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Not yet recruitingNCT07640360WATCH-STEPUpdated Jun 10, 2026

Smartwatch-Guided Secondary Prevention After Stroke

An interventional study of Smartwatch-Guided Secondary Prevention after Stroke in Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack, sponsored by University Hospital, Brest. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in France. Open to participants aged 40 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-10.

Sponsored by University Hospital, Brest · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
50
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
40 Years to 75 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

After a first stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), the risk of recurrence is high in the weeks and months following the initial event. There are several modifiable risk factors that can reduce this risk, such as blood pressure, diet, physical activity, and smoking. Many stroke patients (NIHSS \< 5) have a low daily step count during the early recovery period, despite a good functional prognosis.

Active smartwatches provide real-time feedback, track progress, and set personalized walking goals, thereby boosting motivation and adherence to physical activity recommendations.

The combination of advice provided by nurses and active behavioral coaching supported by a smartwatch, compared to passive monitoring, could significantly increase daily step counts over a 12-week period. The results of this research will help guide future large-scale secondary prevention strategies integrating digital health and structured nursing support.

Read the detailed description

To meet the study's objectives, 50 patients who have recently suffered a stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA) (\< 30 days) will be recruited at Brest University Hospital.

Participation in this study will last 12 weeks. It consists of 3 visits, described below:

=> Visit #1: Enrollment (hospital)

Enrollment will take place during a routine hospital visit. The investigator will obtain the patient's written consent. Randomization will then be performed to assign the patient to a group ("active" or "passive" watch).

For all patients ("active" and "passive" watch groups):

  • Program led by nurses, conducted as part of routine care following a recent ischemic stroke or TIA (secondary prevention).
  • Issuance of a smartwatch and a smartphone
  • Data collection (sociodemographic information, medical history, current treatments, risk factors)
  • Questionnaires
  • Clinical examination, neurological examination, and blood draw.

For patients in the "passive" smartwatch group:

o The smartwatch will collect data passively, without notifications.

For patients in the "active" smartwatch group:

  • Setting daily step goals and assessing potential obstacles
  • Scheduling regular calls (twice a week) for the duration of the study.

    • Visit #2: Phone call

For all patients (both "active" and "passive" watch):

  • Phone contact to collect data on changes in risk factors and the occurrence of events of interest (stroke, TIA, and cardiovascular events).
  • Questionnaires

    • Visit #3: End of study (hospital)

The end-of-study visit will take place at the hospital during a scheduled routine care appointment:

  • Assessment with a nurse as part of the secondary prevention program (routine care)
  • Data collection (risk factors)
  • Questionnaires
  • Clinical examination, neurological examination, and blood draw
  • Return of the smartwatch and smartphone
02

Conditions studied

  • Stroke
  • Transient Ischemic Attack

Keywords

  • SMARTWATCH
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
40 Years to 75 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Age ≤ 40-75
  • Patients with recent minor ischemic stroke or TIA, initial NIHSS ≤5 (\< 30 days)
  • mRS ≤2 before stroke and on discharge
  • Patient with Wifi access (for data transmission)
  • Able to understand smartwatch instructions
  • Written informed consent
  • Ambulatory ≥10 meters without assistance and without walking aid
  • Expected to live at home during the study period.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with transient neurological deficits resolving within one hour and normal brain imaging will be excluded
  • Not affiliated to social security
  • Patient under legal protection or deprived of liberty by a judicial or administrative decision
  • Patient whose follow-up will be impossible
  • Cognitive impairment interfering with participation (e.g., MoCA \<20).
  • Unstable cardiac conditions preventing walking goals.
  • Major visual or upper limb impairment preventing use of the smartwatch.
  • Life expectancy \<1 year.
  • Already highly active (>10,000 steps/day, or about 1.5 hours of walking).
  • Participation in competing interventional trials.
04

Study design

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

Study arms

  • No intervention
    "Passive" Smartwatch arm

    * Smartwatch collects step and wear-time data passively. * Participants do not receive daily goals, structured prompts, or real-time feedback regarding progress. * Nurses provide general advice but do not review detailed step graphs. * Data used only for endpoint assessment at M3.

