A study looking at a new walking intervention for stroke survivors
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN35709311 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN35709311 |
| Protocol serial number | 20598 |
| Sponsor | Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust |
| Funder | National Institute for Health Research |
- Submission date
- 17/03/2016
- Registration date
- 17/03/2016
- Last edited
- 12/10/2017
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Nervous System Diseases
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
A stroke is a serious condition where the blood supply to a part of the brain is cut off, usually by a blood clot blocking an artery (ischaemic stroke) or a bleed (haemorrhagic stroke). A large proportion of stroke victims suffer from long-term complications depending on the area of the brain that is affected, which can affect their ability to move, speak or even their cognitive function (memory loss, difficulty reasoning and confusion). One of the most common complications of a stroke is paralysis (hemiplegia) or weakness (hemiparesis) on one side of the body. This can make movements such as walking very difficult and so many patients need extensive physiotherapy to help them recover. Following discharge from hospital, it is important that stroke survivors walk as much as they can so that they are able to keep fit and maintain their independence. This study is looking at a new walking programme designed to help stroke survivors to feel motivated to walk more and to fit walking into their daily lives. The aim of this study is to find out whether this walking programme is more effective at encouraging walking than a brief written information leaflet about the benefits of walking after suffering a stroke.
Who can participate?
Stroke survivors who have been discharged from hospital who are able to walk outside for 15 minutes and live in the area covered by the South London Stroke Register (SLSR).
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Those in the first group receive a short leaflet by post which contains information about the importance of physical activity after stroke. Those in the second group take part in the walking programme. This programme involves one-to-one sessions with a walking coach, which aims to improve patient’s attitudes towards walking. Participants in both groups complete a number of questionnaires at the start of the study, one week and six months after the end of the walking programme. They are also asked to wear a device that measures their physical activity levels for seven days at the same times.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Benefits of participating are unknown, however it is excpected that participants increasing their level of physical activity will have a positive impact on wellbeing and social participation. The risks involved in increasing levels of physical activity are potential increased risk of falls, and muscle discomfort or pain associated with increased movement. However, a number of steps will be taken to minimise these risks, including falls assessments before and during the study and information about when to stop walking.
Where is the study run from?
Guy's & St Thomas' Foundation NHS Trust and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
March 2016 to December 2016
Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Sarah Jane Besser
sarah.besser@kcl.ac.uk
Contact information
Scientific
Dept of Primary Care & Public Health Sciences
Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine
King’s College London
5th Floor
Addison House
Guy’s Campus
London
SE1 1UL
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-0373-5219 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 20 7848 6605 |
| Alison.Wright@kcl.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | A feasibility study of a psychologically-informed, community-based walking intervention for stroke survivors |
| Study objectives | The aim of this study is to find out whether it is feasible to deliver a newly developed walking intervention for stroke survivors and to evaluate it using a randomised controlled design. |
| Ethics approval(s) | City Road & Hampstead & London – City & East REC, 10/11/2015, ref: 15/LO/1566 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Topic: Stroke; Subtopic: Rehabilitation; Disease: Therapy type |
| Intervention | Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Brief written information group: This is an active control group, who will receive a postal written information leaflet about the importance of physical activity after stroke. The leaflet was created by the stroke association, and is titled: 'exercise and stroke.' Novel walking intervention group: This intervention encompasses a wide range of behaviour change techniques, to include: 1. Goal setting (outcomes): what are the patient's desired walking destinations? 2. Increasing positive affective attitudes to walking by discussing patient’s most valued benefits of walking 3. Increasing self-efficacy for walking by focusing on patient’s previous successes at achieving goals and showing similar others who have successfully increase their walking 4. Increasing positive instrumental attitudes via printed information |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Eligibility rate is recorded during the telephone and face-to-face screening phase, by totalling the number of participants who were screened and identified as eligible/not eligible: the study inclusion and exclusion criteria, the Abbreviated Mental Test and the Timed ‘Up and Go’ test. |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Recruitment rate is recorded using details of the following participant contacts/correspondence, in which a potential participant: |
| Completion date | 05/12/2016 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 40 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Aged > 18 years 2. Lives in Lambeth or Southwark 3. Discharged from hospital after stroke, and from formal, community-based stroke rehabilitation 4. Completed 3-month post stroke SLSR assessment 5. People who report walking outside for fifteen minutes at least once in the last 3 months on the version of the Frenchay Activities Index most recently completed as part of SLSR data collection 6. No known cognitive impairment at time sent invitation pack (Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT) score is 8/10 or greater at most recently completed SLSR data collection time point) 7. Not known to be living in a care home or other institution 8. Not taking part in any other research studies (apart from SLSR) 9. Able to walk outside their home and has done so for at least 15 minutes in the last 3 months 10. Able to understand spoken English to the level required to be able to actively participate in the intervention 11. Able to use a telephone and will have consistent access to one during the study. 12. Willing to wear an accelerometer to measure their physical activity during the study 13. No history of recent falls (any fall in the past 3 months) 14. No history of recurrent falls (≥ 2 falls in past 12 months) 15. Has not received, is not currently receiving or on the waiting list for a falls prevention intervention (e.g. falls clinic, strength and balance classes targeted at those at risk of falling, 1:1 physiotherapy to mitigate falls risk) 16. Is not currently receiving or awaiting physiotherapy for any health problem 17. Is not awaiting hip or knee replacement surgery 18. Does not have a cardiac pacing device (the accelerometers used to monitor physical activity in this study may potentially interfere with the operation of cardiac pacing devices) 19. No experience of fainting/blackouts since discharge from hospital for most recent stroke 20. Does not report walking outdoors for more than 30 minutes consecutively, or if able to walk for 30 minutes consecutively, does not do so on more than 4 days per week 21. AMT test score is 8/10 or greater when screened by the study RA over the phone. 22. Not currently pregnant 23. No known allergy/sensitivity to both hypafix and tegaderm adhesive dressing tape (used to apply the accelerometers) 24. Timed up and go test score ≤ 12.34 seconds |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Lacking capacity to provide consent 2. Aged < 18 years 3. Live outside of Lambeth, or Southwark 4. Have not been discharged from hospital after their most recent stroke 5. Have not completed the 3 month South London Stroke Register follow-up 6. Live in a care home or other institution 7. Are unable to walk outside at least a little 8. Are currently taking part in other research studies 9. Have fallen over in the last 3 months 10. Have a history of recurrent falls (≥2 falls in the last year) 11. Currently receiving or on the waiting list for falls prevention intervention (s 12. Currently receiving physiotherapy for another health problem 13. Awaiting hip or knee replacement 14. Have a cardiac pacing device 15. Have experienced fainting/blackouts since discharge from hospital for most recent stroke 16. Scored 7/10 or less on AMT 17. Are currently pregnant 18. Are unable to speak English to the level required to actively participate in the intervention 19. Are unwilling to wear an accelerometer 20. Have an allergy to the components of both Tegaderm and Hypafix 21. Completed the timed “up and go” test ≥ 12.34 seconds, which indicates a risk of falls |
| Date of first enrolment | 04/03/2016 |
| Date of final enrolment | 30/09/2016 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centres
16th Floor
Tower Wing
Great Maze Pond
London
SE1 9RT
United Kingdom
Fifth floor
Ruskin Wing
Denmark Hill
London
SE5 9RS
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HRA research summary | 28/06/2023 | No | No | ||
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
12/10/2017: internal review.
06/05/2016: Verified study information with principal investigator.
