Protocol for a single-arm, multi-component behavior change technique (BCT) intervention to develop a walking habit among caregivers for persons with Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD)

Even low to moderate physical activity is critical in improving and maintaining physical health and well-being. Caregivers of people living with Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD) are a burdened population and, as such, can experience challenges with managing even modest increases in physical activity while caring for others. While some interventions have been proposed to increase physical activity, many fail to consider the unique needs of caregivers of people with ADRD. The purpose of this 12-week decentralized behavioral trial is to test the efficacy of a multi-component, personalized text-message delivered BCT intervention to encourage the formation of a daily walking habit among caregivers of persons with ADRD assessed by Fitbit activity trackers via the key mechanism of behavior change (MoBC) of behavioral automaticity. Formation of a daily walking habit will be defined as attainment of walking 1000 or more additional steps during the same one-hour period on 7 consecutive days as set up in a personalized walking plan. We will also evaluate the association of habit formation attainment with changes in behavioral automaticity, association between longitudinal behavioral automaticity and habit formation attainment over time, and the heterogeneity of treatment effects between participants. Results will advance science about behavioral habit formation among caregivers for persons with ADRD and determine whether behavioral automaticity acts as the primary MoBC for the effect on this BCT intervention on daily habitual walking. This trial is registered on www.ClinicalTrials.gov (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06803797); NCT #: NCT06803797.