On-campus Supervised Physical Activity Programme for University Students Facing Mental Health Challenges: a Feasibility Study Exploring Feasibility, Acceptability, Fidelity and Preliminary Effects
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- York St John University
- Enrollment
- 17
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Rate of recruitment
Study Overview
Brief Summary
In autumn 2024, York St John University launched a physical activity programme for university students facing mental health challenges. The purpose of this project is to conduct a mixed-methods evaluative study of this new service over a 6-month period. It is anticipated that 20-40 students will be recruited to the study, which will assess the following: assess the following: feasibility, the extent to which the service can be delivered successfully; acceptability, the extent to which the service is considered appropriate, satisfactory, or attractive by programme recipients and intervention delivery staff; fidelity, the extent to which the key service components (e.g., assessment procedures, physical activity programme) were implemented as planned and adaptations were made; preliminary effects, with relation to physical, mental and social health outcomes.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Na
- Intervention Model
- Single Group
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- •Student enrolled at York St John University
- •Age 18 years and over
- •Undertaking a course which requires attendance at York St John University's Lord Mayor's Walk Campus
- •Presenting to the student wellbeing team with mild-to-moderate mental health concerns (defined as experiencing symptoms of poor mental health such as feeling depressed or socially isolated, prolonged stress and anxiety, or experiencing academic decline that makes their daily life more difficult but maintain daily functioning) and expressing an interest in enhancing their mental health and daily functioning
Exclusion Criteria
- •Unwilling or unable to provide written informed consent
- •Unable to attend (or to participate in) the scheduled physical activity sessions
- •Unsuccessful physical activity clearance using the physical activity readiness questionnaire (PAR-Q+)
Arms & Interventions
Intervention group
This group will comprise of university students who are enrolled on the Exercise for Wellbeing pathway and who have consented to participate in this evaluative study.
Intervention: Physical activity programme (Behavioral)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Rate of recruitment
Time Frame: Over the course of the 6-month enrollment period
The average number of participants recruited per month
Rate of retention
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of intervention at 6 weeks
The proportion of participants who complete the study
Rate of attendance
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of intervention at 6 weeks
Median number of supervised physical activity sessions attended amongst all participants
Acceptability of the service
Time Frame: At the 6-week follow-up assessment
The extent to which the service is considered appropriate, satisfactory, or attractive by programme recipients and intervention delivery staff. Assessed primarily via one-to-one interviews and an exit survey.
Secondary Outcomes
- 10-item Recovering Quality of Life (ReQoL) questionnaire(Assessed at baseline and at the 6-week follow-up)
- 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)(Assessed at baseline and at the 6-week follow-up)
- 38-item Mental Health Inventory (MHI-38)(Assessed at baseline and at the 6-week follow-up)
- Estimated maximal oxygen uptake (YMCA submaximal cycle test)(Assessed before and after the 6-week intervention period)
- Resting blood pressure (automated)(Assessed before and after the 6-week intervention period)
- Grip strength (Jamar handgrip dynamometer)(Assessed before and after the 6-week intervention period)
- Fidelity(From enrollment to the end of intervention at 6 weeks)
- Mean time per day in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity(Assessed at baseline and at the 6-week follow-up)
- Lower-limb muscular strength/endurance (30-s sit-to-stand test)(Assessed before and after the 6-week intervention period)
- Adverse events(From enrollment to the end of the exit assessment after the end of the 6-week intervention period)