Walk With Me RCT
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a peer-led walking programme to increase physical activity in inactive older adults: “Walk with Me Study”
IRAS ID
305144
Contact name
Mark Tully
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Ulster
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN73367347
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
NIHR Reference, NIHR131550
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Many older adults would benefit from being more physically active, especially those living in areas of socioeconomic disadvantage. Interventions delivered by peer mentors (trained members of the public) have shown promise at increasing people’s physical activity levels in previous research, but their effectiveness in this population is unknown. The aim of this project is to determine if peer mentors can help older adults increase their physical activity over 1 year compared to a control group.
We aim to recruit 348 inactive older adults aged 60 years and over living in socio-economically disadvantaged communities, mainly through General Practices and community groups. Participants will be allocated by chance to one of two groups. One group will be paired with a peer mentor for a 12-week walking programme. The other group will be a 12-month wait list group. The peer mentor will meet with the participant each week with the aim of supporting them to increase their activity and find opportunities in the local community to engage in other programmes so they can maintain their activity.
We will measure if the programme works using an activity monitor. All participants will be asked to wear this for one week at the start and end of the programme and after 12 months. We will also discuss the impact of the programme with some participants and peer mentors to understand their views of the Walk with Me programme.
The key questions that this study will answer are whether the Walk with Me intervention will help inactive older adults become and stay active and what the costs and benefits are for older adults and the NHS. The findings will be shared with the public, older adults groups and public health staff through social media, blogs, reports, presentations and research papers.REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
22/NS/0056
Date of REC Opinion
18 May 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion