The RESPECT-PAD Trial
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial of REmotely SuPervised ExerCise Training for Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease - The RESPECT-PAD Trial
IRAS ID
224506
Contact name
Charles McCollum
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Fatty deposits in the blood vessels which carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body is known as peripheral arterial disease and affects about 1 in 5 of the UK population aged over 55. Left untreated it can lead to debilitating pain, tissue death (gangrene), amputation and death. It most commonly affects the lower limbs and in early stages of the disease, patients suffer with a symptom known as intermittent claudication. This is pain felt in the legs which stops the patient from walking past a certain distance and is because the demand of the exercising muscles can’t be met by the supply, which is decreased by the disease within the vessels. Current UK National Institute for Healthcare and Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommend ‘Supervised Exercise Training’ as first line treatment for patients with intermittent claudication. The supervision is effective as it employs behaviour changing techniques which enables the patient to modify their lifestyle and makes it easier for them to stay committed to exercise which promotes the formation of new blood vessels and helps the body adapt to the reduced blood supply. This improves symptoms, quality of life and reduces their risk of heart attacks and strokes. Despite this treatment being simple and more cost-effective than complex surgical procedures most institutions can’t, or are unwilling to, offer such programmes, citing lack of resource and compliance from clinicians and patients alike. A more cost-effective, resource-savvy solution, REmotely SuPervised ExerCise Training (RESPECT), allows the patient to exercise at their own convenience whilst wearing a fitness tracker. These trackers are linked to an online fitness platform which is supervised remotely by a health professional, who can provide assistance and motivation when required, ensuring the benefits of physical supervision are not lost. This randomised controlled trial will assess its’ effectiveness.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/NW/0125
Date of REC Opinion
12 Apr 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion