Smartphone app program to help rural adults stick with exercise
Official title: Improving Exercise Adherence With App Technology for At-Risk Adults Living in Rural Kansas and Nebraska
Run by Creighton University · NCT07171255 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will try a smartphone app to help middle-aged and older adults in rural Kansas and Nebraska keep up with an exercise program aimed at lowering Alzheimer's and related dementia risk.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 40 Years to 85 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 54 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Creighton University Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Emporia, Kansas and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | August 22, 2025 |
| Main results expected | June 30, 2026 |
| Study ends | June 30, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | September 12, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07171255 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are 40–85 years old, underactive, live in rural Kansas or Nebraska by RUCA codes, can use a smartphone, speak English, and have no major cognitive impairment or medical contraindication to exercise.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with significant cognitive impairment, contraindications to high-intensity exercise, recent orthopedic surgery, no smartphone access, or who do not live in the designated rural areas are unlikely to benefit from this program.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The program delivers RemoteEx+ through a smartphone application that provides video demonstrations, structured workout plans, motivational messages, and weekly dementia-risk reduction education. The study uses a pre/post design to measure exercise adherence, self-efficacy for exercise, enjoyment, and quality of life before and after the intervention. Participants are 40–85 years old, underactive, live in rural areas by RUCA codes, own a smartphone, and must not have significant cognitive impairment or contraindications to high-intensity exercise. Enrollment is coordinated through Emporia State University (Kansas) and Creighton University (Nebraska) while the intervention is delivered remotely.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the app could increase regular exercise among rural adults and potentially lower their risk of cognitive decline while improving well-being.
How similar studies have gone: Previous smartphone and remotely delivered exercise programs have shown modest improvements in activity levels and self-efficacy, but applying a tailored RemoteEx+ app to rural adults at elevated dementia risk is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 40-85 years * Characterized as underactive by the Telephone Assessment of Physical Activity (TAPA)50 * Self-reported proficiency in English * Own a smartphone and willing to download an application * Primary care provider clearance to participate for those who do not pass the PAR-Q+51 * Live in a rural area (Rural-Urban Commuting Area \[RUCA\] Codes) 52 Exclusion Criteria: * Contraindications to high-intensity exercise * Cognitive impairment (\<19 on the Telephone Montreal Cognitive Assessment \[MoCA\]) * Neurodegenerative or acute neurological diagnoses (e.g., Parkinson's disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury) * Orthopedic surgery or injuries in the last 6 months
Where it's running
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Emporia State University
Emporia, Kansas, United States Recruiting -
Creighton University
Omaha, Nebraska, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Rashelle Hoffman, PT, DPT, PhD
- Email: rashellehoffman@creighton.edu
- Phone: 402-546-8997
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.