Shani I, Thirumalai M, Hagen C, Baehr LA, Schmidt-Read M, Lamboy MSR, Kolakowsky-Hayner SA, Marino RJ, Intille SS, Hiremath SV. mHealth-Based Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention to Improve the Physical Activity Levels of Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2024 Jun 28;13:e57699. doi: 10.2196/57699.

    PubMed 38941145

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing WI program, WI Program Reminder and JITAI Goal Setting in people with Spinal Cord Injuries, run by Temple University at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Shivayogi V Hiremath, PhD (2152040496, shiv.hiremath@temple.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in moderate-intensity (or higher) physical activity (time frame: Baseline (week 2) and WI Program (week 16)). The study lists 8 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05317832, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 24 Jun 2026.

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