Nudge-Based Interventions on Health Promotion Activity Among Very Old People: A Pragmatic, 2-Arm, Participant-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objectives: Social distancing due to the coronavirus disease 2019 crisis can exacerbate inactivity in older adults. Novel approaches for older adults must be designed to improve their activity and maintain their health. This study examined the effect of nudge-based behavioral interventions on health-promoting activities in older adults in Japan.

Design: Two-arm, participant-blinded randomized controlled trial.

Setting and participants: Japanese continuing care retirement community residents (n = 99, median age 82 years, 73% women) INTERVENTION: Two-step nudge-based behavioral intervention promoting tablet usage.

Methods: We enrolled participants from an ongoing Internet of Things project in a retirement community in Japan. For the health promotion program, tablet computers were installed in a common area for participants to receive information about their health. The intervention group received a 1-time loss-emphasized nudge (first step), followed by asking questions about when they planned to use it again (second step). The control group used the tablet computers without being asked those questions. The main outcome was the participants' mean daily tablet activity every 4 weeks for the next 16 weeks.

Results: Ninety-nine individuals were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. The rate ratios for tablet use were significantly higher in the intervention group in the second and third periods. The subgroup analysis showed that these effects were largely attributable to men.

Conclusions and implications: Nudge-based interventions can be effective in promoting activities for older adults, especially older men. The finding of this study indicates a possible intervention to engage people who are socially isolated.

Keywords: 80 and over; COVID pandemic; Nudge; RCT; activity promotion; aged.