CompletedNot Applicable

Intervention to Improve 24-Hour Movement Behaviors in University Students

China50 participantsStarted 2023-09-15

Plain-language summary

This study examined whether a personalized, WeChat-based behavioural intervention could help improve how university students allocate their time across daily movement behaviours, including physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep. University students were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. Participants in the intervention group received individualized guidance, feedback, and behaviour-change support delivered through WeChat. The intervention was designed to help participants develop more balanced daily movement behaviour patterns within a 24-hour day. Participants in the control group continued their usual routines without receiving intervention materials. The primary outcome of the study was the time-use composition of 24-hour movement behaviours, reflecting how daily time was distributed across physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep. Psychological factors related to behaviour regulation, such as motivation, planning, and habit, were also assessed. The results of this study aim to inform the development of theory-informed, personalized digital interventions that support healthier daily movement behaviour patterns among university students.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 25 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria

. aged 18-25 years;
. no severe physical or psychological conditions, no contraindications to exercise, and no major surgery in the past six months;
. willingness to wear an accelerometer and participate in the online intervention;
. failure to meet at least one recommendation of the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Adults (18-64 years) for PA, sedentary behaviour, or sleep -

Exclusion criteria

. Presence of severe physical or psychological conditions that could limit safe participation in physical activity.
. Medical contraindications to exercise or a history of major surgery within the past six months.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Time allocation of 24-hour movement behaviour

Timeframe: Baseline, Week 8 (post-intervention), and Week 16 (follow-up)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07393698

SponsorSouth China Normal University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2024-04-30

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Physical Activity trials