None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This pilot study aims to determine the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of using an online platform to deliver a group-based physical activity intervention for first responders (police, fire and ambulance workers) and their partners/carers. By nature of their occupation which involves repeated exposure to potentially traumatic events, first responders are at a significantly increased risk of experiencing poor mental and physical health, including developing depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as premature cardiovascular disease. These health conditions are also associated with lower levels of physical activity and higher levels of sedentary behaviour. The low levels of physical activity among this underserviced population and the potential physical and mental health benefits justifies the importance of exploring innovative and effective ways to promote physical activity in first responders. It is expected that our online intervention will be both feasible and acceptable. We also expect that physical activity levels will increase which may have beneficial flow on effects on mental health outcomes . Sedentary first responders and their chosen support partner will be recruited to a 10-week, group based physical activity promotion intervention delivered online through a secret Facebook group. The group will allow members to receive information and contribute to weekly conversations on pre-specified topics related to physical activity. The purpose of the Facebook group is to facilitate social support and provide participants with a platform to exchange personal experiences including barriers and facilitators to commencing and maintaining a physical activity program. All participants will also be provided with a Fitbit and encouraged to set goals and track their physical activity levels as a way to support self-monitoring. The iterative development of this intervention has occurred through collaboration with project advisors with lived experience of working as a first responder, and of living with mental illness related to occupational trauma. By closely involving carers and consumers in the development and implementation of the online intervention we aim to gain a better understanding of how to adopt and translate these online strategies into real world settings. These advisors will also act as peer support members within the Facebook group.
Interventions
This study will recruit sedentary first responders and their chosen support partner to a 10-week, group based physical activity promotion intervention delivered online through a private Facebook group. The group will allow members to receive information and contribute to weekly conversations on pre-specified topics related to physical activity eg. sedentary behaviour, goal setting, benefits of physical activity and support. One topic will be covered each week for the 10 weeks with 2-3 Facebook p
This study will recruit sedentary first responders and their chosen support partner to a 10-week, group based physical activity promotion intervention delivered online through a private Facebook group. The group will allow members to receive information and contribute to weekly conversations on pre-specified topics related to physical activity eg. sedentary behaviour, goal setting, benefits of physical activity and support. One topic will be covered each week for the 10 weeks with 2-3 Facebook posts on the topic each week. The content of each topic is designed specifically for this study but will also make use of existing videos, pictures and information sources. The purpose of the Facebook group is to facilitate social support and provide participants with a platform to exchange personal experiences including barriers and facilitators to commencing and maintaining a physical activity program. While discussion topics will be pre-determined, discussion will change weekly based on the participants posts for example someone may ask for examples of workouts or different ways overcome barriers. All participants will also be provided with a Fitbit flex 2 and encouraged to set daily goals and track their physical activity levels as a way to support self-monitoring. Goals such as increasing steps by 15% each week and getting up every hour will be advised. Participants will also have access to the FitBit's wellness program. On here they will be able to see the physical activity levels of others in the study and compete in step counts. The intervention itself will go for 10 weeks however there is the option for participants to remain in the Facebook group and continue to use it for support without the input from the facilitators. All 20 participants will be included in the one Facebook group and encouraged to check the Facebook weekly. The page will be monitored by a member of the research team at least 5 times per week. Contribution to the page in regards to posting/liking material is optional. There will be a follow up period of one month as well as month of data collection prior to the intervention where participants will just be required to complete questionnaires to obtain baseline data. This interrupted time series design will replace the need for a control group. The iterative development of this intervention has occurred through collaboration with project advisors with lived experience of working as a first responder, and of living with mental illness related to occupational trauma. They will act as peer support within the Facebook group, while the researchers (exercise physiologists and psychologists) will guide the group. The research team will have access to the one Facebook account designed for the study while the two peer support members will use their personal accounts. Adherence to the Facebook including page views, comments and likes will be calculated manually.
Sponsors
UNSW
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Primary purpose
Prevention
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
This research study is looking to recruit a convenience sample of i) former or current first responders, ii) aged 18-65 years, iii) currently inactive defined as engaging in less than 150 mins per week of moderate-vigorous physical activity per week, iv) cleared to participate in an exercise program (absence of any American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) absolute contraindications to exercise participation). Participants must also speak English, have internet access and an active Facebook account or be willing to create one. First responders must also nominate their support partner/carer who may be any person with a close personal relationship to them eg. partner, family member, friend who have at least weekly in-person contact with each other. This person must also be between 18-65 years and be medically absent from any ACSM absolute contraindications to exercise.
Exclusion criteria
Although we will not specifically target those first responders with a diagnosed mental disorder, by nature of the target population, it is expected that a high proportion of the participants will be receiving treatment for a mental disorder. Severely depressed individuals or those experiencing frequent suicidal ideation at the outset will be excluded from the study and directed towards appropriate services in their community. Participants will be screened prior to commencement of the study and those who receive a score in the K-10 questionnaire of >30 will be contacted by the research team. If these participants are not receiving treatment the research team will recommended they do and then excluded them from the study. Likewise, those whose medications have changed in the past 4 weeks will also be excluded. Participants will also be screened with the physical activity vital sign and the ESSA pre-screening tool. First-responders who exceed 150mins of moderate-vigorous PA will be excluded and those who answer yes to any of the 7 ESSA pre-screening questions must get clearance to exercise from a general practitioner.
Outcome results
None listed