NCT05194228: Exemplar

Exemplar: Determining the Best Practices for EMA Studies

Completed NA Last updated 10 January 2023

What this trial tests

NA trial testing Ecologial Momentary Assessment settings in Ecological Momentary Assessment Best Practices in 416 participants. Completed in 26 October 2022.

Timeline

30 November 2021

Primary endpoint
26 October 2022

26 October 2022

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	University of Oklahoma
Phase	NA
Status	Completed
Study type	INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation	randomized
Design	factorial
Masking	none
Primary purpose	other
Enrollment	416
Start date	30 November 2021
Primary completion	26 October 2022
Estimated completion	26 October 2022
Sites	1 location across United States

Drugs / interventions tested

• Ecologial Momentary Assessment settings

Conditions studied

• Ecological Momentary Assessment Best Practices — all drugs for Ecological Momentary Assessment Best Practices →

Sponsor

University of Oklahoma

Who can join

Adults 18 to 99, any sex, with Ecological Momentary Assessment Best Practices. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is a measurement methodology that utilizes the repeated collection of real-time data on participants' behavior and experience in their natural environment. While EMA allows researchers to gain valuable insights into dynamic behavioral processes, the need for frequent self-report can be burdensome and disruptive to participants. Compliance with EMA protocols is important for accurate, unbiased sampling, yet there is no "gold standard" for EMA study design. In the present study, the investigators aim to use a factorial design to identify the optimal components, or combinations of components, for achieving the highest compliance rates for smartphone-based ecological momentary assessments (EMAs). Participants will be randomized into 1 of 32 conditions in a 2x2x2x2x2 design (i.e., number of questions per EMA survey \[15 vs. 25\] x number of EMAs per day \[2 vs. 4\] x EMA prompting schedule \[random vs. fixed times\]) x payment type \[per EMA vs. based on percentage of EMAs completed\] x order of EMA item question types \[i.e., slider type first 2 weeks vs. Likert-type questions first 2 weeks\]). All participants will complete EMAs for 4 weeks. The effect of each factor on EMA compliance will be examined, as well as the effects of interactions on EMA compliance. The investigators will also examine within and between-subjects factors that influence response rates, and 2) contextual features such as environment and mood that may be associated with better compliance and participant engagement. The results of this study will have broad applications for developing best practices guidelines for future studies utilizing EMA methodologies.

Publications & conference data

5 peer-reviewed publications reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

1. Mobile Health Interventions for Substance Use Disorders.
   Businelle MS, Perski O, Hébert ET, Kendzor DE. · · 2024 · cited 30× · PMID 38346293 · DOI 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-080822-042337
2. Investigating Best Practices for Ecological Momentary Assessment: Nationwide Factorial Experiment.
   Businelle MS, Hébert ET, Shi D, Benson L, et al · · 2024 · cited 16× · PMID 39133915 · DOI 10.2196/50275
3. Detecting Deception and Ensuring Data Integrity in a Nationwide mHealth Randomized Controlled Trial: Factorial Design Survey Study.
   Kezbers KM, Robertson MC, Hébert ET, Montgomery A, et al · · 2025 · cited 4× · PMID 39874573 · DOI 10.2196/66384
4. Associations between cannabis use and same-day health and substance use behaviors.
   La Torre I, Hébert ET, Kezbers KM, Walters D, et al · · 2025 · cited 3× · PMID 39756126 · DOI 10.1016/j.addbeh.2024.108239
5. Effects of Ecological Momentary Assessment Prompting Schedule on Affect Measurement Variability and Associations With Next-Day Health Behaviors.
   Langford JS, Hébert ET, Jones DR, Tonkin SS, et al · · 2026 · PMID 42145270 · DOI 10.1177/10731911261444953