Mobile health program to boost activity for pulmonary arterial hypertension
The MObile Health InterVEntion in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (MOVE PAH) Study
This program uses a Fitbit and personalized smart text messages to help people with pulmonary arterial hypertension increase daily steps and feel better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11167471 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you'll wear a Fitbit that tracks your daily steps while the program sends personalized motivational text messages based on your activity. Messages are automated and tailored to your progress, and your daily step target increases by about 20% every four weeks. The team ran a 12-week randomized pilot where people receiving the texts walked about 1,000 more steps per day than usual care. This R33 phase expands that work to test the remote program's durability and scalability for people with PAH.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension who can walk, have a smartphone, and are willing to wear a Fitbit are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who are non-ambulatory, have unstable or advanced cardiac disease that makes activity unsafe, or do not have smartphone access are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could help people with PAH walk more and improve quality of life without requiring inpatient rehabilitation.
How similar studies have performed: A prior pilot of this same mobile text-plus-Fitbit approach increased steps by about 1,000 per day, and other rehabilitation programs have improved six-minute walk distance and quality of life in PAH.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, United States
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brittain, Evan L — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Brittain, Evan L
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.