'I can do this': A qualitative exploration of acceptability and experiences of a physical activity behaviour change intervention in people with multiple sclerosis in the UK

TY - JOUR

T1 - 'I can do this'

T2 - A qualitative exploration of acceptability and experiences of a physical activity behaviour change intervention in people with multiple sclerosis in the UK

AU - Fortune, Jennifer

AU - Norris, Meriel

AU - Stennett, Andrea

AU - Kilbride, Cherry

AU - Lavelle, Grace

AU - Hendrie, Wendy

AU - De Souza, Lorraine

AU - Abdul, Mohamed

AU - Brewin, Debbie

AU - David, Lee

AU - Anokye, Nana

AU - Victor, Christina

AU - Ryan, Jennifer M.

N1 - Funding Information: Contributors JMR and MN conceived the study and are co-chief investigators. JMR, MN, JF, AS, CK, NA, CV, WH, MA, LdS and GL designed the study. DB, LD, JF, MN and JMR developed the intervention and handbook. MN collected the data. JF and MN analysed the data. Data analysis was completed in consultation with AS, JMR and CK. JF and MN prepared the manuscript, JMR, AS, CK, GL, WH, LdS, MA, DB, LD, NA and CV contributed to drafts of the paper and approved the final draft. JF finalised the paper for submission to the journal. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Funding This study is funded by a project grant from the MS Society, UK (award reference: 53). Competing interests None declared. Patient consent for publication Not required. ethics approval Ethical approval has been granted by the College of Health and Life Sciences Research Ethics Committee (REC) in Brunel University London (6181-NHS-Apr/2017-7016-2). Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed. Data availability statement Data are available in a public, open access repository. Publisher Copyright: © 2020 Author(s).

PY - 2020/3/6

Y1 - 2020/3/6

N2 - Objectives The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who participated in iStep-MS, a feasibility randomised controlled trial of a behaviour change intervention that aimed to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour. Design A qualitative approach was undertaken embedded in the feasibility randomised controlled trial. One-to-one semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using Framework analysis. Setting Participants were recruited from a single MS therapy centre in the southeast of England, UK. Participants Sixty people with MS were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to the intervention or usual care. Following a purposive sampling strategy, 15 participants from the intervention arm undertook 1:1 semi-structured interviews. Interventions The iStep-MS intervention consisted of four therapist-led sessions over 12 weeks, supported by a handbook and pedometer. Results Three themes were identified from the data. "I can do this": Developing competence in physical activity highlights the enhanced physical activity confidence gained through goal setting and accomplishment. "I felt valued": The nurturing culture provides an overview of the supportive and non-judgemental environment created by the programme structure and therapeutic relationship. Finally, "What can I do?": Empowered enactment describes the transition from the supported iStep-MS intervention to intrinsically motivated physical activity enactment. Conclusions Overall, this study supports the acceptability of the iStep-MS intervention and identified key areas that supported participants to be physically active.

AB - Objectives The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who participated in iStep-MS, a feasibility randomised controlled trial of a behaviour change intervention that aimed to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour. Design A qualitative approach was undertaken embedded in the feasibility randomised controlled trial. One-to-one semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using Framework analysis. Setting Participants were recruited from a single MS therapy centre in the southeast of England, UK. Participants Sixty people with MS were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to the intervention or usual care. Following a purposive sampling strategy, 15 participants from the intervention arm undertook 1:1 semi-structured interviews. Interventions The iStep-MS intervention consisted of four therapist-led sessions over 12 weeks, supported by a handbook and pedometer. Results Three themes were identified from the data. "I can do this": Developing competence in physical activity highlights the enhanced physical activity confidence gained through goal setting and accomplishment. "I felt valued": The nurturing culture provides an overview of the supportive and non-judgemental environment created by the programme structure and therapeutic relationship. Finally, "What can I do?": Empowered enactment describes the transition from the supported iStep-MS intervention to intrinsically motivated physical activity enactment. Conclusions Overall, this study supports the acceptability of the iStep-MS intervention and identified key areas that supported participants to be physically active.

KW - behaviour change

KW - multiple sclerosis

KW - physical activity

KW - qualitative

KW - sedentary behaviour

KW - step count

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85074820286

U2 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029831

DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029831

M3 - Article

C2 - 32144172

AN - SCOPUS:85074820286

SN - 2044-6055

VL - 10

JO - BMJ Open

JF - BMJ Open

IS - 3

M1 - e029831

ER -