mActivemActive: A Blinded, Randomized mHealth Trial of Digital Activity Tracking and Smart Texting to Promote Physical Activity

Using an innovative, convenient, mHealth trial design, this pilot study aims to test the feasibility of a seamless model of information flow integrating digital activity tracker information with a mobile phone texting system to deliver a technology-enhanced intervention that does not require in-person follow-up. The investigators hypothesize that: 1. individuals overestimate their physical activity, especially that done at work. 2. biofeedback from an activity tracker can increase physical activity via increasing self-awareness. 3. "smart" text message feedback can increase physical activity via personalizing health coaching. Digitalized activity tracking will use the Fitbug Orb, which syncs via Bluetooth with one's smartphone. It is a display-free triaxial accelerometer, allowing one to blind participants to numeric feedback. Text messaging will use Reify Health's "smart" platform for personalized, interactive texting by an automated and repeatable algorithm. Texting will be informed by real-time activity information. Potential advantages of the trial strategy include elimination of attendance at in-person sessions, personalization of health coaching, more continuous patient contact; inexpensive intervention, the ultimate ability to scale our intervention to larger target populations. After initial pilot trial completion, additional study will include long-term physical activity follow-up of participants and focus groups.