The REACH-SCI study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Acceptability, fidelity, safety and preliminary efficacy of a sedentary behaviour intervention in individuals with spinal cord injury: a pilot study
IRAS ID
345324
Contact name
Daniel Bailey
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Brunel University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 4 days
Research summary
Individuals with paraplegia are predominantly reliant on a wheelchair for mobility. These individuals have a greater risk of heart disease and stroke than non-wheelchair users. This might be because they engage in high amounts of sedentary behaviour, which is defined as long periods of inactivity whilst sitting or lying down. In non-disabled people, there have been a number of programmes to reduce sedentary behaviour that have led to reductions in sedentary time and improvements in psychosocial health and heart disease risk markers, such as reductions in glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. A review found a lack of programmes aiming to reduce sedentary behaviour in individuals with paraplegia and we do not know how good they are for reducing heart disease risk markers.
A programme to support reductions in sedentary behaviour has been developed alongside individuals with paraplegia, healthcare professionals, and people who support individuals with paraplegia in the community, using a series of co-design workshops.
This study aims to evaluate this new intervention with individuals with paraplegia, in order to determine its acceptability, fidelity, safety and preliminary efficacy.
The REACH-SCI intervention will involve (1) a wearable activity tracker to give reminders to break up sedentary behaviour, (2) education around what sedentary behaviour is, how to reduce and break up sedentary behaviour, and the benefits of doing so, (3) a goal setting worksheet related to sedentary behaviour, (4) one-to-one motivational support sessions to help set goals, review progress and give motivation, (5) peer support using a smartphone app, and (6) activity tools to support the breaking up of sedentary behaviour with physical activity throughout the day.
Measurements of fatigue, pain, physical activity, sedentary behaviour, cardiovascular disease biomarkers, wellbeing, anxiety, depression and quality of life will be taken at baseline, after which all participants will receive the intervention for eight weeks. Following this period, follow-up measurements will be taken to determine differences in these measurements. After eight weeks, acceptability of the intervention and data collection procedures will be determined via semi-structured interviews and questionnaires.REC name
East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/EE/0090
Date of REC Opinion
1 May 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion