NCT03169179

Physical Activity Wearables in the Police Force: The PAW-Force Trial

Completed NA Last updated 30 May 2019

What this trial tests

NA trial testing Fitbit and Bupa Boost app in Physical Activity in 182 participants. Completed in 20 April 2018.

Timeline

19 April 2017

Primary endpoint
28 March 2018

20 April 2018

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	University of Exeter
Phase	NA
Status	Completed
Study type	INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation	na
Design	single group
Masking	none
Primary purpose	other
Enrollment	182
Start date	19 April 2017
Primary completion	28 March 2018
Estimated completion	20 April 2018
Sites	2 locations across United Kingdom

Drugs / interventions tested

• Fitbit and Bupa Boost app

Conditions studied

• Physical Activity — all drugs for Physical Activity →
• Health Behavior — all drugs for Health Behavior →

Sponsor

University of Exeter

Who can join

18 and older, any sex, with Physical Activity or Health Behavior. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

Policing is an increasingly sedentary occupation and high levels of physical and psychological morbidities are reported by officers and staff. Wearable fitness technology may be a feasible intervention to promote physical activity and improve health.

This study aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of introducing wearable fitness technology (Fitbit™ activity monitors linked to the 'Bupa Boost' smartphone app) as a motivator for increasing physical activity within the police force. Additional aims are to and to assess the potential impact of the intervention on physical activity, sedentary time, health and wellbeing, stress, sickness absence and self-perceived productivity, and to explore which motivational strategies (e.g. individual goal-setting vs. social competitions) are most acceptable and potentially effective and for which groups of staff.

A single-group, before and after, mixed methods exploratory trial will be conducted. Approximately 180 police officers and staff from two sites (Plymouth Basic Command Unit and North Dorset) will be recruited to take part. Participants will use the technology for 12 weeks initially followed by a further five months of optional use. A combination of questionnaire surveys, interviews and analysis of staff absence records will be used.

Data will be collected pre-intervention, mid-intervention (6 weeks), post-intervention (12 weeks) and follow-up (8 months). Primary outcomes are change in objectively recorded step count, self-reported physical activity and sedentary time. Secondary outcomes include general health and wellbeing, perceived stress and productivity, sickness absence, engagement with the intervention and perceived usability and usefulness.

This study will add to our understanding of the feasibility and acceptability of mobile fitness technology in a specific workplace setting, and inform a potential larger trial within the police force.

Publications & conference data

1 peer-reviewed publication reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

1. The Physical Activity Wearables in the Police Force (PAW-Force) study: acceptability and impact.
   Buckingham SA, Morrissey K, Williams AJ, Price L, et al · · 2020 · cited 10× · PMID 33143665 · DOI 10.1186/s12889-020-09776-1