Acceptability of Pactster in Cystic Fibrosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Is 'Pactster' an acceptable tool to promote Exercise Participation in the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Community with and without physiotherapy support?
IRAS ID
235344
Contact name
T Spencer
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 2 months, 27 days
Research summary
Regular exercise is recommended in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) to help with chest secretions, to improve symptoms, and to help with lung function. However, routine exercise is believed to be a challenge in CF and many studies looking at this have had little or no effect. Opportunities for CF patients are limited because patients have bacteria in their lungs that can infect other patients. Therefore, they cannot exercise together in a group.
Pactster.com is a new website aiming to connect patients online and encourage regular exercise. It is currently available for use by the general public and offers free access for the CF population. This study aims to assess if the use of Pactster’s online exercise video content is an acceptable option to promote exercise participation.
Adults with a diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis will be eligible if their lung function suggests that it is safe for them to exercise. Patients with a lower level of lung function may benefit from a greater level of support when exercising. Those who are currently exercising less than the recommended 150 minutes per week and want to increase how much they exercise will be included. Patients will be identified at routine six weekly outpatient clinics
On consenting, patients will be randomised to receive Pactster and usual care, or Pactser and physiotherapy support. The control group will be encouraged to engage with the website in its current form, using the support from the other users and completing an exercise diary for 6 weeks to record their progress. The intervention group will receive online Physiotherapy support within the Pactster community, scheduling online exercise sessions. They too will record an exercise diary over the 6 week period.
Assessments will occur through home visits at the start before any new intervention and at week 6. Details including date of birth, sex, height and weight will be obtained from medicals records. Real time oxygen saturations and lung function will be measured, as well as completion of an exercise step test. This involves monitoring heart rate, breathlessness and oxygen levels. At 6 weeks, patients will also be asked to complete a short questionnaire based on their Pactster experience.REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/NW/0247
Date of REC Opinion
14 May 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion