Keeping active
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Keeping active: maintenance of physical activity in older people after an exercise programme
IRAS ID
184897
Contact name
Denise Kendrick
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, months, days
Research summary
Ten GP practices who recruited trial participants to one of the exercise intervention arms (FaME and OTAGO) will be invited to participate, with the aim of recruiting approximately five to the study. Baseline trial data on age, gender, baseline falls history, fear of falling and trial arm (FaME or OTAGO) will be used to identify a sample of ProAct 65+ participants from these practices to invite to the study, using maximum variation sampling to ensure diversity across these characteristics. The ProAct 65+ study original study log which includes previous participants’ names and dates of birth (retained for 10 years as part of research data, see REC application ref: 08/H0408/72) will be used to identify the potential participants. Using the general practices’ study reference number, the list of potential participants from the general practice will be provided to that practice. GP practices will be asked to check vital status/eligibility and send study invitation letters to eligible ProAct 65+ trial participants, who will be asked to return expressions of interest to the study team. GPs will be asked to send a reminder letter to non-responders approximately 3 weeks after the initial mail out. A study team member will telephone those expressing interest to discuss the study and answer any questions. An interview date and time will be agreed with those who are interested after the telephone discussion.
The study questionnaire will be posted to those agreeing to be interviewed one week prior to the interview and will be collected by the researcher at the interview. In addition, participants will be asked to complete a short demographic questionnaire at the time of the interview. Interviews will be conducted in participants’ homes or a convenient community location.
We anticipate a high recruitment rate as these are people who participated in the ProAct 65+ trial and provided follow up data for 24 months. We will continue to interview until data saturation, but we anticipate 30 interviews with ProAct 65+ participants, and 10 partner/carer/family member/friend interviews will be sufficient for data saturation. Of the 30 participant interviews, approximately 15 participants who continued exercise after the ProAct 65+ study will be interviewed and 15 participants who did not continue exercise. Participants will be recruited over a 3 month period.
At the end of the interview, participants will be asked if they have a partner/carer/family member/friend (1 or 2 people) who may be interested in taking part in the study and, if so, whether the participant is happy to ask their partner/carer/family member/friend if the research team can contact them about taking part in the study . The researcher will also leave a couple of information sheets which include reply slips with a freepost envelope for return. The participant can provide these to the partner/carer/family member/friend. We will contact partners, carers, family members or friends, aiming to interview 5 partners/carers/family members/friends of participants who did, and 5 partners/carers/family members/friends of participants who did not continue exercise. Interviews will be conducted face-face or by telephone, as preferred.
REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/1579
Date of REC Opinion
15 Sep 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion