An interventional study of Positive Psychology + Motivational Interviewing in Acute Coronary Syndrome and Physical Inactivity, sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 95 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-20.
Sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The focus of this study is to test the efficacy of a 12-week, remotely delivered, positive-psychology-motivational interviewing (PP-MI) intervention, with additional twice weekly text messages for a total of 24 weeks (with interactive, algorithm-driven, goal-focused text messages in the final 12 weeks), compared to post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) treatment as usual, in a randomized trial of 280 post-ACS patients with low baseline physical activity.
The investigators are proposing a study that will focus on testing the efficacy of a PP-MI intervention, with additional twice text messages for a total of 24 weeks (with interactive, algorithm-driven, goal-focused text messages in the final 12 weeks) in post-ACS patients. The investigators will enroll 280 post-ACS patients, who will take part in either a 12-week intervention (with 24 weeks of supplemental text messages), or receive post-ACS treatment as usual.
In this project, the investigators hope to do the following:
Participants will be screened and enrolled during admission for an ACS. They will be provided with a accelerometer to monitor their physical activity for one week prior to their first in-person visit. At their first visit, they will answer questionnaires related to psychological and physical health and functioning, have their blood pressure and weight measured, and provide a fasting blood sample. Upon confirmation of adequate physical activity, participants will be randomized to receive the PP-MI intervention or treatment as usual.
Participants in the intervention will be provided a treatment manual, an activity tracker, and other treatment materials. The intervention will be introduced, and the first exercise will be assigned.
Following the first in-person visit, participants in the treatment condition will complete twelve weekly phone sessions with a study trainer. The phone sessions primarily will include a review of the prior week's session content and a discussion of the rationale and assignment of the next week's exercise/assignment.
Participants in the treatment condition will receive twice weekly text messages throughout the intervention (Weeks 1-12) and initial follow-up period (Weeks 13-24). These messages will focus on the PP activity and physical activity. During Weeks 13-24, participants in the PP-MI condition will engage with twice weekly, automated, interactive text messages related to PP and physical activity.
At Weeks 12, 24, and 48, participants will complete follow-up visits. One week prior to these visits, participants will be mailed an accelerometer and will wear it until their study visit. During these study visits, participants will be asked to answer questionnaires related to psychological and physical health and functioning, have their blood pressure and weight measured, and be asked about cardiovascular outcomes, including hospitalizations, cardiovascular procedures, and cardiac-specific hospitalizations. They will also provide a fasting blood sample.
Finally, participants will complete phone sessions every 6 months until study end to inquire about hospitalizations and adverse cardiac events.
1,461 studies on the registry are indexed under Acute Coronary Syndrome; 267 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 280 is above the median of 200 across 869 interventional studies indexed under Acute Coronary Syndrome.
Browse Acute Coronary Syndrome studies →Massachusetts General Hospital is the lead sponsor of 2,536 studies on the registry; 446 are open to participants now.
Of its 214 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 161 (75%) have results posted.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Each week, participants in the PP-MI intervention group will complete a PP activity and work towards a physical activity goal, then complete a phone session with a study trainer. Each phone session will include PP and goal setting portions. In the PP portion, the study trainer will (a) review the week's PP exercise, (b) discuss the rationale of the next week's PP exercise through a guided review of the PP-MI manual, and (c) assign the next week's PP exercise. In the goal-setting portion, the trainer will (a) review the participant's physical activity goal from the prior week, (b) discuss techniques for improving physical activity (e.g. tracking activity), and (c) help the participant to set a physical activity goal for the next week. Participants also will receive supplemental text messages throughout the 12 weeks of the intervention and during the initial follow-up period (Week 13-24).
Behavioral: Positive Psychology + Motivational Interviewing
Participants in the treatment as usual (TAU) arm will not receive any specific intervention, though they will be free to receive any post-ACS treatment.
The 12-week PP-MI intervention focuses on enhancing well-being (through PP) and increasing physical activity (through MI). Each week, participants will complete a PP activity and work towards a physical activity goal, then complete a phone session with a study trainer. The PP portion of the program will focus on the cultivation of well-being through the performance of easy-to complete activities (e.g., using a strength in a new way) and review of the positive feelings they generate. The MI portion of the program will focus on assisting participants to improve physical activity levels, resolve ambivalence to behavior change, set realistic physical activity goals, problem-solve barriers, and identify resources to complete behavior change. Finally, participants will receive twice weekly text messages (for 24 weeks) to encourage completion of PP activities and engagement in physical activity.
Change from Baseline Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) at 24 weeks
MVPA will be measured via an accelerometer and recorded in mean minutes/day.
Time frame: Measured for 7 days at baseline and 24 weeks
Change in Light Intensity Activity
Light intensity activity will be measured via an accelerometer and recorded in mean minutes/day.
Time frame: Measured for 7 days at baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, and 48 weeks
Change in positive affect (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule [PANAS] positive affect items)
The positive affect items on the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), a well-validated scale used in other intervention trials and in patients with HF, will be used to measure positive affect (Range: 10-50). Higher scores indicate higher levels of positive affect.
Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks
Change from Baseline Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) at 12 and 48 weeks
MVPA will be measured via an accelerometer and recorded in mean minutes/day.
Time frame: Measured for 7 days at baseline, 12 weeks, and 48 weeks
Change in Sedentary time
Sedentary time will be measured via an accelerometer and recorded in mean minutes/day.
