Structured lifestyle education for people wIth schizophrenia
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN19447796 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN19447796 |
| Protocol serial number | HTA 12/28/05; 16040 |
| Sponsor | Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust (UK) |
| Funder | Health Technology Assessment Programme |
- Submission date
- 20/03/2014
- Registration date
- 20/03/2014
- Last edited
- 15/11/2019
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
There is an urgent need to develop ways to help people with schizophrenia and other severe mental illnesses (SMI) to manage their weight. Obesity and overweight occur 23 times more commonly among people with schizophrenia. As well as increasing the risk of physical health problems such as diabetes and heart disease, weight gain may be a reason that stops people from taking their medication. This can make their mental health worse. There is evidence to suggest that people with schizophrenia can change their diet and exercise habits, with appropriate support, in the short term. Research is needed to see whether lifestyle interventions are effective in promoting further weight loss in the longer term for people with SMIs. This aim of this study is to develop a lifestyle education programme that meets the needs of people with SMI and first episode psychosis. We will adapt the programme from a successful education programme called DESMOND, which was developed for people with diabetes or at risk of diabetes.
Who can participate?
We aim to recruit around 400 people with schizophrenia (including first episode psychosis) from 10 Mental Health Trusts in the UK.
What does the study involve?
In the first part of the study trained educators will deliver a test programme to patients in three cycles. Feedback from each cycle will be used to improve the programme. In the second part of the study participants will be randomly allocated to one of two groups. One group will continue to receive their usual health and social care. The other group will receive their usual health and social care and also the programme developed during the first part of the study. This is likely to be delivered over several weekly sessions followed by 'booster' sessions every 3 months. It is important to find out if people with schizophrenia can change their lifestyle and lose weight as a result of the education programme. We will measure body weight during the trial and measure other potential health benefits from changes in diet and physical activity. We will also see whether the programme is acceptable to people with SMI, their carers and health care professionals.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Previous research studies suggest that lifestyle education programmes can lead to reductions in body weight and diabetes. People often feel better as a result of the increase in exercise and healthier diet. The study is unlikely to cause harm but it is possible that participants may injure themselves through doing physical activity they are not used to. Although no adverse effects are anticipated, the education programme may not help people to lose weight or prevent weight gain.
Where is the study run from?
This study is sponsored by Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust and managed by Sheffield Clinical Trials Research Unit (CTRU), The University of Sheffield.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
Recruitment is due to start in December 2014 and will run until March 2016. All participants can expect to be involved in the study for about 12 months. Follow-up is expected to finish in March 2017.
Who is funding the study?
NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme - HTA (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Rebecca Gossage-Worrall
r.gossage-worrall@sheffield.ac.uk
Contact information
Scientific
Health Services Research, School of Health & related Research (ScHARR)
Regents Court
30 Regent Street
Sheffield
S1 4DA
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-1435-9474 |
|---|---|
| r.gossage-worrall@sheffield.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Randomised; Interventional; Design type: Treatment |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | STEPWISE: a multi-centre randomised controlled trial assessing STructured lifestyle Education for People WIth SchizophrEnia (including first episode psychosis) to reduce weight gain of patients prescribed antipsychotic medication |
| Study acronym | STEPWISE |
| Study objectives | There are two stages involved in STEPWISE: 1. The intervention development study (IDS) will adapt the NICE approved education programme DESMOND™, to meet the needs of people with schizophrenia. 2. A multicentre open-labelled individually randomised (parallel group) controlled trial of a group lifestyle education programme in people with schizophrenia including those with first episode psychosis. The primary objective of the trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of structured lifestyle education on reduction of weight gain for people with schizophrenia and first episode psychosis. More details can be found at: http://www.nets.nihr.ac.uk/projects/hta/122805 Protocol can be found at: http://www.nets.nihr.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/115561/PRO-12-28-05.pdf |
| Ethics approval(s) | NRES Yorkshire and the Humber - South Yorkshire, 04/02/2014, ref: 14/YH/0019 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Topic: Mental Health Research Network; Subtopic: Schizophrenia; Disease: Schizophrenia |
| Intervention | NICE recommended usual care: An annual physical health review as per the NICE guidelines. Verbal & printed advice on the risk of weight gain & lifestyle advice, including information about diet, exercise, smoking & alcohol use. Structured lifestyle education: An adapted DESMOND programme delivered to a group of approximately 6-8 people in 4 weekly sessions lasting 1.5 hours, by two trained facilitators, with modules (such as, the patient story, physical activity, and diet) designed to target perceptions and knowledge of risk status and chronic disease, self-efficacy and response-efficacy beliefs around health behaviour. Support contract and booster sessions provided by facilitators. Follow Up Length: 12 month(s) Study Entry: Single Randomisation only |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Weight (kg) at 12 months after randomisation; Timepoint(s): 12 months |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Adapted Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire; Timepoint(s): 3 and 12 months |
| Completion date | 06/04/2017 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 412 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Age ≥ 18 years old. There is no upper age limit. 2. Clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia (defined by Internal Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes F20 - Schizophrenia and F25 - Schizoaffective disorders)) including first episode psychosis using case note review. There is no limit on the duration of illness 3. Patients must have been treated with an antipsychotic. For those with established schizophrenia, the treatment duration should be at least 1 month prior to the start of the trial. 4. Ability to give written informed consent 5. Ability and willingness to attend and participate in a group education programme 6. Ability to speak and read English 7. Body mass index 25 kg/m2 or concerned about weight gain since treatment initiation. For patients from South Asian and other Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, the BMI threshold will be reduced to 23 kg/m2. |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Physical illnesses that could seriously reduce their life expectancy or ability to participate in the trial 2. A co-existing physical health problem that would, in the opinion of the medical investigators, independently impact on metabolic measures. 3. Mental illnesses that could seriously reduce their ability to participant in the trial 4. Current pregnancy, plus mothers less than 6 months post-partum. Conditions associated with significant weight gain e.g. Cushing's syndrome 5. Significant alcohol or substance misuse 6. A diagnosis or tentative diagnosis of psychotic depression or mania 7. A primary diagnosis of learning disability 8. Already engaged in a systematic weight management programme. |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/12/2014 |
| Date of final enrolment | 01/03/2016 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centre
S1 4DA
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Data sharing statement to be made available at a later date |
| IPD sharing plan | The data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | results | 01/11/2018 | Yes | No | |
| Results article | results | 01/02/2019 | Yes | No | |
| Protocol article | protocol | 29/09/2016 | Yes | No | |
| HRA research summary | 28/06/2023 | No | No | ||
| Other publications | process evaluation | 13/11/2019 | 15/11/2019 | Yes | No |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
| Study website | Study website | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
15/11/2019: Publication reference added.
04/12/2018: Publication reference added.
01/11/2018: Publication reference added.
10/09/2018: Publication and dissemination plan and IPD sharing statement added.
10/08/2018: The overall trial end date was changed from 01/03/2017 to 06/04/2017.
30/09/2016: Publication reference added.
