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An Exercise Facilitator to Activate Simple Training Programs in the Dialysis Center

An Exercise Facilitator to Break Down the Barriers to Physical Activity of End-stage Kidney Disease Patients. A Pragmatic Implementation Trial in a Nephrology Unit

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04282616
Enrollment
144
Registered
2020-02-25
Start date
2020-02-26
Completion date
2025-02-28
Last updated
2025-08-11

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 5 on Dialysis

Keywords

exercise, rehabilitation, exercise testing

Brief summary

Low physical activity levels and progressive poor functional capacity affect quality of life and clinical outcomes of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients. Interventions to prevent the functional decline associated with a sedentary lifestyle or to relief from deconditioning are crucial, considering the significant beneficial effects of exercise in all CKD patients, especially in End-stage Kidney Disease patients (ESKD). Unfortunately, physical and psychological barriers to exercise are present and physical activity management is not routinely addressed in the patient's care. For the first time the project aims to test the impact of the regular presence of an exercise specialist in the Nephrology Unit. This facilitator, evaluating capacity, motivation and preferences of each patient, will design tailored solutions and assess the related outcomes. Several design of training programs will be proposed to dialysis patients, that can choose the exercise option that best fits their needing. The study will determine the feasibility of the project, the patients' adherence and the effectiveness of the programs proposed to improve the patients' lifestyle.

Detailed description

The assumption underlying the project is that a wider participation to physical activity programs (PAPs) of ESKD patients may be facilitated by the presence in the Renal Unit of an exercise specialist able to design tailored programs and that this intervention may lead to measurable benefits on physical fitness, quality of life and general health. The possible different solutions offered by an expert of exercise in chronic diseases might reduce most of the barriers to exercise responsible of the sedentary behavior of the ESKD patients. Aim of the project is to test the impact of the regular presence of this facilitator in a Nephrology Unit in terms of applicability and feasibility as well to identify the preferred and the most effective pathways for the patients. The identification of a novel cost-effective intervention may represent an important step to manage the change of lifestyle of ESKD patients, to slow down their physical and QoL decline and to reduce hospitalizations and negative outcomes affecting this population.

Interventions

OTHERHome-based unstructured physical activity program

Counselling on physical activity according to American College of Sports Medicine guidelines

OTHERHome-based structured low-intensity physical activity program

Structured home-based low-intensity intermittent walking program

OTHERIn-hospital structured supervised physical activity program

Supervised exercise training program

Sponsors

Università degli Studi di Ferrara
CollaboratorOTHER
University Hospital of Ferrara
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

Outcome measures assessors will be blinded to group allocation

Intervention model description

End-stage kidney disease patients will be proposed to choose between one of the three organizational models of exercise (counselling; home-based prescription; supervised) or to take part in the project as a control group (no exercise).

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* male and females aged \> 18 years; * ability to walk assisted or unassisted at least for 6 meters; * cognitive functioning to give informed consent identified by a Mini Mental Status Examination score ≥18/30.

Exclusion criteria

* severe cardio-respiratory (e.g. unstable angina; severe heart failure identified by New York Heart Association class III or IV); * neurological or musculoskeletal conditions (e.g. above knee amputation) contraindicating or inhibiting exercise training.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
6-minute walking test (Mobility)Change at 3-month (end of training) respect to baselineSubjects will be instructed to walk as far as possible on a 22m walkway in 6 minutes, with their habitual walking device, with the possibility to slow down and rest if necessary. The total distance walked, the pain-free walking distance, and the perceived exertion at the end of the test will be recorded.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
5-time sit-to-stand test (lower limbs strength)Change at 3-month (end of training) respect to baselineThis test consists in moving from a sitting position to a standing position on a 42- cm high chair as quick as possible, for five times, with arms folded across the chest. Time will be taken when the test starts, and when the patient lay his/her buttocks on the chair for the fifth time.
Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) (health-related quality of life)Change at 3-month (end of training) respect to baselineThis questionnaire consists of 36 items with a score ranging from 0 to 100 divided into 8 domains examining various aspects of health-related QoL. Higher scores correspond to better quality of life.
Short Falls Efficacy Scale (sFES) (fear of falling)Change at 3-month (end of training) respect to baselineThis scale is composed of seven 4-point Likert questions about how concerned the patients is about the possibility of falling. The total score ranges from 7 (no concerned about falling) to 28 (highest concern about falling).
Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) (Estimated functional capacity)Change at 3-month (end of training) respect to baselineThis is an assessment tool to evaluate the functional capacity of patients through 12 dichotomous (yes/no) questions covering various aspect of life. The total score, ranges from 0 to 58.2 with higher scores that indicate a higher functional capacity.
Beck Depression Inventory - II (BDI-II)Change at 3-month (end of training) respect to baselineThis questionnaire, composed of 21 multiple-choice questions, is suitable for measuring the gravity of clinical depression in adults and in diseased populations. The score ranges from 0 (no depression) to 63 (severe depression)
10-meter walking test (gait speed)Change at 3-month (end of training) respect to baselinePatients will be positioned at the start of a 10-meter corridor marked with four lines, respectively at 0, 2, 8 and 10 meters from the start. Patients will be asked to walk as fast as they can, but safely, from the first to the last line, using their habitual walking device. A skilled operator will record the time within the two middle lines, that will be converted into speed. Two trails are allowed for this test, and the mean of the two results will be considered
Number and rate of mortality6-month and 12-month (follow up)Number and rate of all-cause mortality within participants will be collected.
Rate of participation (qualitative outcome)BaselineRate of patients providing consent compared to the eligible ones will be calculated
Rate of selection of different exercise program proposed (qualitative outcome)BaselineThe rate of patients choosing each of the training option proposed will be calculated to determine patients willingness to exercise and patients preferences about training.
Rate of training sessions completed3-month (end of program)Adherence to the physical activity program chosen will be assessed at the end of the 3-month training period. The total number of training sessions completed in relation to the prescribed ones will be measured by a ratio. The total adherence will range from 0 (0 sessions completed out of 24) to 100% (24 sessions completed out of 24).
6-minute walking test (Mobility)Change at 6-month (follow-up) respect to baselineSubjects will be instructed to walk as far as possible on a 22m walkway in 6 minutes, with their habitual walking device, with the possibility to slow down and rest if necessary. The total distance walked, the pain-free walking distance, and the perceived exertion at the end of the test will be recorded.
Number and rate of hospitalizations6-month and 12-month (follow up)Number and rate of all-cause hospitalizations within participants will be collected.

Countries

Italy

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 17, 2026