Health coaching intervention with or without the support of an exercise buddy to increase physical activity of people with chronic low back pain compared to usual care: a feasibility and pilot randomised controlled trial

Carolina G. Fritsch; Manuela L. Ferreira; Mark H. Halliday; Katharine Roberts; Josielli Comachio; Manasi Mittinty; Louise Sharpe; Nadine E. Foster; Emmanuel Stamatakis; Paul J. Mork; Andrew J. McLachlan; Paulo H. Ferreira

doi:10.1016/j.msksp.2024.102941

Health coaching intervention with or without the support of an exercise buddy to increase physical activity of people with chronic low back pain compared to usual care: a feasibility and pilot randomised controlled trial

Carolina G. Fritsch, Manuela L. Ferreira, Mark H. Halliday, Katharine Roberts, Josielli Comachio, Manasi Mittinty, Louise Sharpe, Nadine E. Foster, Emmanuel Stamatakis, Paul J. Mork, Andrew J. McLachlan, Paulo H. Ferreira

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Abstract

Background: Exercise buddies (people to exercise together with) might support people with low back pain (LBP) to become active. However, involving buddies in randomised controlled trials (RCT) might challenge recruitment, data collection and follow-up.

Objectives: To explore the feasibility of the intervention, recruitment and data collection approaches and potential effects of a health coaching intervention (focused on physical activity) with or without exercise buddies’ support on physical activity of people with chronic LBP versus usual discharge care.

Design: Feasibility and pilot RCT.

Methods: Adults (n = 30) discharged from LBP treatment were randomised to the Buddy-Assisted (health coaching intervention with exercise buddy's support), Individual-Only (health coaching only), or usual care groups. Data were collected at baseline, three and six months. The feasibility of trial's procedures was assessed through recruitment rate (acceptable if >70%), data completion rate (acceptable if ≤ 20% missing data), and follow-up rate (successful if ≥ 85%). The intervention's acceptability was assessed via feedback questionnaires. Preliminary effects on physical activity and other outcomes were also explored.

Results: Recruitment and baseline data completion were acceptable. However, data collection and follow-up rates post-randomisation were not. 85% of the Buddy-Assisted Group believed the buddies helped them to increase physical activity and would recommend the intervention. 70% of the Individual-Only and Control groups believed exercise buddies would help them to become further active.

Conclusion: The data collection and follow-up approaches were not successful and need amending before a large-scale RCT. Nonetheless, the buddy-assisted intervention was well-accepted. A future RCT will focus on differences in clinical outcomes.

Trial registration: The study was registered at the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12620001118998).

Original language	English
Article number	102941
Number of pages	10
Journal	Musculoskeletal Science and Practice
Volume	71
Early online date	16 Mar 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msksp.2024.102941
Publication status	Published - Jun 2024
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Health coaching
mHealth
Physical activity
Social support

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Fritsch, C. G., Ferreira, M. L., Halliday, M. H., Roberts, K., Comachio, J., Mittinty, M., Sharpe, L., Foster, N. E., Stamatakis, E., Mork, P. J., McLachlan, A. J., & Ferreira, P. H. (2024). Health coaching intervention with or without the support of an exercise buddy to increase physical activity of people with chronic low back pain compared to usual care: a feasibility and pilot randomised controlled trial. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 71, Article 102941. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msksp.2024.102941

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title = "Health coaching intervention with or without the support of an exercise buddy to increase physical activity of people with chronic low back pain compared to usual care: a feasibility and pilot randomised controlled trial",

abstract = "Background: Exercise buddies (people to exercise together with) might support people with low back pain (LBP) to become active. However, involving buddies in randomised controlled trials (RCT) might challenge recruitment, data collection and follow-up. Objectives: To explore the feasibility of the intervention, recruitment and data collection approaches and potential effects of a health coaching intervention (focused on physical activity) with or without exercise buddies{\textquoteright} support on physical activity of people with chronic LBP versus usual discharge care. Design: Feasibility and pilot RCT. Methods: Adults (n = 30) discharged from LBP treatment were randomised to the Buddy-Assisted (health coaching intervention with exercise buddy's support), Individual-Only (health coaching only), or usual care groups. Data were collected at baseline, three and six months. The feasibility of trial's procedures was assessed through recruitment rate (acceptable if >70%), data completion rate (acceptable if ≤ 20% missing data), and follow-up rate (successful if ≥ 85%). The intervention's acceptability was assessed via feedback questionnaires. Preliminary effects on physical activity and other outcomes were also explored. Results: Recruitment and baseline data completion were acceptable. However, data collection and follow-up rates post-randomisation were not. 85% of the Buddy-Assisted Group believed the buddies helped them to increase physical activity and would recommend the intervention. 70% of the Individual-Only and Control groups believed exercise buddies would help them to become further active. Conclusion: The data collection and follow-up approaches were not successful and need amending before a large-scale RCT. Nonetheless, the buddy-assisted intervention was well-accepted. A future RCT will focus on differences in clinical outcomes. Trial registration: The study was registered at the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12620001118998).",

keywords = "Health coaching, mHealth, Physical activity, Social support",

author = "Fritsch, {Carolina G.} and Ferreira, {Manuela L.} and Halliday, {Mark H.} and Katharine Roberts and Josielli Comachio and Manasi Mittinty and Louise Sharpe and Foster, {Nadine E.} and Emmanuel Stamatakis and Mork, {Paul J.} and McLachlan, {Andrew J.} and Ferreira, {Paulo H.}",

year = "2024",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1016/j.msksp.2024.102941",

language = "English",

volume = "71",

journal = "Musculoskeletal Science and Practice",

issn = "2468-8630",

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Fritsch, CG, Ferreira, ML, Halliday, MH, Roberts, K, Comachio, J, Mittinty, M, Sharpe, L, Foster, NE, Stamatakis, E, Mork, PJ, McLachlan, AJ & Ferreira, PH 2024, 'Health coaching intervention with or without the support of an exercise buddy to increase physical activity of people with chronic low back pain compared to usual care: a feasibility and pilot randomised controlled trial', Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, vol. 71, 102941. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msksp.2024.102941

Health coaching intervention with or without the support of an exercise buddy to increase physical activity of people with chronic low back pain compared to usual care: a feasibility and pilot randomised controlled trial. / Fritsch, Carolina G.; Ferreira, Manuela L.; Halliday, Mark H. et al.
In: Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, Vol. 71, 102941, 06.2024.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Health coaching intervention with or without the support of an exercise buddy to increase physical activity of people with chronic low back pain compared to usual care

T2 - a feasibility and pilot randomised controlled trial

AU - Fritsch, Carolina G.

AU - Ferreira, Manuela L.

AU - Halliday, Mark H.

AU - Roberts, Katharine

AU - Comachio, Josielli

AU - Mittinty, Manasi

AU - Sharpe, Louise

AU - Foster, Nadine E.

AU - Stamatakis, Emmanuel

AU - Mork, Paul J.

AU - McLachlan, Andrew J.

AU - Ferreira, Paulo H.

PY - 2024/6

Y1 - 2024/6

N2 - Background: Exercise buddies (people to exercise together with) might support people with low back pain (LBP) to become active. However, involving buddies in randomised controlled trials (RCT) might challenge recruitment, data collection and follow-up. Objectives: To explore the feasibility of the intervention, recruitment and data collection approaches and potential effects of a health coaching intervention (focused on physical activity) with or without exercise buddies’ support on physical activity of people with chronic LBP versus usual discharge care. Design: Feasibility and pilot RCT. Methods: Adults (n = 30) discharged from LBP treatment were randomised to the Buddy-Assisted (health coaching intervention with exercise buddy's support), Individual-Only (health coaching only), or usual care groups. Data were collected at baseline, three and six months. The feasibility of trial's procedures was assessed through recruitment rate (acceptable if >70%), data completion rate (acceptable if ≤ 20% missing data), and follow-up rate (successful if ≥ 85%). The intervention's acceptability was assessed via feedback questionnaires. Preliminary effects on physical activity and other outcomes were also explored. Results: Recruitment and baseline data completion were acceptable. However, data collection and follow-up rates post-randomisation were not. 85% of the Buddy-Assisted Group believed the buddies helped them to increase physical activity and would recommend the intervention. 70% of the Individual-Only and Control groups believed exercise buddies would help them to become further active. Conclusion: The data collection and follow-up approaches were not successful and need amending before a large-scale RCT. Nonetheless, the buddy-assisted intervention was well-accepted. A future RCT will focus on differences in clinical outcomes. Trial registration: The study was registered at the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12620001118998).

AB - Background: Exercise buddies (people to exercise together with) might support people with low back pain (LBP) to become active. However, involving buddies in randomised controlled trials (RCT) might challenge recruitment, data collection and follow-up. Objectives: To explore the feasibility of the intervention, recruitment and data collection approaches and potential effects of a health coaching intervention (focused on physical activity) with or without exercise buddies’ support on physical activity of people with chronic LBP versus usual discharge care. Design: Feasibility and pilot RCT. Methods: Adults (n = 30) discharged from LBP treatment were randomised to the Buddy-Assisted (health coaching intervention with exercise buddy's support), Individual-Only (health coaching only), or usual care groups. Data were collected at baseline, three and six months. The feasibility of trial's procedures was assessed through recruitment rate (acceptable if >70%), data completion rate (acceptable if ≤ 20% missing data), and follow-up rate (successful if ≥ 85%). The intervention's acceptability was assessed via feedback questionnaires. Preliminary effects on physical activity and other outcomes were also explored. Results: Recruitment and baseline data completion were acceptable. However, data collection and follow-up rates post-randomisation were not. 85% of the Buddy-Assisted Group believed the buddies helped them to increase physical activity and would recommend the intervention. 70% of the Individual-Only and Control groups believed exercise buddies would help them to become further active. Conclusion: The data collection and follow-up approaches were not successful and need amending before a large-scale RCT. Nonetheless, the buddy-assisted intervention was well-accepted. A future RCT will focus on differences in clinical outcomes. Trial registration: The study was registered at the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12620001118998).

KW - Health coaching

KW - mHealth

KW - Physical activity

KW - Social support

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U2 - 10.1016/j.msksp.2024.102941

DO - 10.1016/j.msksp.2024.102941

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85188540970

SN - 2468-8630

VL - 71

JO - Musculoskeletal Science and Practice

JF - Musculoskeletal Science and Practice

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ER -

Fritsch CG, Ferreira ML, Halliday MH, Roberts K, Comachio J, Mittinty M et al. Health coaching intervention with or without the support of an exercise buddy to increase physical activity of people with chronic low back pain compared to usual care: a feasibility and pilot randomised controlled trial. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice. 2024 Jun;71:102941. Epub 2024 Mar 16. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2024.102941

Health coaching intervention with or without the support of an exercise buddy to increase physical activity of people with chronic low back pain compared to usual care: a feasibility and pilot randomised controlled trial

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