A how-to guide to design and develop your arm schedule template 

Things to consider:

Develop an encounter schedule for each arm of your study.  For each encounter these include:

1. On what day should the encounter occur?

2. At what time should the encounter start? 
3. How long should the encounter window stay open? 
4. Should the encounter repeat? If so, how many days, weeks? 
5. Should there be feedback (i.e. messages, compliance, etc.) based on encounter outcome? 

Case Example: 1-month physical activity study with daily lottery incentive for meeting goal of >10,000 steps and text weekly check ins

• Welcome to study message
  • Start: Day 0
  • Time: 12 am (as soon as the participant is started in the arm)
  • Repeat: never
  • Message:  PARTICIPANT, welcome to the Fitbit study! Thank you for enrolling. 
    
    
• Daily step count from Fitbit
  • Start: Day 0
  • Time: 12 am (as soon as the participant is started in the arm)
  • Length of window: 12 am - 11:59 pm (all day)
  • Repeat: daily- every 1 day, 30 times 
  • Compliance: If participant walks > 10,000 steps, mark as compliant 
    
    
• Daily lottery 
  • Start: Day 1
  • Time: 11 am 
  • Repeat: daily- every 1 day, 30 times 
  • Feedback: if participant was compliant the previous day (i.e. met their step goal), then make them eligible for the lottery 
  • Message: 
    • eligible winner: You met your step goal yesterday and won AMOUNT in the lottery!
    • eligible loser: You met your step goal yesterday, but did not win the lottery this time.  Keep up the good work! 
    • ineligible winner: Had you met your step goal, you would have won AMOUNT in the lottery.
    • ineligible loser: Had you met your step goal, you would not have won the lottery this time. 
      
      
• Exercise tip #1 
  • Start: Day 3
  • Time: 9 am 
  • Repeat: never
  • Message: Exercise tip #1: Use a buddy system! Find a friend or relative who also wants to establish a healthier lifestyle and keep each other accountable to goals. 
    
    
• Weekly check in text 
  • Start: Day 7
  • Time: 10 am 
  • Repeat: weekly- every 1 week, 4 times 
  • Message:Hi PARTICIPANT_FIRSTNAME, do you need help meeting your step goals? Text back yes or no. 
    
    
• Weekly check in text response 
  • Start: Day 7
  • Time: 10 am 
  • Length of window: 10 am - 11:59 pm 
  • Repeat: weekly- every 1 week, 4 times 
  • Message: 
    • if participant texts back 'no': 
      • participant: We are glad to hear that you are meeting your step goals! Keep up the great work! 
    • if participant texts back 'yes': 
      • participant: Thank you for your response. We will reach out to you for assistance within one business day. 
      • study team: Participant needs help meeting goals.  Reach out for assistance. 
    • if participant texts back invalid formatted text:
      
      • participant: We didn't understand your response, please text back 'yes' or 'no'.
  
  
• Mid point survey

  • Start: Day 15
    

  • Time: 11 am 

  • Length of window: 14 days 
  • Repeat: never
  • Feedback: if participant completes the survey, pay out $50 

  • Message:Hi PARTICIPANT, please click the following link to complete the mid-point survey! You have until END_DATE to complete the survey.  SURVEY_LINK

     

• Mid point survey reminder

  • Start: Day 18

  • Time: 11 am 

  • Repeat: daily- every 2 days, 3 times 

  • Feedback: if participant completes the survey then don't send reminder, otherwise send reminder 

  • Message: Please rememeber to log into the Fitbit study to complete your mid-point survey!