The microrandomized trial for developing digital interventions: Experimental design and data analysis considerations.

Abstract

Just-in-time adaptive interventions (JITAIs) are time-varying adaptive interventions that use frequent oppor-Suite,

MCMTC: A Pragmatic Framework for Selecting an Experimental Design to Inform the Development of Digital Interventions

“…This manuscript is intended to help investigators interested in developing a digital intervention select the most appropriate experimental design in light of their motivating scientific questions. Although existing tutorials can be used to guide the design and analysis of data from factorial designs [e.g., ( 11 , 19 , 20 )], SMARTs [e.g., ( 22 , 25 )], and MRTs [e.g., ( 15 , 16 )], the selection of an appropriate experimental design remains an important challenge. The current framework emphasizes that specifying the scientific questions that are to be addressed is a critical prerequisite for selecting an experimental design.…”

“…Similar to the SMART, the MRT is a randomized trial that includes sequential randomizations ( 15 , 16 ). However, MRTs include more frequent randomizations (relative to the SMART) because they are intended to provide data that investigators can use to answer questions about the selection and adaptation of components in a JITAI—an intervention that is motivated to address conditions that change rapidly.…”

“…Various types of experimental approaches have been developed in recent years to enable researchers to obtain the empirical evidence necessary for the development and/or evaluation of effective multiple-component interventions. These include standard two- or multi-arm randomized trials [e.g., randomized controlled trials (RCTs)], factorial designs ( 11 , 12 ), Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trials [SMARTs ( 13 , 14 )], and Micro-Randomized Trials [MRTs ( 15 , 16 )]. An important challenge facing researchers interested in developing digital interventions concerns the selection of an appropriate experimental design to achieve their scientific goals.…”

Effectiveness of gamified team competition in the context of mHealth intervention for medical interns: a micro-randomized trial

“…Micro-randomized trials (MRT) can be used to address scientific questions about whether and under what circumstances JITAI components are effective, with the ultimate goal of developing effective and efficient JITAI [17][18][19] . In this study we conducted an MRT using principles of health behavior change and gamification to deliver a mobile app-based weekly team competition to evaluate the effectiveness of this type of mHealth intervention on individual physical activity, sleep duration in the population of medical intern.…”

“…Mobile devices can collect real-time and objective measurements of a user’s physical activity and geographic location to provide personalized just-in-time adaptive interventions (JITAI) 8 . To date, many previous studies have shown the effectiveness of wearable and smartphone-based intervention on health outcomes 9–11 . Some studies included gamification, a strategy that attempts to enhance user enjoyment and engagement 12 by introducing game mechanics into a non-game environment 13,14 .…”