Time frame: Measured for 7 days at baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, and 48 weeks
Change in optimism (Life Orientation Test - Revised [LOT-R])
Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R) is a well-validated 6-item instrument used to measure dispositional optimism (Range: 0-24). Higher scores indicate higher levels of dispositional optimism.
Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks
Change in depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9])
The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) will be used to measure depression. This is a well-validated scale with few somatic symptom items that can confound mood/anxiety assessment in medically-ill patients (Range: 0-27). Higher scores indicate higher levels of depression.
Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks
Change in anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - anxiety subscale [HADS-A])
The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)-anxiety subscale will be used to measure anxiety. This is a well-validated scale with few somatic symptom items that can confound mood/anxiety assessment in medically-ill patients (Range: 0-21). Higher scores indicate higher levels of anxiety.
Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks
Change in locus of control (Form C of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scale [MHLC Form C])
Locus of control will be measured using the 18-item Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scale \[MHLC Form C\]. Scores on this scale range from 6-36, with higher scores indicating greater internal health locus of control.
Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks
Change in perceived social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support [MSPSS])
The MSPSS is a 12-item scale designed to measure perceived social support from three sources: Family, Friends, and a Significant Other. Scores on this scale range from 0-84, with higher scores indicating greater perceived social support.
Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks
Change in exercise-related self-efficacy (Self-efficacy for Exercise Scale [SEE])
The Self-efficacy for Exercise Scale will be used to measure exercise self-efficacy. This is a 9-item scale used to assess an individual's beliefs in their ability to continue exercising on a three time per week basis at moderate intensities for 20+ minutes per session in the future. Scores on this scale range from 0-90, with higher scores indicating greater self-efficacy for exercise.
Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks
Change in physical function (PROMIS 20-item Physical Function Short Form [PF-20])
The PROMIS 20-item short form (PF-20) will be used to assess physical function. Scores on this scale range from 20-100, with higher scores indicating greater physical function.
Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks
Change in mental health-related quality of life(Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-12 [SF-12] mental component score)
The SF-12 mental component score will be used to assess mental health-related quality of life (Range: 0-100). Higher scores indicate higher levels of mental health-related quality of life.
Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks
Change in physical health-related quality of life (Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-12 [SF-12] physical component score)
The SF-12 physical component score will be used to assess physical health-related quality of life (Range: 0-100). Higher scores indicate higher levels of physical health-related quality of life.
Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks
Change in adherence to cardiac medications
Medication adherence will be measured with the self-report medication adherence tool from the NHLBI Heart and Soul Study.
Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks
Change in Fat/saturated fat/cholesterol intake (Meat, Eggs, Dairy, Fried foods, fat In baked goods, Convenience foods, fats added at the Table, and Snacks [MEDFICTS])
Measured by the MEDFICTS scale, a National Cholesterol Education Program-developed scale inquiring about saturated fat.
Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks
Change in self-reported MVPA (International Physical Activity Questionnaire [IPAQ])
Measured by the self-report International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The measure assesses the types of intensity of physical activity that people do as part of their daily lives. Moderate and vigorous intensity activities will be converted to multiples of resting energy expenditure (MET) minutes per week.
Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks
Change in self-reported sedentary time (International Physical Activity Questionnaire [IPAQ])
Measured by the self-report International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Measured in hours per day.
Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks
Major adverse cardiac events (MACE)
MACE will be defined as mortality or hospitalization for heart failure or an acute coronary event (percutaneous coronary intervention or acute coronary syndrome). Data regarding hospitalizations and mortality will be obtained using a three-pronged approach consisting of systematic queries of participants, electronic health record review, and review of records from the National Death Index.
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2.7 years
All-cause hospitalizations
We will record all-cause hospitalizations for all participants from enrollment to the end of the study data collection period, using systematic queries of participants and review of electronic health records from all Mass General Brigham-affiliated hospitals.
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 2.7 years
Attendance at cardiac rehabilitation
We will query participants at each follow-up time point to determine whether they have attended cardiac rehabilitation.
Time frame: 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks
Change in weight (kilograms)
Weight will be measured during study visits.
Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks
Change in body mass index (kilograms per square meter)
Height and weight will be measured during study visits.
Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks
Change in blood pressure (millimeters of mercury)
Blood pressure (diastolic and systolic) will be measured by trained nurses using a standardized protocol.
Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks
Change in low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (milligrams per deciliter)
Fasting blood samples will be obtained at study visits.
Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks
Change in triglycerides (milligrams per deciliter)
Fasting blood samples will be obtained at study visits.
Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks
Change in glucose (milligrams per deciliter)
Fasting blood samples will be obtained at study visits.
Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks
Change in interleukin-6 (picograms per milliliter)
Blood samples will be obtained at study visits.
Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks
Change in high sensitivity C-reactive protein (milligrams per liter)
Blood samples will be obtained at study visits.
Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks
Change in endothelin-1 (picograms per milliliter)
Blood samples will be obtained at study visits.
Time frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 48 weeks
Plan to share: Yes — To promote sharing of study data with other researchers, we will create a deidentified study dataset. We will include both item-level and summary scores for each scale and will include data from the baseline, 12-week, 24-week, and 48-week time points.
Supporting information: Study protocol, Sap
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