  • Experimental
    "Active" Smartwatch arm

    * Smartwatch provides real-time structured feedback, including daily step counts, a visual progress bar, and automated prompts. * Research technician review step graphs during tele-visits, highlighting high/low activity days, barriers, and facilitators personalized daily step goals (twice a week) defined as +15-20% above baseline will be adjusted by Research technician based on progress and symptoms. * Goals increased by +10% if ≥4/7 days meet targets; maintained or decreased if symptomatic or not meeting goals.

    Other: Smartwatch-Guided Secondary Prevention after Stroke

Interventions

  • OtherSmartwatch-Guided Secondary Prevention after Stroke

    Setting daily walking goals, assessing obstacles Regular phone calls (twice a week) to review progress, adjust goals, and provide support

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. To determine whether the addition of an active smartwatch providing structured feedback to a nurse-led activity program produces a significantly greater increase in daily step count over 12 weeks compared with the same program paired with a passive smart

    Difference in steps/day at 12 weeks between both arms (average of the final 14 valid days) (target Δ ≥ 1500)

    Time frame: Week 12

Secondary outcomes

  1. To evaluate feasibility to smartwatch wear

    Wear-time adherence at W6 and W12

    Time frame: Week 6 and Week 12

  2. To evaluate adherence to smartwatch wear

    System Usability Scale (SUS) at W6 and W12

    Time frame: Week 6 and Week 12

  3. To evaluate acceptability of digital feedback.

    TAM (technology Acceptance Model) at W6 and W12

    Time frame: Week 6 and Week 12

  4. To assess the impact of active smartwatch feedback on sedentary time.

    Resting time (excluding sleep) at baseline, W6 and W12

    Time frame: day 1 to week 12

  5. To assess the impact of active smartwatch feedback on gait-related activity patterns.

    gait performance metrics (data from the smartwatch)

    Time frame: day 1 to week 12

  6. To assess the impact of active smartwatch feedback on blood pressure.

    Continuous mean SBP and DBP and time-in-range at baseline, W6 and W12

    Time frame: day 1 to week 12

  7. To monitor falls

    Number of falls (collected continuously via the smartwatch) between baseline and W6 and between baseline and W12.

    Time frame: day 1 to week 12

  8. To monitor cardiovascular events (atrial fibrillation, AF),

    Number of cardiovascular events between baseline and W12.

    Time frame: day 1 to week 12

  9. To examine effects on quality of life

    Quality of life : physical and mental SF-36 auto-questionnaire scores at baseline, W6 and W12

    Time frame: day 1 to week 12

  10. To examine effects on risk factors

    LDL cholesterol, alcohol, tobacco, weight and waist circumference at baseline and W12

    Time frame: Day 1, week 6 and week 12

  11. Recurrence and cardiovascular events

    Recurrent stroke or TIA or cardiovascular events at W6 and W12 and in case of alert or hospitalization

    Time frame: day 1 to week 12

  12. To examine effects on fatigue

    Fatigue : FAS and MFIS auto-questionnaires scores at baseline, W6 and W12

    Time frame: day 1 to week 12

  13. To examine effects on cognition

    Cognition : MoCA-short score at baseline, W6 and W12

    Time frame: day 1 to week 12

  14. To examine effects on depression

    Mood : PHQ-2 auto-questionnaire score at baseline, W6 and W12

    Time frame: day 1 to week 12

  15. To examine effects on sleep

    Sleep : efficiency and fragmentation at baseline, W6 and W12 and continuous

    Time frame: day 1 to week 12

06

Study locations

1 site
07

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — All collected data that underlie results in a publication

Supporting information: Study protocol

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07640360
Lead sponsor
University Hospital, Brest
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jun 10, 2026
Start date
Sep 2026 (estimated)
Primary completion
Dec 2027 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 2027 (estimated)
Last update
Jun 10, 2026

Study contacts

Serge TIMSIT Pr, Neurologist
Contact
serge.timsit@chu-brest.fr
+33298147349

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
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