Abstract
BackgroundSystematic reviews have identified a range of brief interventions which increase physical activity in previously sedentary people. There is an absence of evidence about whether follow up beyond three months can maintain long term physical activity. This study assesses whether it is worth providing motivational interviews, three months after giving initial advice, to those who have become more active.Methods/DesignStudy candidates (n = 1500) will initially be given an interactive DVD and receive two telephone follow ups at monthly intervals checking on receipt and use of the DVD. Only those that have increased their physical activity after three months (n = 600) will be randomised into the study. These participants will receive either a "mini booster" (n = 200), "full booster" (n = 200) or no booster (n = 200). The "mini booster" consists of two telephone calls one month apart to discuss physical activity and maintenance strategies. The "full booster" consists of a face-to-face meeting with the facilitator at the same intervals. The purpose of these booster sessions is to help the individual maintain their increase in physical activity. Differences in physical activity, quality of life and costs associated with the booster interventions, will be measured three and nine months from randomisation. The research will be conducted in 20 of the most deprived neighbourhoods in Sheffield, which have large, ethnically diverse populations, high levels of economic deprivation, low levels of physical activity, poorer health and shorter life expectancy. Participants will be recruited through general practices and community groups, as well as by postal invitation, to ensure the participation of minority ethnic groups and those with lower levels of literacy. Sheffield City Council and Primary Care Trust fund a range of facilities and activities to promote physical activity and variations in access to these between neighbourhoods will make it possible to examine whether the effectiveness of the intervention is modified by access to community facilities. A one-year integrated feasibility study will confirm that recruitment targets are achievable based on a 10% sample.DiscussionThe choice of study population, study interventions, brief intervention preceding the study, and outcome measure are discussed.Trial RegistrationCurrent Controlled Trials: ISRCTN56495859; ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00836459.
Highlights
Systematic reviews have identified a range of brief interventions which increase physical activity in previously sedentary people
Booster Interventions Candidates deemed eligible after a telephone assessment will be invited to attend a baseline assessment appointment at a community venue and they will be randomly allocated to one of three groups: 1. a “full booster” group (n = 200) receiving an intervention comprising two face-to-face physical activity consultations, delivered in a motivational interviewing style, at one month and two months from randomisation; 2. a “mini booster” group (n = 200) receiving an intervention comprising two telephone-based physical activity consultations, delivered in a motivational interviewing style, at one month and two months from randomisation; or, 3. a control group (n = 200) who will be assessed at randomisation, after three months and after nine months and receive no additional intervention between those assessments
The primary objective is to determine whether physical activity, measured by accelerometry three months after randomisation, is significantly increased in participants allocated to two intervention groups ("full” or “mini” booster) compared to participants allocated to a control group
Summary
Systematic reviews have identified a range of brief interventions which increase physical activity in previously sedentary people. The Sheffield Physical Activity Booster Trial is a three-arm, parallel group, randomised controlled trial with a feasibility study It will compare two different intensities of Motivational Interviewing (MI; ‘booster’) intervention against no further intervention in people who have already increased their physical activity levels following a brief intervention. The “mini booster” of two telephone physical activity consultations and a “full booster” of two face-to-face physical activity consultations will be offered four and five months after the initial brief intervention. The purpose of these booster sessions is to help participants to sustain their physical activity levels and prevent relapse. All interventions, including the initial brief intervention, will be delivered by trained facilitators (employed as research assistants and trained by the research team) to ensure consistent delivery
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