A Home-based Intervention to Reduce Sedentary Behaviour and Improve Function After Stroke

NCT ID: NCT02980744

Last Updated: 2018-02-20

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 34 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2016-08-31
• Study Completion Date: 2018-01-31

Brief Summary

The traditional approach to physical activity promotion in people with stroke has always emphasized activities of a moderate-to-vigorous intensity (i.e. moving enough to breathe fast and break a sweat). For many people with stroke who often have difficulty with walking, achieving that intensity of activity is difficult. The result is that people with stroke spend over 80% of their day in sedentary behaviours (too much sitting). A growing body of research shows that too much sitting has negative effects on health including larger waist circumference, unhealthy levels of blood glucose and insulin, heart disease, lower levels of functioning, and premature death.

This project tests a new approach to activity promotion that focuses on increasing light-intensity activity throughout the whole day while reducing sitting time. The new intervention is titled "STand Up Frequently From Stroke (STUFFS)" and is aimed at increasing self-confidence among people with stroke to sit less, stand up and walk around at frequent intervals during the day. Studies in the general population have shown that standing up and walking around frequently are beneficially associated with health indicators (lower waist circumference, lower blood fat and glucose levels). Encouraging people with stroke to reduce sitting and increase light-intensity activities appears feasible and sustainable and might be a first step to increase their daily energy expenditure.

Detailed Description

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of adult disability among Canadians, with about 405,000 individuals living with the effects of stroke and this number is expected to rise by 80% in the next 20 years [1]. Guidelines on activity promotion in people with stroke emphasize the attainment of 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity activity per week [2].

Moving fast enough to 'break a sweat' is challenging for people with stroke who often have mobility deficits. Stroke survivors spend over 80% of their day in sedentary behaviours (too much sitting) [3-5]. Accumulating evidence indicates that sedentary behaviour has deleterious effects on health, regardless of exercise levels [6]. Targeting sedentary behaviour might be a feasible and sustainable way to change activity behaviour in people with stroke.

Purpose: This research aims to test the feasibility of a social cognitive theory-based intervention to reduce sedentary behaviour and improve light-intensity activity (such as standing and walking around frequently). The focus is on improving activity behaviour and will allow a systematic and staged reduction of contact with organised hospital care.

Methodological approach: Thirty-five persons with stroke will be enrolled. Outcomes including sedentary behaviour, physical activity and function will be measured at baseline (week 0), post-intervention (week 9) and follow-up (week 16). Activity behaviour (i.e. time sedentary, standing, and stepping) will be recorded for 7 days at each time point using activPAL activity monitor, validated in people with stroke [7]. Impairment from stroke will be assessed using Chedoke McMaster Stroke Assessment, which is a valid and reliable tool to measure impairment after stroke [8]. Cognitive status will be assessed using Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale, validated in stroke [9].

At the end of the intervention, feasibility outcomes such as reach (number enrolled / number eligible), retention (% enrolled who complete study), and satisfaction (exit interviews) with the program will be determined. Changes in sedentary, physical activity and functional outcomes across time (weeks 0, 9 and 16) will be tested.

Intervention: For the intervention, output from baseline activity monitoring (using activPAL activity monitor) will provide data on usual activity behaviour. Action plans targeting areas of high sedentary behaviour throughout the day will be developed. A wrist-worn activity Misfit monitor - a motivational tool that will track adherence to the intervention will be used throughout the intervention period (i.e. 8 weeks). This device provides activity feedback for the user in real time. A checklist will be used to address: 1) use of walking aids; 2) incidence of falls; 3) review and progression of home exercise program; and 4) quality of walking.

Analysis: Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize baseline data. Feasibility measurements (reach, retention, and satisfaction) will be evaluated as percentages. Changes in activity and functional outcomes across time (weeks 0, 9 and 16) will be tested using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). All analysis will be done with STATA and significance level set at P < 0.05.

Conditions

Stroke

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

STUFFS

Participants will undergo a sedentary behaviour intervention which includes breaking up prolonged sitting by standing and walking around for 5 minutes every half-hour, standing and walking during television commercial breaks, doing 2 sets of 10 sit-to-stand transitions three times per day, and going to the kitchen to grab some drink every hour. A wrist-worn Misfit activity monitor - a motivational tool that will track adherence to the intervention will be used throughout the intervention period (i.e. 8 weeks). This device which is commercially available provides activity feedback for the user in real time.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Sedentary behaviour intervention

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The intervention is based on socio-cognitive theory and focuses on building and increasing confidence (self-efficacy) to make a behaviour change. Output from the activity monitor (i.e. activPAL) will provide visual feedback of usual activity. Action plans targeting areas of high sedentary behaviour will be developed. A wrist-worn Misfit activity monitor is used as a self-monitoring tool throughout the intervention. This commercially available device provides activity information in real time, and sets daily targets for physical activity. A checklist will be used to address: 1) use of walking aids; 2) incidence of falls; 3) review and progression of home exercise program; and 4) quality of walking. The intervention visits will be conducted by a physical therapist.

