PP65 What is the Effect of a Behaviour Change Intervention on the Diets and Physical Activity Levels of Women Attending Sure Start Children’s Centres in Southampton? Findings from a Non-Randomised Controlled Trial

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who participated in iStep-MS, a feasibility randomised controlled trial of a behaviour change intervention that aimed to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour.DesignA qualitative approach was undertaken embedded in the feasibility randomised controlled trial. One-to-one semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using Framework analysis.SettingParticipants were recruited from a single MS therapy centre in the southeast of England, UK.ParticipantsSixty people with MS were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to the intervention or usual care. Following a purposive sampling strategy, 15 participants from the intervention arm undertook 1:1 semi-structured interviews.InterventionsThe iStep-MS intervention consisted of four therapist-led sessions over 12 weeks, supported by a handbook and pedometer.ResultsThree themes were identified from the data.“I can do this”: developing competence in physical activityhighlights the enhanced physical activity confidence gained through goal setting and accomplishment. “I felt valued”: the nurturing cultureprovides an overview of the supportive and non-judgemental environment created by the programme structure and therapeutic relationship. Finally, “What can I do?”: empowered enactmentdescribes the transition from the supported iStep-MS intervention to intrinsically motivated physical activity enactment.ConclusionsOverall, this study supports the acceptability of the iStep-MS intervention and identified key areas that supported participants to be physically active.Trial registration numberISRCTN15343862.

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Promoting physical activity through group self-management support for those with multimorbidity: a randomised controlled trial

British Journal of General Practice ◽

10.3399/bjgp.2021.0172 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. BJGP.2021.0172

Author(s):

Kamlesh Khunti ◽

Patrick James Highton ◽

Ghazala Waheed ◽

Helen Dallosso ◽

Emma Redman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Primary Outcome ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Self Management ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Activity Promotion ◽

Physical Activity Levels ◽

Randomised Controlled ◽

The Impact

Background: Targeted self-management programmes may improve health and increase physical activity in people with multimorbidity. Aim: Investigate the impact of a structured, theoretically-driven self-management group education programme on habitual physical activity levels in people with multimorbidity. Design: Individually randomised controlled trial with 12-month follow-up. Setting: Nine primary care practices within Leicestershire, UK. Methods: N=353 adults with multimorbidity (age 67.8±9 years, 161 male) were randomly assigned (1:1) to intervention (n=180) or control (n=173) groups. Intervention participants were invited to attend four group-based self-management sessions, centred primarily on increasing physical activity. They also received motivational text message support. The primary outcome measure was change from baseline in device-measured (GENEActiv wrist-worn accelerometer) overall volume of daily physical activity at 12 months. Results: At baseline, the total sample was achieving 22mins/day of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity. At 12 months a reduction in daily average physical activity was seen in the intervention group relative to control participants in the complete-case analysis (-0.80 mg; 95% CI: -1.57, -0.03; p=0.04) (primary outcome data available for 71.1% and 79.2% of intervention and control groups respectively). Similar reductions were seen in time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (-3.86 mins/day; 95% CI:-6.70, -1.03; p=0.01) and time spent at an intensity equivalent to a slow walk (-4.66 mins/day; 95% CI: -8.82, -0.51; p=0.028). Conclusions: The self-management programme elicited a slight reduction in physical activity levels in people with multimorbidity. Future studies should identify and target subgroups of those with multimorbidity at greatest need for physical activity promotion.

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