Vibrating watch reminder to help hospitalized older adults stay active
Official title: Effect of Using a Reminder to Encourage Patients to be Active During Their Hospital Stay : a Multicenter Randomised Controlled Double Blind Study.
Run by Groupe Hospitalier du Havre · NCT07492745 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will try a vibrating watch to remind frail inpatients aged 50 and older to walk or do strengthening exercises during their hospital stay.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 50 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 204 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Groupe Hospitalier du Havre Academic / other |
| Locations | 4 sites (Brussels and 3 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 19, 2025 |
| Main results expected | October 1, 2028 |
| Study ends | January 1, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | October 7, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07492745 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are inpatients aged 50 or older with a Clinical Frailty Scale ≥4 who can stand up unaided, communicate and consent, and are expected to stay at least five days without contraindications to activity.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients unlikely to benefit include those with short expected stays (<5 days), medical contraindications to activity, terminal illness, scheduled surgery, pregnant women, or those who cannot understand French.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This interventional study compares a vibrating reminder device given to inpatients with usual care to encourage daily walking and simple strengthening exercises. Eligible patients are adults aged 50+ with a Clinical Frailty Scale score of 4 or higher who can get up from a chair and communicate with staff. Participants will receive the vibrating reminder during their admission and outcomes will focus on physical activity, functional capacity, and independence at discharge and in the early post-discharge period. The device is intended as a low-cost, easy-to-implement way to increase mobility without adding staff.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the reminder could reduce in-hospital functional decline, preserve muscle strength, and help patients leave the hospital more independent.
How similar studies have gone: Walking interventions of about 25–40 minutes daily have shown benefits in meta-analyses and reminder systems improve adherence in other settings, but using a vibrating watch to prevent hospital-associated functional decline is a relatively simple and emerging approach.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients aged 50 or over with a score of 4 or above on the Clinical Frailty Scale (vulnerable but not dependent patients, symptoms limiting activities, patients who are slower/more fatigued). * Must be able to get up from a chair without assistance. * Patients must be able to communicate with staff, understand instructions, give consent, and cooperate with staff. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with an estimated hospital stay of less than 5 days. * Contraindications to physical activity determined by the medical team (e.g., cardiovascular instability, orthopedic contraindications, etc.). * Terminal illness. * Patients scheduled for surgery. * Pregnant women. * People who do not understand French. * People protected under the law.
Where it's running
-
Groupe Hospitalier du Havre
Le Havre, Normandy, France Recruiting -
Hôpital Erasme Route de Lennick 808
Brussels, Belgium Not yet recruiting -
Centre hospitalier de Chartres
Le Coudray, France Not yet recruiting -
centre hospitalier de Valence
Valence, France Not yet recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Léa Bansard, PT, MSc — Groupe Hospitalier du Havre
- Study coordinator: Guillaume Prieur, PT, PhD
- Email: guillaume.prieur@ch-havre.fr
- Phone: +33630038824
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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.