Activity monitors for multiple sclerosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Validity and acceptability of activity monitors for people with multiple sclerosis.
IRAS ID
248047
Contact name
Meriel Norris
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Brunel University London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 28 days
Research summary
For people with MS reduced participation in physical activity may contribute to increased disease burden, poor social wellbeing, disability, fatigue, and poor walking performance. Self-monitoring of physical activity may improve physical activity participation for people with MS. However, there is a lack of information on the accuracy (i.e. validity) and user-friendliness (i.e. acceptability) of physical activity monitors for people with MS. This project aims to examine the validity and acceptability of activity monitors for people with MS. Twenty people with MS who are able to independently walk with or without a walking aid, within their home environment, will be asked to participate. The study will be conducted in two phases: phase 1 to assess validity and phase 2 to assess acceptability. Participants will be asked to provide consent to participating in phase 1 and phase 2, separately, before proceeding with the study. In phase 1 participants will be asked to wear seven activity monitors simultaneously while completing eight activities. The activities are deskwork, using an elevator, washing dishes, ascending and descending stairs, walking indoors and outdoors, indoor cycling, and driving or being a passenger. They will also be video-taped while walking indoors and outdoors. Their step-count and time in moderate-to-vigorous activity measured during these activities will be compared between monitors. After phase 1, participants will be invited to take part in phase 2. In phase 2 they will be asked to wear five of the monitors, which we consider commercially available. That is, they can be bought and used by anyone without training. Participants will be asked to wear each monitor for 3 days, over 15 days in total, and participate in an interview about the perceived acceptability of using the monitors.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 4
REC reference
18/WS/0161
Date of REC Opinion
14 Sep 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion