title: Design and baseline characteristics of participants in the Enhancing Physical Activity and Reducing Obesity through Smartcare and Financial Incentives (EPAROSFI): A pilot randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An activity tracker combined with a smartphone application (smartcare) may help people track and receive feedback on their own activities. However, activity trackers themselves generally fail to drive long-term sustained engagement for a majority of users. One potential strategy for increasing the effectiveness of smartcare is through the use of incentives. The purpose of this pilot randomized trial is to test the feasibility of our intervention and to assess the extent to which smartcare with or without financial incentives can increase physical activity levels and reduce weight over a 12-week period.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study employs a three-arm, open-label randomized controlled trial design: control (standard basic education), smartcare, and smartcare plus financial incentives. Male university students with body mass index ≥ 27 are enrolled. Our primary and secondary endpoints are the amount of weight loss and the level of physical activity respectively. The weight loss goal is 3% of baseline at week 4, 5% at week 8, and 7% at week 12. The daily physical activity goal was individualized according to the participants' weight. Process incentives are accumulated when participants met daily physical activity goals, and outcome incentives are provided when they met weight reduction goals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the global increase in physical inactivity and obesity, there is a growing need for effective, scalable, and affordable health promotion strategies. Our proof-of-concept study will provide the evidence for the combination of rising health promotion technology of activity trackers and smartphone applications with the modern concept of behavioral economics using financial incentives.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital & College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Center for Health Promotion & Optimal Aging, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea; Laboratory of Health Promotion and Health Behavior, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Wook
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Seoul National University Health Service Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hee-Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Joh
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital & College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Laboratory of Health Promotion and Health Behavior, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Moon
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyuk Tae
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital & College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Center for Health Promotion & Optimal Aging, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea; Laboratory of Health Promotion and Health Behavior, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyejin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital & College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeyeon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital & College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital & College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Won Joo
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital & College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Center for Health Promotion & Optimal Aging, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea; Laboratory of Health Promotion and Health Behavior, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital & College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Center for Health Promotion & Optimal Aging, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea; Laboratory of Health Promotion and Health Behavior, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address: belong@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: BeLong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise; D000072936:Fitness Trackers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063731:Mobile Applications; D009042:Motivation; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D000068997:Smartphone; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Activity tracker; Financial incentives; Obesity; Physical activity; Smartphone