AGING AND HEALTH CLINICAL RESEARCH

Steps For Change Study

Steps for Change Study is closed for recruitment

The Steps for Change Trial was the first randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects of adding a participant-engaged citizen science program to a standard physical activity program on short- and long-term physical activity levels.

The study recruited 300 insufficiently active adults aged 40 years and over living in or around ten affordable senior public housing settings in the San Francisco Bay Area. The housing sites were randomized in pairs to one of two study programs that lasted 24 months.

All ten housing sites received an evidence-based, person-level physical activity program (Active Living Every Day [ALED]) for the first six months of the study. After that, half of the sites were randomly assigned to receive the Our Voice program.  As part of this program, participants received introductory information and discussion on environmental factors impacting their physical activity. Participants in this program were then trained on how to use an easy-to-use mobile app, the Discovery Tool, to collect aspects of their local built environment that made it easy or challenging for them to walk. The participants then used their own data to identify aspects that could be improved in their community and activate change. The other half of the housing sites in the non-Our Voice arm received an evidence-supported, group-based “healthy aging” health education program.

Methods Paper: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34371162/

The ON THE MOVE with Stanford Study

This study is closed for recruitment

On the Move with Stanford Study was personalized, conveniently phone-based study designed to help Latinos practice daily habits to improve their healthy lifestyle habits and reduce the risk of chronic diseases among mid-life and older adults. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the three programs the study offers:

1. A text messaging program offering nutrition advice,
2. Phone calls from a trained health advisor offering physical activity advice or
3. A text messaging program offering physical activity advice.

Participation in the study lasted 18 months.

Methods Paper: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32659437/

The COMPASS Study

This study is closed for recruitment

The major objective of the COMPASS Study was to develop and test programs that provide support and advice to encourage Latino adults to be more physically active over the span of 12 months. Participants were randomized to either a culturaly appropriate and personally tailored Virtual Advisor program, or a similarly tailored Lay Advisor program. 

Learn more about our Virtual Advisor, CARMEN

The HAM Study

This study is closed for recruitment

The major objective of the HAM study was about bringing affordable care to the long-term homecare and to empower seniors and their caregivers with tools that promote better communication and safety monitoring.

Funded by the National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Health, the device, called CosmosVue, a new communication and monitoring tool, in the form of an ordinary-looking pair of eyeglasses, piloted at HARTS Lab.

CosmosVue, has an entirely voice-activated interface. The user simply makes verbal requests and the device responds with actions. CosmosVue can do tasks such as make calls, send messages, call 911 if the senior needs help, monitor activity, track location with onboard GPS and monitor heart rate.

LIFE Study (Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders) 

This study is closed for recruitment

The LIFE Study was a Phase 3, multi-center randomized controlled trial that compared a moderate-intensity physical activity program to a successful aging health education program in sedentary older persons that were at risk of disability. The primary aim was to assess the long-term effects of the interventions on major mobility disability.

Secondary aims focused on assessing the relative effects of the interventions on the following secondary outcomes: cognitive function; serious fall injuries; persistent mobility disability; disability in activities of daily living; and cost-effectiveness.

CITIZEN SCIENTISTS APPROACHES (UNITED STATES)

NEAAT: Neighborhood Eating and Activity Advocacy Team Study

This study is closed for recruitment

In the NEAAT study, ethnically diverse, low income, older adults were empowered to identify features of their neighborhood environment that helped or hindered active living and healthy eating. The older adults prioritized issues to address, connected with local policy makers, and worked collaboratively to achieve change. We have utilized this citizen scientist approach in numerious studies.

Stanford Healthy Neighborhood Discovery Tool

This study is closed for recruitment

Subsequent to the NEAAT project, HARTS researchers developed a tablet-based mobile application that can be used by community residents, or citizen scientists, to conduct neighborhood environment assessments.

Nuestra Voz

This study is closed for recruitment

The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility and utility of utilizing the Stanford Healthy Neighborhoods Discovery Tool in Mexico (Cuernavaca) to assess features of residents neighborhood built environment that promote or hinder physical activity. We used the citizen scientist approach to train community residents to identify and prioritize neighborhood environmental issues and to communicate their findings with key local stakeholders to seek solutions.

FEAST: Food Environment Assessment using the Stanford Tool

This study is closed for recruitment

The FEAST Study utilized the citizen scientists approach to explore North San Mateo County older adults' food environments using photos and audio recordings captured via the Stanford Healthy Neighborhood Discovery Tool. Through this process, older adults identified and learned about factors that make it easier or harder for them to access, choose, and buy, healthful foods.

Farmers Market

This study is closed for recruitment

The Discovery Tool was used by farmer's market shoppers in Arizona to better understand factors that enhanced or detracted from their shopping experiences. This information can be used to target informations to increase farmer's market utilization, community-building and social marketing strategies.

Adaptation for Use in Rural Environments. We have collaborated with researchers at Cornell University to test the use of the Discovery Tool by older adults living in rural communities in upstate New York.

CITIZEN SCIENTISTS APPROACHES (INTERNATIONAL)

Nuestra Voz Mexico

This study is closed for recruitment

The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility and utility of utilizing the Stanford Healthy Neighborhoods Discovery Tool in Mexico (Cuernavaca) to assess features of residents neighborhood built environment that promote or hinder physical activity.

Discovery Tool - Israel

This study is closed for recruitment

We are collaborating with representatives from ESHEL, a non-governmental organization focusing on programs and services for older adults and with researchers at Haifa University. They are working with a population of older adults to test the use of the Discovery Tool in three cities in Israel.

MOBILE HEALTH

The MILES Study

This study is closed for recruitment

The objective of The MILES Study was to compare different "Smartphone"
applications in promoting health and wellness. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four "Smartphone" programs promoting more physical activity, less sitting or healthier eating. This program was designed for sedentary adults aged 45 and older to find ways in becoming healthier. The MILES Study is now closed to recruitment.

The Mi Salud Study

This study is closed for recruitment

The MILES smartphone applications were translated into Spanish and adapted for use by Latinos.

COMMUNITY FOOD PROJECTS

Peer-led Produce Markets

This study is closed for recruitment

We evaluated older adults perceptions about peer-led, subsidized markets located in non-traditional settings (community centers and housing sites) in the San Francisco Bay Area.