Using a Smartphone App to Promote Physical Activity for Osteoarthritis Patients in Luxembourg

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to promote physical activity in people with osteoarthritis and to test how acceptable and feasible using a mobile app is for this purpose. The study targets osteoarthritis patients living or working in Luxembourg, focusing on how knowledge about physical activity can encourage lifestyle changes. It is a feasibility pilot study involving 150 participants who will all receive the intervention and act as their own controls. The intervention uses a specially developed smartphone app called PIANISSIMO. Participants will receive daily notifications about physical activity and sedentary behavior, except on Sundays. Each week, they will set a daily step goal for the following week through the app. The app collects daily step counts continuously and prompts participants to complete a weekly pain questionnaire. The intervention lasts for 6 months, followed by a 6-month follow-up period during which step counts and pain questionnaires continue without active intervention. Participants will provide consent and enter personal and health information, including osteoarthritis pain details and physical activity history. They will respond to weekly pain questionnaires and monthly functional status assessments through the app. At the end of the 6-month intervention, a questionnaire will evaluate the apps acceptability. Researchers will track app usage, questionnaire response rates, physical activity levels, and the relationship between pain and activity throughout the study. The total study duration for each participant is 12 months.

Physical Activity Promotion in Osteoarthritis Patients