Physical activity tele-coaching in lung transplant recipients

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Efficacy of physical activity tele-coaching to optimise daily physical activity levels in lung transplant recipients

  • IRAS ID

    257479

  • Contact name

    Ioannis Vogiatzis

  • Contact email

    ioannis.vogiatzis@northumbria.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Northumbria at Newcastle

  • Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

    NCT03873597

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    2 years, 0 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    Lung transplantation is the last therapeutic option for patients with end-stage lung disease. Despite the overall success of the treatment, lung transplant recipients remain significantly inactive in daily life compared to healthy age-matched counterparts, secondary to extensive hospital and intensive care unit stay, medication and the psychological effects of transplantation.

    Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) constitutes an important component in the management of chronic lung disease and has been shown to improve physical activity levels and quality of life (QOL) in patients post lung transplant. Despite the well documented benefits of PR, the availability and uptake of these programmes by lung transplant recipients remains limited.

    Physical activity is a complex health behaviour, thus the efficacy of alternative interventions that aim to increase physical activity through behaviour modification should be explored to overcome problems with the provision and uptake of PR. A novel semi-automated physical activity tele-coaching (TC) intervention, consisting of a step-counter and smartphone application in combination with behavioural strategies (goal setting, identification of barriers, motivation, self-monitoring and feedback) providing remote consultation and motivational feedback via a telehealth web platform, has proven effective at improving daily physical activity levels in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. However, the effectiveness of semi-automated TC to induce meaningful improvements in daily steps to transpire into enhanced post-surgery outcomes and improve recovery is yet to be investigated in lung transplant recipients.

    Accordingly, we propose to conduct a randomised controlled trial to assess the effect of adding TC to usual care (UC) versus UC on daily physical activity levels (steps/day) following lung transplantation. TC will involve patients wearing a small monitor that acts as a step-counter, and links via a smartphone app to a tele-health platform.

  • REC name

    North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    19/NE/0119

  • Date of REC Opinion

    29 May 2019

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion