A Single-Arm Feasibility Study of the Life-Style Exercise and Activity Package for People Living With Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- Cardiff University
- Enrollment
- 21
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Intervention uptake
Study Overview
Brief Summary
The investigators know that many people with multiple sclerosis (MS) require support to remain physically active and often do not receive any or enough support. This is particularly the case for People with Progressive MS (PwPMS) with moderate to severe disability - those who require assistance to mobilise (i.e. using a stick, frame or wheelchair) and/or have other MS related symptoms such as fatigue and difficulties remembering.
In Phase 1 of the LEAP-MS study the investigators collected information about the barriers to and facilitators of physical activity (PA) that PwPMS experience, their current levels and type of physical activity and their perceptions of the role physical activity plays in managing MS symptoms from both them and their families - or people that support them. This provided important information about why physical activity might be important for PwPMS, the challenges they face in doing physical activity or accessing it, and ways which they have found to overcome any barriers. The investigators also collected information from physiotherapists and other health care professionals who specialise in treating people with MS, about their understanding of self-management and their needs for training about using self-management approaches with PwPMS. The investigators used this information to co-produce (with the involvement of PwPMS patients and physiotherapists/healthcare professionals) a personalised intervention; Life-style, exercise and activity package for people living with progressive multiple sclerosis (LEAP-MS) to facilitate on-going physical activity for people with PwPMS and a training package about self-management with PwPMS for physiotherapists.
In this feasibility study the investigators will evaluate the acceptability of the LEAP-MS intervention. The investigators will also evaluate feasibility of conducting a future trial of the intervention in terms of recruitment, retention, adherence (usage), outcome measures and safety evaluation and establishing fidelity of intervention delivery.
Detailed Description
Primary objectives. The primary objective is to establish the feasibility, acceptability and fidelity and safety of the LEAP-MS intervention for PwPMS and physiotherapists.
Secondary objectives. The secondary objectives are to validate the proposed intervention logic model through both qualitative assessment of intervention processes and descriptive evaluation of potential outcomes.
Study design and setting. This is a single arm feasibility study with an embedded process evaluation.
Study Intervention. The LEAP-MS intervention is a co-produced, digital interactive education and activity tool, specifically developed for PwPMS. The tool includes multimedia education about being active with PMS, tailored physical activity ideas and interactive functions enabling the development of personalised activity programmes, goal setting and activity logs. The digital tool works in conjunction with support from trained physiotherapists. The feasibility study will evaluate how the LEAP-MS intervention can be used in practice.
Patient participant study procedure. The investigators aim to recruit 21 PwPMS to participate in the LEAP-MS feasibility study. Patients will self refer to the LEAP-MS website.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Na
- Intervention Model
- Single Group
- Primary Purpose
- Other
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- •People aged 18 and over
- •With progressive MS
- •Having an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5 or 8.
Exclusion Criteria
- •aged under 18
- •an EDSS <6 or >8
- •relapsing-remitting or non-progressive MS
- •unable to understand written and spoken English
- •lacking capacity to consent on their own behalf
- •pregnant or planning a pregnancy
Arms & Interventions
LEAP-MS Intervention
This is a single arm study.
Intervention: LEAP-MS (Behavioral)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Intervention uptake
Time Frame: 6 months
will be defined as percentage of intervention sessions completed which may be reflected as number of completed physiotherapy led coaching sessions and number of remote physiotherapist contacts, website log in rates, length of time between each log in episode and duration of logged activity.
Retention rate
Time Frame: 6 months
will be measured as the percentage of individuals who complete the 3 and 6 month follow-up assessments
Recruitment rate
Time Frame: 6 months
assessed as the percentage of those submitting online permission to contact forms who are eligible and who consent to participation. The primary outcome will be based on the feasibility of the study in terms of quantitative measures of recruitment, retention and intervention uptake. These proportions will be tabulated with 95% confidence intervals alongside the CONSORT chart. No formal hypothesis tests will be carried out in the analysis. Intervention uptake data will be summarised based on the proportion of participants engaging with the intervention. Factors such as disease severity (as represented by EDSS scores) and self-efficacy that may plausibly impact on intervention uptake and retention will be explored. Safety data will be collected through self-reporting by the participant on the digital interactive education and activity tool. Acceptability of the intervention to both PwPMS and physiotherapists (usability, content, design, and language) and fidelity will be assessed.
Acceptability assessment (process evaluation)
Time Frame: 6 months
will focus on content, design, language and adaptability to personal needs and will be assessed through use of any remote contact facility and semi-structured interviews (either face to face or by telephone) with participants who completed the intervention and physiotherapists who delivered the intervention
Fidelity of intervention delivery
Time Frame: 6 months
will be assessed through sampled observations of interactive physiotherapy consultations.
Costs associated with intervention delivery
Time Frame: 6 months
potential therapist travel and contact time will be recorded
Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events
Time Frame: 6 months
will be assessed by an online process of self-reporting by the participant
Secondary Outcomes
No secondary outcomes reported