mHealth Physical Activity Intervention: A Randomized Pilot Study in Physically Inactive Pregnant Women

Abstract Purpose Less than 10% of heart failure patients in the UK participate in cardiac rehabilitation programmes. The present pilot study evaluated feasibility, acceptability and physiological effects of a novel, personalised, home-based physical activity intervention in chronic heart failure. Methods Twenty patients (68 ± 7 years old, 20% females) with stable chronic heart failure due to reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (31 ± 8 %) participated in a single-group, pilot study assessing the feasibility and acceptability of a 12-week personalised home-based physical activity intervention aiming to increase daily number of steps by 2000 from baseline (Active-at-Home-HF). Patients completed cardiopulmonary exercise testing with non-invasive gas exchange and haemodynamic measurements and quality of life questionnaire pre- and post-intervention. Patients were supported weekly via telephone and average weekly step count data collected using pedometers. Results Forty-three patients were screened and 20 recruited into the study. Seventeen patients (85%) completed the intervention, and 15 (75%) achieved the target step count. Average step count per day increased significantly from baseline to 3 weeks by 2546 (5108 ± 3064 to 7654 ± 3849, P = 0.03, n = 17) and was maintained until week 12 (9022 ± 3942). Following completion of the intervention, no adverse events were recorded and quality of life improved by 4 points (26 ± 18 vs. 22 ± 19). Peak exercise stroke volume increased by 19% (127 ± 34 vs. 151 ± 34 m/beat, P = 0.05), while cardiac index increased by 12% (6.8 ± 1.5 vs. 7.6 ± 2.0 L/min/m2, P = 0.19). Workload and oxygen consumption at anaerobic threshold also increased by 16% (49 ± 16 vs. 59 ± 14 watts, P = 0.01) and 10% (11.5 ± 2.9 vs. 12.8 ± 2.2 ml/kg/min, P = 0.39). Conclusion The Active-at-Home-HF intervention is feasible, acceptable and effective for increasing physical activity in CHF. It may lead to improvements in quality of life, exercise tolerance and haemodynamic function. Trial Registration www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT0367727. Retrospectively registered on 17 September 2018.

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Physical activity in the classroom to prevent childhood obesity: a pilot study in Santiago, Chile

Journal of Nutritional Science ◽

10.1017/jns.2017.14 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Francisco Mardones ◽

Pilar Arnaiz ◽

Johana Soto-Sánchez ◽

Juana Saavedra ◽

Angélica Domínguez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Blood Pressure ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Grip Strength ◽

Statistical Power ◽

Physical Activity Intervention ◽

Hand Grip Strength ◽

Control Group ◽

High Waist Circumference ◽

Hand Grip

AbstractThis paper describes a 4-month pilot study that tested the suitability of a physical activity intervention for first graders (children aged 6 and 7 years) in a public school in Santiago, Chile. Teachers were trained to deliver the programme in the classroom during the school day. Teachers were surveyed to determine if this intervention fit within their curriculum and classroom routines and they reported in a focus group that it was suitable for them. All children actively participated in the programme and positive changes in their attitudes towards physical activity were observed by their teachers. Anthropometrics, blood pressure and hand grip strength were measured in the students. A significant reduction was observed in children with high waist circumference ≥ 90th percentile, and in mean systolic blood pressure. However, statistical power values for those comparisons were rather low. Anthropometry and hand grip strength were not modified. The latter calculations and the lack of a control group are showing the weaknesses of this pilot study and that further research with a larger sample size and an experimental design is strongly needed.

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A pilot study to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a community based physical activity intervention (involving internet, telephone, and pedometer support), integrated with medication and mood management for depressed patients

Mental Health and Physical Activity ◽

10.1016/j.mhpa.2008.06.002 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 40-45 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Jacqueline Kerr ◽

Karen J. Calfas ◽

Susan Caparosa ◽

Murray B. Stein ◽

William Sieber ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Physical Activity Intervention ◽

Community Based ◽

Mood Management ◽

Depressed Patients ◽

Internet Telephone

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Pilot study of a physical activity intervention for patients with cardiovascular risk factors and chronic conditions in general practice

Health Promotion Journal of Australia ◽

10.1071/he04044 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 44-48 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ben J. Smith ◽

Debbie Cook ◽

Paul Buckley ◽

Adrian Bauman

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Risk Factors ◽

General Practice ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽

Chronic Conditions ◽

Physical Activity Intervention

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Enhancing Accessibility of Physical Activity During Pregnancy: A Pilot Study on Women’s Experiences With Integrating Yoga Into Group Prenatal Care

Health Services Research and Managerial Epidemiology ◽

10.1177/2333392819834886 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 233339281983488

Author(s):

Patricia Kinser ◽

Nancy Jallo ◽

Leroy Thacker ◽

Christine Aubry ◽

Saba Masho

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Prenatal Care ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Lived Experience ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

The United States ◽

Group Prenatal Care ◽

Hospital System ◽

Over Time

Introduction: Health guidelines suggest that pregnant women should participate in daily physical activity, yet rarely do they meet these guidelines. Means to enhance accessibility of physical activity for pregnant women are required, and yoga has been suggested as a possible method to enhance women’s sense of confidence and competence with physical activity. In this pilot study, our primary aim is to evaluate pregnant women’s perceptions about their lived experience of an intervention which integrates a low-intensity form of physical activity, yoga, into prenatal care; our secondary aim is to evaluate changes in participants’ self-efficacy for physical activity and time spent in physical activity over time. Methods: Held in an outpatient obstetrics department of an urban hospital system in the United States, this pilot study enrolled 16 pregnant women to participate in the intervention throughout their pregnancy. We explored participants’ lived experience of the intervention using qualitative methods (phenomenology). Means, variances, and covariances were calculated for the 2 measures (self-efficacy and time spent in physical activity) over the intervention period. Results: Qualitative findings from focus groups suggest that it is acceptable for prenatal yoga to be integrated into group prenatal care classes and women reported increased confidence with physical activity during pregnancy. Participants did not consider the intervention to fit within the traditional definition of exercise. Women reported increased amounts of time spent in physical activity from baseline to the end of pregnancy, but there were no statistically significant changes in self-efficacy over time. Discussion: The integration of gentle physical activity into the group prenatal care model warrants further attention for potential benefits with regard to maternal physical and mental wellness.

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Spousal influence on physical activity in physically inactive pregnant women: A cross-sectional study

Health Care For Women International ◽

10.1080/07399332.2017.1402333 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 39 (3) ◽

pp. 263-274 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

JiWon Choi ◽

Yoshimi Fukuoka

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Spousal Influence ◽

Physically Inactive

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Increasing Physical Activity Efficiently: An Experimental Pilot Study of a Website and Mobile Phone Intervention

International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications ◽

10.1155/2014/746232 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Kjærsti Thorsteinsen ◽

Joar Vittersø ◽

Gunnvald Bendix Svendsen

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Progress Monitoring ◽

Physical Activity Intervention ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Text Messages ◽

Local Newspapers ◽

Physical Activity Interventions ◽

Daily Report ◽

Intensity Of Exercise

The main objective of this pilot study was to test the effectiveness of an online, interactive physical activity intervention that also incorporated gaming components. The intervention design included an activity planner, progress monitoring, and gamification components and used SMS text as a secondary delivery channel and feedback to improve engagement in the intervention content. Healthy adults (n=21) recruited through ads in local newspapers (age 35–73) were randomized to the intervention or the control condition. Both groups reported physical activity using daily report forms in four registration weeks during the three-month study: only the experiment condition received access to the intervention. Analyses showed that the intervention group had significantly more minutes of physical activity in weeks five and nine. We also found a difference in the intensity of exercise in week five. Although the intervention group reported more minutes of physical activity at higher intensity levels, we were not able to find a significant effect at the end of the study period. In conclusion, this study adds to the research on the effectiveness of using the Internet and SMS text messages for delivering physical activity interventions and supports gamification as a viable intervention tool.

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