Can Implementation Intentions Help People Who Are Supported by Secondary and Tertiary Care Mental Health Services to be Less Sedentary and More Physically Active: A Feasibility and Acceptability Study.

Introduction: Sedentary behaviour is risk factor for developing many health conditions. People with mental health difficulties can be more sedentary and live 10 years fewer than other populations. Implementation intentions support people to turn intentions into action, and Volitional Help-Sheets are a tool which helps people to form implementation intentions, by identifying critical situations and linking these to potential solutions. The feasibility and acceptability of using a Volitional Help-Sheet to help people using secondary and tertiary care mental health services to reduce sedentary behaviour will be evaluated. If Volitional Help-Sheets are feasible and acceptable to use in this population, this will justify further research in this area, as improving physical and psychological health could increase life expectancy.

Design: The study includes two timepoints: baseline and follow up (four weeks post baseline). Participant characteristics/demographics collected at baseline. At both baseline and follow up, all participants will be asked to complete measures of sedentary behaviour, physical activity, well-being, motivation and mental health. Participants will be randomised to one of two groups. Participants in Group 1, the control group, will receive the Volitional Help-Sheet as a psychoeducational self-help sheet, but not form implementation intentions. Participants in Group 2, the experimental condition, will use the Volitional Help-Sheet to form implementation intentions. Participants will then complete an acceptability and feasibility measure. At follow up, participants will repeat baseline measures.

Sample size: Participants will be current service users, recruited from NHS based secondary and tertiary care mental health services. The recruitment of a minimum of 24 participants and a maximum of 32 participants would be considered a feasible two-armed study.

Recruitment: Adults: 18years+, motivated to decrease sedentary behaviour (demonstrated by choosing to make contact with the researcher to indicate an interest in participation in the study), has capacity to consent to study, currently receiving support from any secondary or tertiary care mental health service and English language ability sufficient to be able to meet the requirements of the study.

Procedure: Recruitment posters will be displayed in clinical areas as part of recruitment. Care teams can advise interested participants on how to contact the researcher and support this if required. Participant information sheets will be disseminated to interested parties. Where a service user has informed the researcher of their interest in participating in the study, they will be offered a detailed participant information sheet and consent to contact forms outlining the study, the expected benefits and commitment required, and informed consent forms. Interested participants will be assessed for capacity to consent and eligibility and will begin the randomisation procedure upon booking the baseline assessment appointment. All members of the research team have experience of obtaining informed consent in research and clinical roles.