REgulate your Sitting Time (RESIT)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A tailored intervention to reduce sitting behaviour in people with Type 2 Diabetes: A randomised-controlled feasibility study
IRAS ID
279157
Contact name
Daniel Bailey
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Brunel University London
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN14832389
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Research Summary
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) affects more than 3 million people in the UK and is associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease, early death, poor mental health and related complications such as loss of feeling in limbs and blindness. Interventions to help improve control of glucose are thus needed to reduce these risks. Reducing the amount of time people with T2D spent sitting down could help with this. However, there are a lack of studies that have evaluated interventions to reduce sitting in this group. This study will assess whether it is possible to implement and evaluate the effects of such an intervention. To do this, 70 adults with T2D will be recruited and randomly assigned to receive the intervention or continue with usual care for 6 months. Intervention participants will be provided with an online programme that has interactive modules covering the health risks of sitting too much, benefits of reducing sitting, goal setting, and participants selection of tools that will be used in the intervention. Participants will choose a maximum of one tool from each of these categories to use during the intervention: smartphone app; computer prompt app; wearable device/paper-based tracker). The intervention also includes four health coaching sessions. Data collection will occur at baseline, 3 months and 6 months. This will include assessment of sitting, standing and stepping using a thigh-worn activity monitor; body composition; metabolic health; psychological health; and physical function (some of these measures may not be taken or may be changed depending on the COVID-19 situation at the time of the trial starting; this is explained in section A13). At the end of the intervention, interviews will be conducted with participants to explore how acceptable they found the intervention and what did and did not work well. We will also calculate how many participants are eligible for the study, how many sign up to take part and finish the study, and how many participants complete each of the data collection measures.
Summary of Results
Who carried out the research?
This study was funded by Diabetes UK and carried out by researchers at Brunel University London, University of Bedfordshire and University of Leicester. People with diabetes were involved with the study by contributing to the study design and helping oversee how the study was carried out.The study took place remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic from 1st September 2020 to the 10th March 2022.
Why was the research needed?
High levels of sitting increase the risk of heart disease and early death in people with Type 2 diabetes, regardless of the amount of time they spend exercising. Interventions that help reduce sitting time in this group are therefore needed. The aim of this research was to see whether people liked and engaged with a new intervention and how easy it was for us to take some measurements to see how well it worked.
What did the research involve?
We recruited 70 people with Type 2 diabetes who were randomly allocated to a control or intervention group for 6 months. The control participants received normal diabetes healthcare as usual. Intervention participants took part in the RESIT (REgulate your SItting Time) programme. This involved completing an online interactive education module followed by access to a list of tools that participants selected from to use during the intervention (mobile phone and computer apps, and wearable devices that track and provide feedback on sitting). Support was given by a health coach at the start and then 2, 6 and 12 weeks into the intervention to help reduce sitting.
Measurements of sitting, physical activity and health were taken before the intervention began and 3 and 6 months later. We assessed how many people we could recruit for the study, how many completed the study and each of the measurements, and gathered participants’ thoughts about the intervention and measurements we took.
What were the results of the study?
Study information was sent to 6,333 potentially eligible patients by GP. A low number of potentially eligible patients (n=95) expressed interest in taking part in the study. The number of interested individuals (n=125) who were eligible for the study was high (84%). The overall recruitment rate of individuals who were eligible was 67%, with a total of 70 participants enrolling into the study.
Only 7% of participants withdrew from the study. We were able to collect sitting data from all participants at the start of the study and from between 80 to 94% of participants at the 3 and 6-month measurement timepoints.
Overall, the intervention was deemed to be acceptable by participants. This was driven by the multi-component nature of the intervention and participant choice in how some of the components were used. The key message of the online education session (“to reduce and frequently break up sitting time”) was well remembered by participants. Most participants found the wearable device to be one of most memorable and enjoyable parts of the intervention. It was perceived as a useful self-monitoring tool, although mainly for step counts rather than sitting time. Participants reported almost unanimously that the duration and frequency of health coaching sessions (four 15 to 20-minute sessions over the first three months) felt like good value for the time commitment required, describing them as 'bite-sized'. These sessions helped with setting and reviewing small sustainable behavioural goals and were a 'chat' they looked forward to during the national COVID-19 lockdown.
Participants expressed low interest and uptake for the self-selected smartphone and computer apps because they did not use such devices regularly. However, they described other techniques for remembering to break up their sitting time such as using TV adverts as prompts, noticing body cues like stiff muscles, and routinely checking the clock. Overall, the intervention was perceived by participants as supportive and enjoyable in helping them sit less, move more, and manage their diabetes.Based on the findings of this study, it is possible to carry out and evaluate an intervention to reduce and break up sitting time in adults with Type 2 diabetes. The RESIT programme also appears to be acceptable to people with Type 2 diabetes and could help to reduce and break up sitting time and improve health and wellbeing. The findings of this study will be used to inform a larger study to test how effective the intervention is for reducing sitting and improving health in people with Type 2 diabetes.
Where can I learn more about this study?
To learn more about the study please contact the Lead researcher, Dr Daniel Bailey on daniel.bailey@brunel.ac.uk.REC name
West of Scotland REC 1
REC reference
20/WS/0080
Date of REC Opinion
29 Jun 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion