Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
The aim of this study is to investigate if an individually tailored physical activity (PA) intervention can help women who are pregnant for the first time to achieve optimal levels of PA. PA in pregnancy has been linked to a number of psychological, biological and social benefits for mothers. Despite these benefits, PA in pregnancy is even lower than PA in the general population, with only between 3-15% of pregnant women meeting published PA guidelines. Furthermore, PA is seen to decline throughout the course of pregnancy. There is a lack of evidence regarding interventions based solely on promoting PA throughout pregnancy. Existing interventions often incorporate a range of lifestyle factors which make it difficult to measure determinants of PA in the short and long term. This study investigates whether an individually tailored intervention can help pregnant women become physically active or maintain physical activity throughout pregnancy.
Who can participate?
We aim to recruit 200 women who are pregnant for the first time.
What does the study involve?
Following a routine antenatal appointment, if the midwife deems the woman eligible to participate, they will give them a brief description of the study and ask if they are interested. If so, the researcher will be invited in to explain the research in more detail. If interested, the woman will be given an information sheet and consent form and asked to attend an information session. At this session, more information will be provided and participants who provide consent will be randomly allocated to either the intervention or the control group. Those in the intervention group will receive three individual consultations with the researcher and be invited to attend a weekly walking group. Those in the control group will receive usual care. All participants will be asked to wear an accelerometer (physical activity monitor) for one week in each trimester. They will also be asked to complete a questionnaire once in each trimester and once postpartum.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
It is unknown whether the individually tailored intervention will produce any benefits for patients. There is a possibility that women who attend the meetings with the researcher and attend the weekly walking meetings will feel better supported to engage in physical activity and engage in greater physical activity than those in the control group. There are no known risks when taking part in this study. All decisions made regarding physical activity will be made jointly between the researcher and participant.
Where is the study run from?
The study will be run in the Ulster Hospital Maternity Unit, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Northern Ireland.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
Recruitment started in September 2012 and will finish in July 2013. Participants will be enrolled for the length of their pregnancy. The intervention will continue until the last participant gives birth, around January 2014. Data collection will subsequently be completed by March 2014.
Who is funding the study?
Department of Education and Learning (DEL), Northern Ireland.
Who is the main contact?
Prof. Marlene Sinclair, Professor of Midwifery Research, M.Sinclair1@ulster.ac.uk
Dr Elaine Madden, Head of Midwifery & Gynaecology at South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust, elaine.madden@setrust.hscni.net
Miss Sinead Currie, Currie-S4@email.ulster.ac.uk
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Prof Marlene Sinclair
ORCID ID
Contact details
University of Ulster
Shore Road
Newtownabbey
BT37 0QB
United Kingdom
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M.Sinclair1@ulster.ac.uk
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
N/A
Study information
Scientific title
What effects does an individually tailored intervention have on the physical activity of primigravida pregnant women?
Acronym
APP
Study hypothesis
It is hypothesised that physical activity participation will be higher in the intervention group than control/usual care group. Women who receive the tailored physical activity intervention will self-report more positive psychological outcomes than controls.
The null hypothesis is that there will be no difference in physical activity or psychological outcomes between groups.
Ethics approval
Office for Research Ethics Committees Northern Ireland (ORECNI), 14/05/2012, ref: 12/NI/0036
Study design
Randomised controlled trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Quality of life
Patient information sheet
Patient information can be found at: http://www.doctoralmidwiferysociety.org/Portals/c8d3e3f8-9c01-4bf5-abd9-3fd6b4c510ae/Participant%20Information%20Sheet%20version%209%2019%20June%20no%20footer.docx
Condition
Physical activity in pregnancy
Intervention
1. The intervention group will receive three face-to-face individual consultations with the researcher, one per trimester. After they reach 20 weeks gestation, they will be invited to attend a weekly walking group held in the hospital.
2. The control group will receive usual care.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
Primary outcome measures
Physical activity measured using an accelerometer and a self-report 7-day physical activity diary
Secondary outcome measures
1. Psychological wellbeing
2. Social support
3. Quality of life
4. Gestational weight gain
5. Mode of delivery
6. Gestational age
All of these were measured using a questionnaire.
Overall trial start date
15/09/2012
Overall trial end date
11/03/2014
Reason abandoned
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Primigravida (pregnant with first child)
2. Viability scan confirming ongoing pregnancy between 8 and 18 weeks gestation
3. Singleton pregnancy
4. Speak and understand English
5. 18 years or over
6. Volunteers who are able to give full written consent
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Female
Target number of participants
200
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Women with medical or obstetric complications or risks such as hypertension requiring medication, heart conditions, history of more than two miscarriages, metabolic disorders, existing diabetes (decided by midwife)
2. Any existing conditions which may contraindicate regular PA (physical activity)
3. Multiple pregnancies: twins, triplets or any other multiple gestation
4. Under 18 years of age
5. Gestation over 18 weeks at recruitment
Recruitment start date
15/09/2012
Recruitment end date
01/07/2013
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
University of Ulster
Newtownabbey
BT37 0QB
United Kingdom
Funders
Funder type
Government
Funder name
Department of Employment and Learning (DEL) (UK)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Results - basic reporting
Publication summary
2015 results in http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26686681