Catherine J Minns Lowe1, Paul Kelly2, Karen Milton3, Charlie Foster4, Karen Barker5. 1. Physiotherapy Research Unit, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Windmill Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 7HE, UK. Electronic address: catherine.minnslowe@ouh.nhs.uk. 2. Institute for Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences (ISPEHS), Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh, EH8 8AQ, UK. Electronic address: p.kelly@ed.ac.uk. 3. The British Heart Foundation Centre on Population Approaches for Non-Communicable Disease Prevention, Nuffield Department of Population Health, UK. Electronic address: k.milton@uea.ac.uk. 4. The British Heart Foundation Centre on Population Approaches for Non-Communicable Disease Prevention, Nuffield Department of Population Health, UK. Electronic address: charlie.foster@bristol.ac.uk. 5. Physiotherapy Research Unit, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Windmill Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 7HE, UK; Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, UK. Electronic address: karen.barker@ouh.nhs.uk.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To explore the feasibility of delivering and evaluating a web-based walking intervention for people with long term musculoskeletal conditions (LTMCs), to determine its acceptability and the feasibility of conducting a definitive trial. DESIGN: Prospective randomised feasibility study, with blind outcome assessment at baseline, 3 and 6 months. SETTING: Hospital based physiotherapy service. PARTICIPANTS: Forty one adults referred for assessment and advice for any mild/moderate LTMCs. doing <120minutes of moderate intensity activity per week. INTERVENTIONS: Participants randomised to: 1. Usual care: one usual physiotherapy advice and assessment session, including setting a physical activity goal and one follow up session (8 weeks). 2. "Walk30×5": session one, usual care plus intervention of walking programme. Participants were shown the website and podcasts and practiced how to use them. One follow up session (8 weeks). OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary: timed six minute walk test (T6MWT). Secondary: step count, self-reported pain, fatigue, mood, self-efficacy, happiness, objective blood pressure, peak expiratory flow rate, and self-report and accelerometer measured physical activity. RESULTS: Recruitment target achieved. No adverse events occurred. Adherence was high and the intervention acceptable. Loss to follow up n=3 (7%) at 3 months, n=8 (20%) at 6 months. T6MWT and step count proved suitable outcomes, unlike accelerometry. Estimated sample size for a definitive trial is 216. CONCLUSIONS: "Walk30×5" is ready for evaluation in a future, appropriately powered (n=216), phase III trial. If effective, the intervention will provide a cheap, highly accessible intervention to enable people with mild/moderate LTMCs to achieve UK physical activity guidelines. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN78581097. Crown
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: To explore the feasibility of delivering and evaluating a web-based walking intervention for people with long term musculoskeletal conditions (LTMCs), to determine its acceptability and the feasibility of conducting a definitive trial. DESIGN: Prospective randomised feasibility study, with blind outcome assessment at baseline, 3 and 6 months. SETTING: Hospital based physiotherapy service. PARTICIPANTS: Forty one adults referred for assessment and advice for any mild/moderate LTMCs. doing <120minutes of moderate intensity activity per week. INTERVENTIONS:Participants randomised to: 1. Usual care: one usual physiotherapy advice and assessment session, including setting a physical activity goal and one follow up session (8 weeks). 2. "Walk30×5": session one, usual care plus intervention of walking programme. Participants were shown the website and podcasts and practiced how to use them. One follow up session (8 weeks). OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary: timed six minute walk test (T6MWT). Secondary: step count, self-reported pain, fatigue, mood, self-efficacy, happiness, objective blood pressure, peak expiratory flow rate, and self-report and accelerometer measured physical activity. RESULTS: Recruitment target achieved. No adverse events occurred. Adherence was high and the intervention acceptable. Loss to follow up n=3 (7%) at 3 months, n=8 (20%) at 6 months. T6MWT and step count proved suitable outcomes, unlike accelerometry. Estimated sample size for a definitive trial is 216. CONCLUSIONS: "Walk30×5" is ready for evaluation in a future, appropriately powered (n=216), phase III trial. If effective, the intervention will provide a cheap, highly accessible intervention to enable people with mild/moderate LTMCs to achieve UK physical activity guidelines. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN78581097. Crown