We Walk (Phase 2)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
We Walk: Development of a family-centred and peer-support behavioural intervention to promote regular outdoor walking after stroke (Phase 2)
IRAS ID
264681
Contact name
Jacqui Morris
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Dundee
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN34488928
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Stroke causes weakness, difficulty walking and disability. Many stroke survivors have low levels of physical activity, raising the risk of further stroke, cardiovascular disease, falls and poor mobility. Our previous research showed that stroke survivors’ preferred form of activity is walking, and that family members and friends can be supportive in increasing physical activity.
This study develops a family-centred behavioural intervention to promote regular walking as part of stroke survivors’ daily lives. It uses a novel feature, where the stroke survivor works with a walking buddy within a dyad, to facilitate walking outside. Phase 1 involved co-producing a behaviour change intervention with key stakeholders (stroke survivors, their families, friends or peers, and health and exercise professionals).
Phase 2 will deliver the intervention to 28 stroke survivor/walking buddy dyads and will use Participatory Action Research to revise and refine the intervention in an iterative way. Stroke survivors will be invited to take part in the study by health and exercise professionals. Potential participants will then be recruited by a researcher who will deliver the intervention over a 12 week period (4 visits to the home and 3 phone/Skype calls). Participants will be asked to self-monitor walking activity and to record and reflect on their experiences of taking part in the study. Through discussion, the researcher will elicit participants’ views on taking part in the study, which will in turn be used to refine the intervention.
Three events for the dissemination of findings to key stakeholders will be convened at the end of the intervention period. These events will be used to demonstrate the final intervention product, to discuss final amendments and consult on how the intervention can best be translated to practice across rehabilitation and leisure services. Further funding will be sought to test the intervention in a randomised controlled trial.REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
19/NS/0077
Date of REC Opinion
10 May 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion