Randomized Clinical Trial to Improve Mobility After Hospitalization

The MOVE ON Trial: A Randomized Trial of Gamification and Coaching to Improve Mobility After Hospitalization

The objective of this study is to test the feasibility of using behavioral economic interventions (gamification with social incentives) to increase physical activity after hospital discharge to reduce incident mobility disability among older adults.

MOVE ON is a 2-arm, randomized trial enrolling older adults 50 years or older with a recent hospitalization for hypertension, diabetes, and mild-moderate heart failure. The 52 week trial compares a control group wearing a wearable activity tracker to the intervention group that uses the same device and receives a supportive social incentive-based gamification intervention. The primary goal is to increase physical activity after discharge from the hospital to reduce incident mobility disability associated with acute illness and to reduce acute and post-acute care utilization.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 50 years or older
• Admitted to the University of Pennsylvania Health System acute care hospital (Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Pennsylvania Hospital, Lancaster General Health, Chester County Hospital, or Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center) and discharged to home
• Able to ambulate independently

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to provide informed consent
• Does not have daily access to a smartphone compatible with the wearable device and is not willing to use a device that the investigators can provide participants' with
• Already enrolled in another physical activity study
• Low mobility score indicating that the patient is not able to walk distances greater than 1000 steps/day independently
• Any other medical conditions that would prohibit participation in a 6-month physical activity program
• Unable to complete the baseline period (must have at least 4 out of 7 days of step data with minimum step count of 1000 steps/day)
• Not willing to use the wearable device for the full duration of the study
• Enrolled in hospice