Feasibility study of an intervention for facilitating primary healthcare staff’s use of the method FaR ‘Physical activity on Prescription’ for supporting health promoting physical activity in patient encounters
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN15551042 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN15551042 |
| Protocol serial number | N/A |
| Sponsor | Center for Clinical Research Dalarna, County Council of Dalarna (Sweden) |
| Funders | Regional Research Council for the County Councils in Uppsala-Örebro-region (Sweden), Center for Clinical Research Dalarna, County Council of Dalarna (Sweden) |
- Submission date
- 10/01/2016
- Registration date
- 12/01/2016
- Last edited
- 18/09/2023
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Other
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
‘Physical activity on Prescription’ (FaR) is a method used in Swedish healthcare to promote healthy physical activity in patients, for both the prevention and treatment of lifestyle-related health conditions. FaR has been recommended to be used by licensed healthcare professionals in primary healthcare, but also in other healthcare services. Despite scientific support for the method and major information and education campaigns, it is used to a limited extent in the healthcare sector. We have developed an intervention to support primary healthcare professionals to implement FaR in everyday patient consultations. The aim of this study is to explore the feasibility and acceptability of this intervention, as well as the feasibility of methods for data collection and evaluation of the intervention, for a forthcoming larger study.
Who can participate?
At each participating primary healthcare center, all licensed healthcare professionals having consultations with adult patients who may have a need for increased level of physical activity, as well as the healthcare center management (the manager and possibly others in supervisory positions).
What does the study involve?
The intervention is conducted at each healthcare center. In all, three seminars are conducted with the whole healthcare center staff and management. At the introductory half-day seminar, all healthcare staff are presented to the intervention. An inspiring lecture on health-promoting physical activity and FaR is provided by an external expert in the field, and an educational lecture is also given to provide detailed information on the FaR method, with easy applicable guidance on how to prescribe FaR. Statistics from the patient record system on current FaR prescriptions at the healthcare center are presented. The FaR coordinators and healthcare center manager present a local routine for FaR. The suggestion is discussed and possibly adjusted based on the staff’s comments. There are two one-hour follow-up seminars two and six months after the first seminar. The seminars focus on reflection and feedback on the procedures and components of the intervention, by exploring experiences of using the local routine for FaR prescriptions, using the FaR method in patient consultations, and barriers or facilitators for prescribing FaR. The local routine is changed if necessary. Data is collected from patient records, questionnaires and interviews (focus groups and individual interviews) with healthcare staff and management.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants will gain in-depth knowledge about using the FaR method and will develop their skills for treating patients' unhealthy lifestyle behaviours and improving their quality of life. There are no foreseeable risks or disadvantages of participating.
Where is the study run from?
Three primary healthcare centres in Dalarna County Council and Region Gävleborg (Sweden)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2015 to June 2018
Who is funding the study?
1. Regional Research Council for the County Councils in Uppsala-Örebro-region (Sweden)
2. Center for Clinical Research Dalarna, County Council of Dalarna (Sweden)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Catharina Gustavsson
Contact information
Scientific
Center for Clinical Research Dalarna
Nissers väg 3
Falun
SE-79182
Sweden
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-8709-4446 |
|---|
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Feasibility study with before-and-after design |
| Secondary study design | Non randomised study |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Feasibility study of an implementation intervention for facilitating primary healthcare staff's use of the method FaR ‘Physical activity on Prescription’ for supporting health promoting physical activity in patient encounters |
| Study objectives | A theoretically based implementation strategy (a multi-faceted intervention approach based on four implementation methods that each have some scientific support) is feasible and acceptable for the implementation of the method ‘FaR’ in primary healthcare as measured by healthcare staff's use and perceived usefulness of ‘FaR’. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Uppsala ethics committee, 13/01/2016, ref: 2015/506 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Healthcare professionals' behavior change in clinical practice |
| Intervention | Feasibility study with before-and-after design with focus on exploring an implementation intervention directed to healthcare professionals in primary healthcare centers, where a combination of methods to support the implementation of FaR are explored for feasibility and acceptance. The study includes components of ‘participatory research’ and ‘co-production’ by participant involvement throughout the intervention process. A theoretically based implementation strategy (a multi-faceted intervention approach based on four implementation methods that each have some scientific support) aimed to support healthcare professionals in primary healthcare to implement an evidence-based approach to health-promoting physical activity, FaR, in everyday patient consultations. The multi-faceted intervention strategy is based on four methods: ‘Tailoring to address barriers to change’, ‘Educational outreach’, ‘Local champions’, ‘Audit and feedback’. The intervention is conducted at each healthcare center, preceded by three preparatory meetings for the formation of a working team consisting of the healthcare center manager, the local FaR coordinators (one to three persons), a researcher (the study principal investigator PI) and an observer (study research assistant). The working team will prepare a plan for a local routine for FaR tailored to local conditions. In all, three seminars are conducted with the whole healthcare center staff and management; an introductory half-day seminar and two follow-up one-hour seminars during six months. The study researcher (PI) surveys the intervention process at working team meetings and all seminars. A research assistant participates as an observer and documents the intervention process (by observation protocols/checklists). 1. First preparatory working team meeting before the first seminar: healthcare center manager, a researcher and an observer meet and agree on the conditions and plan for the healthcare center participation. 2. Second preparatory working team meeting before the first seminar: a working team consisting of local FaR coordinators (from the healthcare staff) and healthcare center manager meet the researcher (with an observer present). The working team is presented to the task to produce a proposal for a local routine for FaR tailored to local conditions. 3. Third preparatory working team meeting before the first seminar: the working team presents a suggested local routine for FaR for the researcher (the observer is present but not active). 4. Introductory half-day seminar: all healthcare staff at the healthcare center are present and are presented to the intervention. An inspiring lecture on health promoting physical activity and FaR is provided by an external ‘expert’ in the field, and an educational lecture is also given to provide detailed information on the FaR method, with easy applicable guidance on how to prescribe FaR, by entailing each component in the method. Statistics from the patient record system on current FaR-prescriptions at the healthcare center is presented, likewise a routine for further recurrent feedback of the healthcare center's FaR prescriptions. The FaR coordinators and healthcare center manager presents a local routine for FaR. The suggestion is discussed and possibly adjusted based on the staff’s comments. The FaR coordinators are presented as in charge of undertaking monthly follow-ups at workplace meetings on statistics on FaR-prescriptions, respectively discuss the local routine for FaR and if needed make revisions. 5-6. One-hour follow-up seminars: at two and six months after the first seminar. The seminars focus on reflection and feedback on the procedures and components of the intervention, by exploring experiences of using the local routine for FaR-prescriptions, feedback on FaR-prescriptions by statistics at workplace meeting, using the FaR-method in patient consultations, and barriers or facilitators for prescribing FaR. The local routine is revised if needed. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
This is a pilot study with the primary aim to explore the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention, not to evaluate an ‘a priori’ primary outcome measure. Study evaluation will be targeting the implementation process and mechanisms of change. |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
Data will also be collected for the purpose of evaluating methods for data collection in a full-scale randomized controlled study on the outcome measure: effects on behaviour change in prescribing FaR. |
| Completion date | 30/06/2018 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Health professional |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 65 |
| Key inclusion criteria | At each participating primary healthcare center, all licensed healthcare professionals having consultations with adult patients who may have a need for increased level of health-promoting physical activity, as well as the healthcare center management (the manager and possibly others in supervisory positions), participate in the intervention. |
| Key exclusion criteria | None |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/02/2016 |
| Date of final enrolment | 20/03/2016 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Sweden
Study participating centres
Nissers väg 3
Falun
SE-79182
Sweden
Sweden
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? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | 15/09/2023 | 18/09/2023 | Yes | No | |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
18/09/2023: Publication reference added.
11/12/2018: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The overall trial end date was changed from 31/12/2017 to 30/06/2018.
2. The intention to publish date was changed from 30/06/2018 to 30/06/2019.
01/02/2016: Ethics approval information has been added.
