Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Sep 6;6(9):e38262.
doi: 10.2196/38262.

A Method to Deliver Automated and Tailored Intervention Content: 24-month Clinical Trial

Hailey N Miller  1   2 , Corrine I Voils  3   4 , Kate A Cronin  4 , Elizabeth Jeanes  4 , Jeffrey Hawley  5 , Laura S Porter  1   6 , Rachel R Adler  7 , Whitney Sharp  3 , Samantha Pabich  4   8 , Kara L Gavin  3   4 , Megan A Lewis  9 , Heather M Johnson  10   11 , William S Yancy Jr  12 , Kristen E Gray  13 , Ryan J Shaw  1
Affiliations

A Method to Deliver Automated and Tailored Intervention Content: 24-month Clinical Trial

Hailey N Miller et al. JMIR Form Res. .

Abstract

Background: The use of digital technologies and software allows for new opportunities to communicate and engage with research participants over time. When software is coupled with automation, we can engage with research participants in a reliable and affordable manner. Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap), a browser-based software, has the capability to send automated text messages. This feature can be used to automate delivery of tailored intervention content to research participants in interventions, offering the potential to reduce costs and improve accessibility and scalability.

Objective: This study aimed to describe the development and use of 2 REDCap databases to deliver automated intervention content and communication to index participants and their partners (dyads) in a 2-arm, 24-month weight management trial, Partner2Lose.

Methods: Partner2Lose randomized individuals with overweight or obesity and cohabitating with a partner to a weight management intervention alone or with their partner. Two databases were developed to correspond to 2 study phases: one for weight loss initiation and one for weight loss maintenance and reminders. The weight loss initiation database was programmed to send participants (in both arms) and their partners (partner-assisted arm) tailored text messages during months 1-6 of the intervention to reinforce class content and support goal achievement. The weight maintenance and reminder database was programmed to send maintenance-related text messages to each participant (both arms) and their partners (partner-assisted arm) during months 7-18. It was also programmed to send text messages to all participants and partners over the course of the 24-month trial to remind them of group classes, dietary recall and physical activity tracking for assessments, and measurement visits. All text messages were delivered via Twilio and were unidirectional.

Results: Five cohorts, comprising 231 couples, were consented and randomized in the Partner2Lose trial. The databases will send 53,518 automated, tailored text messages during the trial, significantly reducing the need for staff to send and manage intervention content over 24 months. The cost of text messaging will be approximately US $450. Thus far, there is a 0.004% known error rate in text message delivery.

Conclusions: Our trial automated the delivery of tailored intervention content and communication using REDCap. The approach described provides a framework that can be used in future behavioral health interventions to create an accessible, reliable, and affordable method for intervention delivery and engagement that requires minimal trial-specific resources and personnel time.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03801174; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03801174?term=NCT03801174.

Keywords: REDCap; automated text message; automation; clinical trial; digital health; digital health intervention; digital technology; electronic data capture; engagement; health database; health intervention; text message; weight management.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Automated Survey Invitations in REDCap used to send text messages related to goals in Partner2Lose.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Partner2Lose weight loss initiation database.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Partner2Lose text message delivery log in Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Mobile Fact Sheet. Pew Research Center. 2021. Apr 07, [2021-06-21]. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/mobile/
    1. Nahum-Shani I, Smith SN, Spring BJ, Collins LM, Witkiewitz K, Tewari A, Murphy SA. Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions (JITAIs) in mobile health: key components and design principles for ongoing health behavior support. Ann Behav Med. 2018 May 18;52(6):446–462. doi: 10.1007/s12160-016-9830-8. https://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/27663578 10.1007/s12160-016-9830-8 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Naughton F, Cooper S, Foster K, Emery J, Leonardi-Bee J, Sutton S, Jones M, Ussher M, Whitemore R, Leighton M, Montgomery A, Parrott S, Coleman T. Large multi-centre pilot randomized controlled trial testing a low-cost, tailored, self-help smoking cessation text message intervention for pregnant smokers (MiQuit) Addiction. 2017 Jul 02;112(7):1238–1249. doi: 10.1111/add.13802. https://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/28239919 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Armanasco AA, Miller YD, Fjeldsoe BS, Marshall AL. Preventive health behavior change text message interventions: a meta-analysis. Am J Prev Med. 2017 Mar;52(3):391–402. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2016.10.042.S0749-3797(16)30586-4 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Marks RG, Conlon M, Ruberg SJ. Paradigm shifts in clinical trials enabled by information technology. Stat Med. 2001 Sep 15;20(17-18):2683–2696. doi: 10.1002/sim.736.10.1002/sim.736 - DOI - PubMed

Associated data