SPACES feasibility study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Supporting Physical Activity through Co-production in people with Severe Mental Illness (SPACES): a randomised feasibility study of an intervention aimed at increasing the physical activity of people with severe mental ill health
IRAS ID
311668
Contact name
Emily Peckham
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Health and Social Care Trust
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN83877229
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Research Summary
Life expectancy is reduced by around 15-20 years for people with SMI compared to people without SMI, and this gap is increasing. The majority of these early deaths are due to physical health problems, which are partly preventable and which are related to factors including health behaviours such as diet, smoking and physical activity. Increasing physical activity can improve physical health in everyone and The World Health Organization has said that encouraging people to be more active can be as beneficial as quitting smoking. People with SMI are less physically active than the general population. Supporting people with SMI to increase their levels of physical activity could help to reduce the life expectancy gap.
Therefore, there is a need to establish whether a physical activity programme (intervention) that is relevant to the needs of people with SMI, is practical, acceptable and useful for people with SMI. Practical issues in establishing such a study will also be examined.
In this study we will explore the feasibility of a physical activity intervention we have co-designed for people living with severe mental ill health.People who agree to take part in the study will be randomly allocated to usual care, or to the PA intervention plus usual care. We will collect information on how many people we are able to sign up to the study, the number of people who drop out along the way, and the number of missed sessions for the intervention. We will interview a small group of people about their experience of being part of the study.
Summary of Results
The primary aims of the study were to establish whether the SPACES trial procedures and intervention design were acceptable. 71 participants were recruited to the study meaning the recruitment target of 48-72 was met.
The devices used to collect physical activity data (accelerometers) were acceptable to participants in the study. Among the 54 participants who were followed-up at 6 months and asked to wear an accelerometer, only one declined to wear the accelerometer. The majority wore the device for a sufficient time during the data collection period to provide valid data, overall demonstrating acceptability of the accelerometers.
A large majority of participants who received the SPACES intervention either agreed or strongly agreed that: the intervention met [their] approval (96%), the intervention is appealing to [them] (90%), [they] like the intervention (86%) and [they] welcome the intervention [97%]. It was therefore concluded that the SPACES intervention design was acceptable overall.
This was further indicated by interviews conducted with SPACES participants and PACs (Physical Activity Coordinators, who delivered the intervention). The majority reported the intervention to be acceptable and feasible while providing valuable feedback to inform refinement of the intervention as we prepare for the full-scale trial.REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
22/WS/0101
Date of REC Opinion
18 Aug 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion