Gamified Exercise for Peripheral Artery Disease

(GAMEPAD Trial)

Overseen by Alexander Fanaroff, MD, MHS

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

A randomized trial of a gamification-enhanced home-based walking program compared with a standard home-based walking program in patients with intermittent claudication. Patients will be provided with a Fitbit device and set an exercise goal. Over the next 16 weeks, patients will receive text message reminders to exercise and daily steps will be tracked. Half of patients will be randomized to a gamified interface that leverages behavioral economic principles to encourage exercise.

Research Team

Alexander Fanaroff, MD, MHS

Principal Investigator

University of Pennsylvania

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults over 18 with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), evidenced by specific medical tests or procedures. Participants must own a smartphone or tablet and not be in any supervised exercise program for PAD, have a life expectancy of more than 6 months, walk less than 7500 steps/day during baseline data collection, and cannot have critical limb issues or planned leg surgeries.

Inclusion Criteria

At least 18 years of age

Owns a smartphone or tablet operating the iOS or Android operating system

You have a condition called peripheral artery disease, which can be diagnosed through specific tests showing blockages in the arteries of your legs or a history of treatment for this condition.

Exclusion Criteria

You are currently in a supervised exercise program for patients with PAD.

You are not expected to live for more than 6 months.

You walk more than 7500 steps each day during the initial data collection period.

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Gamification and Social Incentives (Behavioural Intervention)

Trial Overview The study compares a standard home-based walking program with one enhanced by gamification techniques to encourage exercise in PAD patients. Participants will use Fitbits to track their activity and receive text reminders. Half will experience the gamified system designed using behavioral economics principles.

Participant Groups

Group I: Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants have a 4-week ramp-up towards their step goal and are asked to maintain the goal for the rest of the study. They receive daily texts informing them if they met their step goal and biweekly texts to encourage walking for exercise. Participants are entered into a game. Each week they receive 70 points. If the step goal was met they keep their points. If not, they lose 10 points. At the end of the week if they have at least 40 points they move up a level. If not, they drop a level. Participants start in the middle of 5 levels. Participants choose a support partner who gets a weekly email with the participant's progress. We hold a 3-way phone call with the participant and partner to discuss ways they can help the participant meet their goal. Every 8 weeks, we have a follow up call if the participant is stuck in a lower level and restart them back at the middle level. In the follow-up period, participants continue to get a daily text stating if they met their step goal.

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Via the Way to Health platform, all patients will receive daily text messages that inform them of their previous day's step count for 24 weeks.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Pennsylvania

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,118

Recruited

45,270,000+

Dr. Joan Lau

University of Pennsylvania

Chief Executive Officer since 2020

PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, MBA from the Wharton School of Business, BS in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Robert Iannone

University of Pennsylvania

Chief Medical Officer since 2019

MD from Yale University, MSCE from the University of Pennsylvania