Interventions

Sedentary behaviour intervention

The intervention is based on socio-cognitive theory and focuses on building and increasing confidence (self-efficacy) to make a behaviour change. Output from the activity monitor (i.e. activPAL) will provide visual feedback of usual activity. Action plans targeting areas of high sedentary behaviour will be developed. A wrist-worn Misfit activity monitor is used as a self-monitoring tool throughout the intervention. This commercially available device provides activity information in real time, and sets daily targets for physical activity. A checklist will be used to address: 1) use of walking aids; 2) incidence of falls; 3) review and progression of home exercise program; and 4) quality of walking. The intervention visits will be conducted by a physical therapist.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke
• within 1 month of discharge from hospital
• able to stand up from a chair with or without gait aid and walk at least 5 metres
• able to understand 2-step commands

Exclusion Criteria

• Have other neurological problems besides stroke or medically unstable.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Alberta Innovates Health Solutions

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Glenrose Foundation

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of Alberta

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Patricia Manns, PT, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Alberta

Victor Ezeugwu, PT, MSc

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

University of Alberta

Locations

University of Alberta

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Countries

Canada

References

Krueger H, Koot J, Hall RE, O'Callaghan C, Bayley M, Corbett D. Prevalence of Individuals Experiencing the Effects of Stroke in Canada: Trends and Projections. Stroke. 2015 Aug;46(8):2226-31. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.115.009616.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 26205371 (View on PubMed)

Coutts SB, Wein TH, Lindsay MP, Buck B, Cote R, Ellis P, Foley N, Hill MD, Jaspers S, Jin AY, Kwiatkowski B, MacPhail C, McNamara-Morse D, McMurtry MS, Mysak T, Pipe A, Silver K, Smith EE, Gubitz G; Heart, and Stroke Foundation Canada Canadian Stroke Best Practices Advisory Committee. Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations: secondary prevention of stroke guidelines, update 2014. Int J Stroke. 2015 Apr;10(3):282-91. doi: 10.1111/ijs.12439. Epub 2014 Dec 23.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 25535808 (View on PubMed)

Tieges Z, Mead G, Allerhand M, Duncan F, van Wijck F, Fitzsimons C, Greig C, Chastin S. Sedentary behavior in the first year after stroke: a longitudinal cohort study with objective measures. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2015 Jan;96(1):15-23. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2014.08.015. Epub 2014 Sep 16.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 25220942 (View on PubMed)

Rand D, Eng JJ, Tang PF, Jeng JS, Hung C. How active are people with stroke?: use of accelerometers to assess physical activity. Stroke. 2009 Jan;40(1):163-8. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.108.523621. Epub 2008 Oct 23.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 18948606 (View on PubMed)

Paul L, Brewster S, Wyke S, Gill JM, Alexander G, Dybus A, Rafferty D. Physical activity profiles and sedentary behaviour in people following stroke: a cross-sectional study. Disabil Rehabil. 2016;38(4):362-7. doi: 10.3109/09638288.2015.1041615. Epub 2015 May 4.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 25936730 (View on PubMed)

Biswas A, Oh PI, Faulkner GE, Bajaj RR, Silver MA, Mitchell MS, Alter DA. Sedentary time and its association with risk for disease incidence, mortality, and hospitalization in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med. 2015 Jan 20;162(2):123-32. doi: 10.7326/M14-1651.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 25599350 (View on PubMed)

Taraldsen K, Askim T, Sletvold O, Einarsen EK, Bjastad KG, Indredavik B, Helbostad JL. Evaluation of a body-worn sensor system to measure physical activity in older people with impaired function. Phys Ther. 2011 Feb;91(2):277-85. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20100159. Epub 2011 Jan 6.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 21212377 (View on PubMed)

Gowland C, Stratford P, Ward M, Moreland J, Torresin W, Van Hullenaar S, Sanford J, Barreca S, Vanspall B, Plews N. Measuring physical impairment and disability with the Chedoke-McMaster Stroke Assessment. Stroke. 1993 Jan;24(1):58-63. doi: 10.1161/01.str.24.1.58.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 8418551 (View on PubMed)

Xu Q, Cao WW, Mi JH, Yu L, Lin Y, Li YS. Brief screening for mild cognitive impairment in subcortical ischemic vascular disease: a comparison study of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment with the Mini-Mental State Examination. Eur Neurol. 2014;71(3-4):106-14. doi: 10.1159/000353988. Epub 2013 Dec 10.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 24335198 (View on PubMed)

Ezeugwu VE, Manns PJ. Using Intervention Mapping to develop and implement a home-based sedentary behavior change intervention after stroke. Transl Behav Med. 2020 Feb 3;10(1):87-95. doi: 10.1093/tbm/iby128.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 30566661 (View on PubMed)

Ezeugwu VE, Manns PJ. The Feasibility and Longitudinal Effects of a Home-Based Sedentary Behavior Change Intervention After Stroke. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2018 Dec;99(12):2540-2547. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2018.06.014. Epub 2018 Jul 5.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 29981314 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Pro00053129

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id