Promoting engagement in physical activity in rheumatoid arthritis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A novel, theory based intervention to promote engagement in physical activity in early rheumatoid arthritis (PEPA-RA): proof of concept study (PEPA-RA)
IRAS ID
216071
Contact name
Fiona Cramp
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of the West of england
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 0 days
Research summary
People with rheumatoid arthritis have indicated that they would like better support to remain physically active following diagnosis and would welcome a physical activity programmes delivered outside of a secondary care setting by a physiotherapist. With patient input, and based upon previous research in other long term conditions, we have developed a physical activity intervention for delivery by musculoskeletal physiotherapists in a primary care setting. This proposed proof of concept study will investigate the new intervention and inform a future randomised controlled pilot trial. We will train four Band 6 musculoskeletal physiotherapists to deliver the intervention. We will subsequently recruit up to 32 patients with a recent diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (6 -24 months previously). Each physiotherapist will deliver the 12-week intervention package to a group of 6-8 participants. The participants will be asked to complete some outcome measures at the beginning of the 12-week intervention and again at the end. Following the 12-week programme we will also ask some of the patients what they thought of the programme and the outcome measures and whether they have any suggestions for improvement. We plan to ask those that did and did not complete the programme to ensure that we have a wide range of views. We will also ask the treating physiotherapists about their experiences of delivering the programme as well as what they thought of the training. Based upon these findings we will subsequently refine the programme and if appropriate seek further funding to carry out a pilot randomised controlled trial.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/EM/0029
Date of REC Opinion
7 Feb 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion