RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Randomised controlled trial of an augmented exercise referral scheme using web-based behavioural support for inactive adults with chronic health conditions: the e-coachER trial
JF British Journal of Sports Medicine
JO Br J Sports Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine
SP bjsports-2020-103121
DO 10.1136/bjsports-2020-103121
A1 Adrian Taylor
A1 Rod S Taylor
A1 Wendy Ingram
A1 Sarah Gerard Dean
A1 Kate Jolly
A1 Nanette Mutrie
A1 Jeff Lambert
A1 Lucy Yardley
A1 Adam Streeter
A1 Colin Greaves
A1 Chloe McAdam
A1 Lisa Price
A1 Nana Kwame Anokye
A1 John Campbell
YR 2020
UL http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2020/11/24/bjsports-2020-103121.abstract
AB Objective To determine whether adding web-based support (e-coachER) to an exercise referral scheme (ERS) increases objectively assessed physical activity (PA).Design Multicentre trial with participants randomised to usual ERS alone (control) or usual ERS plus e-coachER (intervention).Setting Primary care and ERS in three UK sites from 2015 to 2018.Participants 450 inactive ERS referees with chronic health conditions.Interventions Participants received a pedometer, PA recording sheets and a user guide for the web-based support. e-coachER interactively encouraged the use of the ERS and other PA options.Main outcome measures Primary and key secondary outcomes were: objective moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) minutes (in ≥10 min bouts and without bouts), respectively, after 12 months. Secondary outcomes were: other accelerometer-derived and self-reported PA measures, ERS attendance, EQ-5D-5L, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and beliefs about PA. All outcomes were collected at baseline, 4 and 12 months. Primary analysis was an intention to treat comparison between intervention and control arms at 12-month follow-up.Results There was no significant effect of the intervention on weekly MVPA at 12 months between the groups recorded in ≥10 min bouts (mean difference 11.8 min of MVPA, 95% CI: −2.1 to 26.0; p=0.10) or without bouts (mean difference 13.7 min of MVPA, 95% CI: −26.8 to 54.2; p=0.51) for 232 participants with usable data. There was no difference in the primary or secondary PA outcomes at 4 or 12 months.Conclusion Augmenting ERS referrals with web-based behavioural support had only a weak, non-significant effect on MVPA.Trial registration number ISRCTN15644451.