Exercise FrequencyNCT07156240
Professional Training Programs Targeting Attendance in Fitness Centers
A study testing Experimental I (SDT) and Experimental II (Hedonic) in people with Exercise Frequency, run by Grupo Lusófona at 1 site in Portugal.
Trial summary
Over recent decades, leading theories of human behavior have been applied across various physical activity (PA) settings, yielding mixed results. While they have provided some valuable insights, they have largely failed to achieve one central aim - to help foster sustained, population-wide increases in PA (Albarracín… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Exercise Frequency
- What is being tested?
- Experimental I (SDT) and Experimental II (Hedonic)
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 117 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePortugal
- Study dates
- 3 Sep 2025to Sep 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- 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 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Professionals
- All exercise professionals in the three clubs
- Exercisers
- > 18 years old
- All exercisers enrolled in the three clubs
- A subsample of the first 174 voluntaries participating in the study and enrolled in the three clubs after September 1st
Who cannot join
- Expulsion of the clubs due to internal rules violation or other decision independent of this study
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Impact of Two Short Behavioral Theory-Driven Professional Training Programs Targeting Attendance in Fitness Centers
Over recent decades, leading theories of human behavior have been applied across various physical activity (PA) settings, yielding mixed results. While they have provided some valuable insights, they have largely failed to achieve one central aim - to help foster sustained, population-wide increases in PA (Albarracín et al., 2024; Ekkekakis \& Zenko, 2016; Pratt et al., 2020; Rhodes et al., 2019). This gap has prompted concern, as these theories, despite some support for their assumptions, have not translated into meaningful and lasting behavior change. Some have criticized them for their overarching dependency on the decisional balance one may perform given the right set of conditions (e.g., supportive social environments; benefits vs. barriers dyad; self-efficacy appraisal) (Conn et al., 2011; Ekkekakis, 2017; Rhodes et al., 2019); others have pointed to an astonishing lack of experimental efforts testing the expression of those theoretical assumptions (Ekkekakis et al., 2019; Manninen et al., 2022; Ntoumanis \& Moller, 2025), leaving researchers, policymakers and stakeholders (and the theories) hostage to cross-sectional and longitudinal evidence. Either way, new approaches and experimental efforts to address the challenge of supporting PA practices are warranted and urgent.
Three of the most studied motivational theories in PA contexts over the last decades are the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1991), Self-Determination Theory (Deci \& Ryan, 1985), and the Transtheoretical Model (Prochaska \& DiClemente, 1984) (Ntoumanis et al., 2018; Simpson et al., 2025). Without minimizing their usefulness and robust body of evidence, they fall into the category of theories that have struggled, to date, to demonstrate moderate or large effects in programs aiming to improve exercise-related behavior based on their assumptions. Naturally, the complexity of each theory or model brings several challenges that undermine the extent to which we can confidently attribute any limited effect observed in an experimental study solely to the theory's inability to express its assumptions. As such, despite decades of research grounded in several (conceptually) well-established behavioral theories, there remains a need to test their assumptions through experimental approaches and, complementarily - or if necessary, alternatively - to explore new avenues for inquiry and theoretical development (Simpson et al., 2025).
To this end, the present study will address this issue experimentally using two theoretical approaches. The first approach is grounded in a well-established theory of human motivation, Self-Determination Theory (SDT), which offers numerous recommendations for its potential application, particularly in promoting positive impacts on exercise adherence. The second approach is structured in alignment with the general principles of hedonic theory, a recently revitalized approach to the understanding of Human behavior, focusing on the promotion of pleasurable responses during exercise.
- Conditions
- Exercise Frequency
- Being tested
- Experimental I (SDT), Experimental II (Hedonic), Control group
- Keywords
- exercise, affect, motivation, adherence, frequency
- Medical subject headings
- Motor Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Experimental I (SDT)Behavioural
SDT-based course aiming to inmprove professionals operational interpersonal qualities
Experimental II (Hedonic)Behavioural
Hedonic-based course aiming to inmprove professionals operational interpersonal qualities
Control groupOther
FITT-VP bases course aiming to improve exercise prescription
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Control group | Placebo comparator | FITT-VP 2025 training course Receives: Other: Control group |
| Experimental I (SDT) | Experimental | SDT-based training course Receives: Behavioral: Experimental I (SDT) |
| Experimental II (hedonic) | Experimental | Hedonic-based training course Receives: Behavioral: Experimental II (Hedonic) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Club attendance
Club attendance during a one-year period collected with the turstile digital system
Measured: Collected on the last day of each month, and averaged after a one-year period (September 1st to August 31st)
Secondary outcomes (19)
Attrition rate
Attrition rate calculated through the number of cancellations or dropouts / total number of new members × 100 in a one-year period
Measured: Number of total cancellations or dropouts for each month, collected through the turstile digital record and club payment system, summed throughout 12 months
Exercise habit measured with the Self-reported behavioral automaticity index (SRBAI) - Baseline
Automaticity for exercise practice measured with the Self-reported behavioral automaticity index (SRBAI)
Measured: Baseline; after club enrollment, in the first two weeks of September 2025, at any given time
Exercise habit measured with the Self-reported behavioral automaticity index (SRBAI) - 6 months
Automaticity for exercise practice measured with the Self-reported behavioral automaticity index (SRBAI)
Measured: After 6 months of enrollment; first two weeks of February, at any given time
Exercise habit measured with the Self-reported behavioral automaticity index (SRBAI) - 12 months
Automaticity for exercise practice measured with the Self-reported behavioral automaticity index (SRBAI)
Measured: After 12 months, during the last week of August 2026, at any given time
Initial behavioral intention to continue exercising; the intention to exercise questionnaire - Baseline
Behavioral intention as defined by the theory of planned behavior with the intention to exercise questionnaire
Measured: Baseline; after club enrollment, in the first two weeks of September 2025, at any given time
Behavioral intention to continue exercising; the intention to exercise questionnaire - 6 months
Behavioral intention as defined by the theory of planned behavior with the intention to exercise questionnaire
Measured: After 6 months of enrollment; first two weeks of February, at any given time
Behavioral intention to continue exercising; the intention to exercise questionnaire - 12 months
Behavioral intention as defined by the theory of planned behavior with the intention to exercise questionnaire
Measured: After 12 months, during the last week of August 2026, at any given time
Exerciser basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration; the BPNSFS questionnaire - Baseline
Basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration as defined by the Self-Determination Theory
Measured: Baseline; after club enrollment, in the first two weeks of September 2025, at any given time
Exerciser basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration; the BPNSFS questionnaire - 6 months
Basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration as defined by the Self-Determination Theory
Measured: After 6 months of enrollment; firts two weeks of February, at any given time
Exerciser basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration; the BPNSFS questionnaire - 12 months
Basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration as defined by the Self-Determination Theory
Measured: After 12 months, during the last week of August 2026, at any given time
Exerciser behavioral regulation; the BREQ-4 questionnaire - Baseline
Exercise behavioral regulations as defined by the Self-Determination Theory
Measured: Baseline; after club enrollment, in the first two weeks of September 2025, at any given time
Exerciser behavioral regulation; the BREQ-4 questionnaire - 6 months
Exercise behavioral regulations as defined by the Self-Determination Theory
Measured: After 6 months of enrollment; firts two weeks of February, at any given time
Exerciser behavioral regulation; the BREQ-4 questionnaire - 12 months
Exercise behavioral regulations as defined by the Self-Determination Theory
Measured: After 12 months, during the last week of August 2026, at any given time
Exercise enjoyment measured with the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) - Baseline
Exercise enjoyment measured with the the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES)
Measured: Baseline; after club enrollment, in the first two weeks of September 2025, at any given time
Exercise enjoyment measured with the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) - 6 months
Exercise enjoyment measured with the the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES)
Measured: After 6 months of enrollment; firts two weeks of February, at any given time
Exercise enjoyment measured with the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) - 12 months
Exercise enjoyment measured with the the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES)
Measured: After 12 months, during the last week of August 2026, at any given time
Subjective exercise experience - Baseline
The attraction-antipathy and the pleasure-displeasure assessed with the affective exercise experiences questionnaire (AFFEXX)
Measured: Baseline; after club enrollment, in the first two weeks of September 2025, at any given time
Subjective exercise experience - 6 months
The attraction-antipathy and the pleasure-displeasure assessed with the affective exercise experiences questionnaire (AFFEXX)
Measured: After 6 months of enrollment; firts two weeks of February, at any given time
Subjective exercise experience - 12 months
The attraction-antipathy and the pleasure-displeasure assessed with the affective exercise experiences questionnaire (AFFEXX)
Measured: After 12 months, during the last week of August 2026, at any given time
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Sep 2025
- Study start3 Sep 2025
- Primary completion31 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionSep 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Exercise FrequencyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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 N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 117 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Grupo Lusófona
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Diogo Teixeira, Grupo Lusófona
- Investigators
- Diogo S. Teixeira, PhD, Principal investigator, Lusófona University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07156240
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- GrupoLusofona
- Status last verified
- Aug 2025
- First submitted
- 27 Aug 2025
- Last updated
- 22 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Teixeira DS, Ekkekakis P, Elsangedy HM, Bastos V. Impact of two brief behavioral theory-driven professional training programs on fitness center attendance: protocol for pragmatic controlled intervention with random allocation. Front Psychol. 2026 Jul 2;17:1856891. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1856891. eCollection 2026.
PubMed 42459634
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 22 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Impact of Two Short Behavioral Theory-Driven Professional Training Programs Targeting Attendance in Fitness Centers
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07156240
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- GrupoLusofona
- Conditions
- Exercise Frequency
- Keywords
- exercise, affect, motivation, adherence, frequency
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 117 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Grupo LusófonaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 3 Sep 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Sep 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 5 Sep 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Over recent decades, leading theories of human behavior have been applied across various physical activity (PA) settings, yielding mixed results. While they have provided some valuable insights, they have largely failed to achieve one central aim - to help foster sustained, population-wide increases in PA (Albarracín et al., 2024; Ekkekakis \& Zenko, 2016; Pratt et al., 2020; Rhodes et al., 2019). This gap has prompted concern, as these theories, despite some support for their assumptions, have not translated into meaningful and lasting behavior change. Some have criticized them for their overarching dependency on the decisional balance one may perform given the right set of conditions (e.g., supportive social environments; benefits vs. barriers dyad; self-efficacy appraisal) (Conn et al., 2011; Ekkekakis, 2017; Rhodes et al., 2019); others have pointed to an astonishing lack of experimental efforts testing the expression of those theoretical assumptions (Ekkekakis et al., 2019; Manninen et al., 2022; Ntoumanis \& Moller, 2025), leaving researchers, policymakers and stakeholders (and the theories) hostage to cross-sectional and longitudinal evidence. Either way, new approaches and experimental efforts to address the challenge of supporting PA practices are warranted and urgent.
Three of the most studied motivational theories in PA contexts over the last decades are the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1991), Self-Determination Theory (Deci \& Ryan, 1985), and the Transtheoretical Model (Prochaska \& DiClemente, 1984) (Ntoumanis et al., 2018; Simpson et al., 2025). Without minimizing their usefulness and robust body of evidence, they fall into the category of theories that have struggled, to date, to demonstrate moderate or large effects in programs aiming to improve exercise-related behavior based on their assumptions. Naturally, the complexity of each theory or model brings several challenges that undermine the extent to which we can confidently attribute any limited effect observed in an experimental study solely to the theory's inability to express its assumptions. As such, despite decades of research grounded in several (conceptually) well-established behavioral theories, there remains a need to test their assumptions through experimental approaches and, complementarily - or if necessary, alternatively - to explore new avenues for inquiry and theoretical development (Simpson et al., 2025).
To this end, the present study will address this issue experimentally using two theoretical approaches. The first approach is grounded in a well-established theory of human motivation, Self-Determination Theory (SDT), which offers numerous recommendations for its potential application, particularly in promoting positive impacts on exercise adherence. The second approach is structured in alignment with the general principles of hedonic theory, a recently revitalized approach to the understanding of Human behavior, focusing on the promotion of pleasurable responses during exercise.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Control group | Placebo comparator | Other: Control groupFITT-VP 2025 training course |
| Experimental I (SDT) | Experimental | Behavioral: Experimental I (SDT)SDT-based training course |
| Experimental II (hedonic) | Experimental | Behavioral: Experimental II (Hedonic)Hedonic-based training course |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Professionals
- All exercise professionals in the three clubs
- Exercisers
- > 18 years old
- All exercisers enrolled in the three clubs
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Expulsion of the clubs due to internal rules violation or other decision independent of this study
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental I (SDT)SDT-based course aiming to inmprove professionals operational interpersonal qualities | Behavioural | Experimental I (SDT) |
| Experimental II (Hedonic)Hedonic-based course aiming to inmprove professionals operational interpersonal qualities | Behavioural | Experimental II (hedonic) |
| Control groupFITT-VP bases course aiming to improve exercise prescription | Other | Control group |
Primary outcome
Club attendance
Time frame: Collected on the last day of each month, and averaged after a one-year period (September 1st to August 31st)
Club attendance during a one-year period collected with the turstile digital system
19 secondary outcomes
Attrition rate
Time frame: Number of total cancellations or dropouts for each month, collected through the turstile digital record and club payment system, summed throughout 12 months
Exercise habit measured with the Self-reported behavioral automaticity index (SRBAI) - Baseline
Time frame: Baseline; after club enrollment, in the first two weeks of September 2025, at any given time
Exercise habit measured with the Self-reported behavioral automaticity index (SRBAI) - 6 months
Time frame: After 6 months of enrollment; first two weeks of February, at any given time
Exercise habit measured with the Self-reported behavioral automaticity index (SRBAI) - 12 months
Time frame: After 12 months, during the last week of August 2026, at any given time
Initial behavioral intention to continue exercising; the intention to exercise questionnaire - Baseline
Time frame: Baseline; after club enrollment, in the first two weeks of September 2025, at any given time
Behavioral intention to continue exercising; the intention to exercise questionnaire - 6 months
Time frame: After 6 months of enrollment; first two weeks of February, at any given time
Behavioral intention to continue exercising; the intention to exercise questionnaire - 12 months
Time frame: After 12 months, during the last week of August 2026, at any given time
Exerciser basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration; the BPNSFS questionnaire - Baseline
Time frame: Baseline; after club enrollment, in the first two weeks of September 2025, at any given time
Exerciser basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration; the BPNSFS questionnaire - 6 months
Time frame: After 6 months of enrollment; firts two weeks of February, at any given time
Exerciser basic psychological needs satisfaction and frustration; the BPNSFS questionnaire - 12 months
Time frame: After 12 months, during the last week of August 2026, at any given time
Exerciser behavioral regulation; the BREQ-4 questionnaire - Baseline
Time frame: Baseline; after club enrollment, in the first two weeks of September 2025, at any given time
Exerciser behavioral regulation; the BREQ-4 questionnaire - 6 months
Time frame: After 6 months of enrollment; firts two weeks of February, at any given time
Exerciser behavioral regulation; the BREQ-4 questionnaire - 12 months
Time frame: After 12 months, during the last week of August 2026, at any given time
Exercise enjoyment measured with the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) - Baseline
Time frame: Baseline; after club enrollment, in the first two weeks of September 2025, at any given time
Exercise enjoyment measured with the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) - 6 months
Time frame: After 6 months of enrollment; firts two weeks of February, at any given time
Exercise enjoyment measured with the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) - 12 months
Time frame: After 12 months, during the last week of August 2026, at any given time
Subjective exercise experience - Baseline
Time frame: Baseline; after club enrollment, in the first two weeks of September 2025, at any given time
Subjective exercise experience - 6 months
Time frame: After 6 months of enrollment; firts two weeks of February, at any given time
Subjective exercise experience - 12 months
Time frame: After 12 months, during the last week of August 2026, at any given time
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 22 Jan 2026.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42459634Teixeira DS, Ekkekakis P, Elsangedy HM, Bastos V. Impact of two brief behavioral theory-driven professional training programs on fitness center attendance: protocol for pragmatic controlled intervention with random allocation. Front Psychol. 2026 Jul 2;17:1856891. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1856891. eCollection 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Diogo S. Teixeira, PhD principal investigator
Lusófona University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Experimental I (SDT) and Experimental II (Hedonic) in people with Exercise Frequency, run by Grupo Lusófona at 1 site in Portugal.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. 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: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 Jan 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 Portugal. 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. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
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?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Club attendance (time frame: Collected on the last day of each month, and averaged after a one-year period (September 1st to August 31st)). 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 NCT07156240, 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 22 Jan 2026.