Exploring exercise participation in people with RA.1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring Sustained Exercise and Physical activity Participation in people with Rheumatoid Arthritis (ESEPP study)
IRAS ID
191655
Contact name
Lindsay Bearne
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a long-term, autoimmune disease causing disability and reduced quality of life. Exercise improves health and disease in people with RA but long term adherence to exercise is low. Consequently, it is important that appropriate and effective strategies to facilitate sustained exercise are identified and developed. To do this healthcare professionals need to understand the factors which influence exercise participation and the support needs of people with RA.
Increasingly, e-health interventions (digital health related interventions e.g phone apps) are being utilized to change health behaviour such as weight loss in the general population. Its use for sustaining exercise participation in people with RA is in its infancy and little is known about the perceived utility and suitability of e-health interventions to enhance the management of people with RA.
This qualitative study explores the:
1 factors which influence sustained exercise or physical activity and the support needs of people with RA
2 perceived utility and suitability of e-health interventions to support exercise participation in people with RA
3 the perceived utility and suitability of e-health interventions by healthcare professionals and their possible implementation into practice.
Up to 20 individuals with RA with a range of age, genders and disease durations will be recruited to take part in 1 to 1 semi structured interviews lasting 30-45 minutes, conducted either at home, the researcher's department or on the telephone. Up to two focus groups of up to 6-8 healthcare professionals each will explore potential strategies to support sustained exercise, the perceived suitability and utility of e-health interventions and potential implementation into practice.
Interviews and focus groups will be audio recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed using thematic content analysis.REC name
East Midlands - Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/EM/0562
Date of REC Opinion
7 Dec 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion