CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT02760628Updated Aug 22, 2018

The First Twenty (TF20) for Volunteer Firefighters in a Clinic Based Setting

An interventional study of The First Twenty (TF20) and Life Simple 7 (LS7) in Obesity, sponsored by National Development and Research Institutes, Inc.. Completed at 2 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2018-08-22.

Sponsored by National Development and Research Institutes, Inc. · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 4 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Dec 2015, registered Apr 2016).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
198
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The First Twenty® (TF20) was recently developed as a not-for-profit, web-mobile program for firefighters (FFs) specifically focused on improving fitness and nutrition knowledge and practices. The program was designed by FFs with backgrounds in tactical fitness, marketing and program development professionals, and nutrition and exercise scientists. Preliminary data suggests the program is well-received by FFs and results in significant improvement in body composition and physical fitness. One innovative approach for the eventual dissemination of TF20 to VFFs is through their fitness-for duty medical exams. The synergy created by linking the TF20 intervention components, feedback to the VFFs from their medical exam, and health messages from their physician is predicted to maximize the impact of this much-needed intervention. The goal of the proposed project is to tailor TF20 for use in a clinic based setting (CB-TF20) for VFFs and to pilot test it in comparison to the American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 (LS7), a web-based diet and physical activity knowledge/behavior and lifestyle program. The specific aims are to: 1) Conduct formative research with key stakeholders in the VFF community (e.g., physicians, department leadership, VFFs) to determine best practices for implementing a clinic-based, web-mobile health and wellness program with VFFs and medical providers; 2) Develop a clinic-based version of TF20 (CB-TF20) and beta-test it with VFFs; and, 3) Conduct a 6 month, 2-arm, pilot cluster (i.e., department) randomized clinical trial (PCRCT) to determine the comparative effectiveness of the revised CB-TF20 to LS7 on body composition, Framingham Risk Scores, and diet/physical activity knowledge and behaviors among VFF with BMI >25.0kg/m2; and conduct an evaluation of the CB-TF20 materials and technology. This innovative R34 study is a critical step in providing a much needed intervention for VFFs and those providing their annual examinations.

Read the detailed description

The US fire service serves as the front line of defense against any domestic emergency and volunteer firefighters comprise the majority of firefighters, often with negative consequences for the health of personnel. While rates of overweight and obesity remain high among firefighters and cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of line of duty deaths, few resources tailored to the unique culture and needs of firefighters are available to help occupational medicine physicians who provide their fitness for duty examinations. By engaging firefighters and occupational medicine clinicians in tailoring an internet/mobile intervention and pilot testing the program with a sample of volunteer firefighters, the investigators will be poised to implement a full-scale clinical trial with the developed program.

02

Conditions studied

  • Obesity
03

In context

Lead sponsor

National Development and Research Institutes, Inc. is the lead sponsor of 22 studies on the registry; none are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • Willing to complete all assessments
  • Internet accessibility via computer, tablet or smartphone and ability to use devices appropriately
  • Medically cleared to participate in the program through clinicians
  • ≥18 years

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Not meeting inclusion criteria
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
198 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    The First Twenty (TF20)

    Participants in TF20 will be provided an online wellness program focused on fitness and nutrition tailored to firefighters. TF20 is interactive and involves health coaching.

    Behavioral: The First Twenty (TF20)

  • Placebo comparator
    Life Simple Seven (LS7)

    Participants assigned to the LS7 arm will be directed to a website that contains information about health and wellness from the American Heart Association that was developed for the general population. No health coaching is present and the site is not tailored for the fire service.

    Behavioral: Life Simple 7 (LS7)

Interventions

  • BehavioralThe First Twenty (TF20)

    TF20 is an online wellness program for firefighters focused on improving cardiovascular risk factors through behavioral changes.

  • BehavioralLife Simple 7 (LS7)

    LS7 is a wellness program designed and implemented by the American Heart Association focused on improving cardiovascular health.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Body Fat

    Body fat as measured by foot-to-foot bio-electrical impedance

    Time frame: 6 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Framingham Risk Score

    Time frame: 6 months

  2. Body Mass Index (BMI)

    BMI as calculated by weight in kilograms/height in meters squared

    Time frame: 6 months

  3. Waist circumference

    Waist circumference as measured in centimeters

    Time frame: 6 months

07

Study locations

2 sites
  • NDRI Institute of Bioebehavioral Health Research
    Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
  • National Development and Research Institutes
    New York, New York 10010, United States
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 22, 2018, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02760628
Lead sponsor
National Development and Research Institutes, Inc.
Collaborators
The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
May 3, 2016
Start date
Dec 15, 2015
Primary completion
Feb 18, 2018
Completion
Feb 18, 2018
Last update
Aug 22, 2018

Study contacts

Sara Jahnke, PhD
principal investigator · National Development & Research Institutes

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Aug 2018. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Sign in to follow

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Start the discussion