Pilot randomized controlled trial evaluating a Self-Determination Theory (SDT) video-based tele-rehabilitation physical activity intervention aimed to enhance basic psychological needs, motivation, physical activity (PA), and quality of life- related outcomes of adults with spinal cord injury (SCI). It is anticipated that the individuals who receive the physical activity intervention (intervention group) will have moderate increases in their basic psychological needs, autonomous motivation, life satisfaction, and physical activity participation, and a moderate decrease in controlled motivation and depressive symptoms compared to the individuals who did not receive the intervention (control group).
Adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) report lower levels of quality of life (e.g., low life satisfaction; high depression) than the general population and have low rates of community participation. One health behavior that can improve these psychosocial outcomes is physical activity (PA). Unfortunately, PA rates are very low among adults with SCI. Novel interventions to increase PA are needed. One approach that has gained traction is video-based tele-rehabilitation, which has the benefit of reducing costs, increasing accessibility to services and delivering and adapting the intervention to the person's home environment. Experts have strongly recommended that PA interventions be based in psychological theory to enhance their effectiveness. The intervention will be grounded in a strong psychological/motivational theory called self-determination theory (SDT). According to SDT, humans strive for growth and well-being by aiming to satisfy their three basic psychological needs of autonomy (sense of volition), competence (sense of capability) and relatedness (sense of connectedness). The investigators intervention will therefore be designed to foster these psychological needs in order to increase intrinsic/autonomous motivation for PA, promote higher PA levels and improve quality of life and participation. To date, no study has either conducted a video-based tele-rehabilitation intervention to promote PA or has tested SDT among adults with SCI; thus providing the need for a pilot intervention. The purpose of this study is to pilot test an innovative, theory-informed, video-based tele-rehabilitation intervention aimed to enhance SDT-variables, PA and quality of life-related variables among adults with SCI. Effect sizes derived from this pilot intervention will be used to inform the sample size calculation of a subsequent larger randomized controlled trial. Given previous video-based PA tele-rehabilitation interventions do not exist, the hypotheses are derived from PA and general telephone-based counselling studies. Specifically, it is hypothesized that the video-based intervention will have moderate effects on SDT variables, PA, participation, life satisfaction and depression.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
24
The PA intervention will be delivered in a virtual face-to-face format using the secure and confidential "Remote Education, Augmented Communication, Training and Supervision" online video-based software. Intervention participants will receive 8 PA sessions over 2 months (1/week), following collaborator specific telephone-based PA counselling protocol. The counsellor will individually tailor her approach to each participant by understanding the participant's past and current PA experiences, motives to be physically active, salient concerns and barriers regarding PA, and physical home environment. Throughout the intervention, the PA counsellor and participants will co-construct and collaboratively adapt the intervention with the participants.
McGill University; Dept. of Kinesiology & Physical Education; Theories and Interventions in Exercise and Health Psychology Laboratory
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Treatment Self-Regulation for Exercise Scale
Measure to assess changes in autonomous and controlled types of motivation for reasons why one would exercise/engage in physical activity throughout the intervention. A total scale score range of 1 (not at all true) to 7 (very true) will be used to respond to 15 items. A mean score of participants' autonomous (6 items; " Because I personally believe it is the best thing for my health.") and controlled motivation (6 items; "Because I want others to approve of me.") will be calculated. A higher value indicates greater autonomous and or controlled types of motivation.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, and Week 10
Psychological Needs for Exercise Questionnaire
Measure to assess changes during the intervention in the basic psychological needs for exercise as per self-determination theory. Data will be collected at baseline, week 6, and week 10 for both participant groups. On a 6-point likert scale ranging from 1 (false) to 6 (true), participants will respond to 18 items reflecting how they might feel when physically active. After summating all items, a total mean score was calculated for autonomy (6 items; "I feel free to exercise in my own way"), competence (6 items; "I feel that I am able to complete exercises that are personally challenging"), and relatedness (6 items; "I feel close to my exercise companions who appreciate how difficult exercise can be"). A higher value indicates greater need satisfaction. Total values are reported in the data table as a sum of all 3 categories (Score range is 3-18).
Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, and Week 10
Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire for People With Spinal Cord Injury
Questionnaire used to measure physical activity levels. Participants will be asked to indicate the frequency (days) and duration (in minutes) they engage in mild, moderate, and vigorous intensity activities over the last 7 days. Weekly minutes of total activity (mild, moderate, and vigorous) and of moderate and vigorous activity will be summed.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, and Week 10
Person-Perceived Participation in Daily Activities Questionnaire
Measure to assess participation in daily and social activities. Participants will be presented with a list of 26 activities. For each activity, they are asked, "Do you participate in this activity?" Response options are "Yes, as much as I want" (4); "Yes, but less than I want"(3); "No, but I would like to" (2); and "No, but I don't want to" (1). An overall participation in daily and social activities score will be calculated as well as six sub-scale scores reflecting broad categories of participation will be summed. The 6 subscales are autonomous participation- indoors (7 items, range 7-28), autonomous participation-outdoors (6 items, range 6-24), family roles (4 items, range 4-16), health (2 items, range 2-8), social relationships (4 items, range 4-16), work-education (3 items, range 3-12). Each sub-scale is calculated by adding the scores of the individual items. A higher score of each category indicates greater participation.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, and Week 10
Life Satisfaction Questionnaire
Standardized and validated quality of life measure that asks 11 questions about satisfaction in various areas of life, including life in general, vocation, financial situation, leisure, social/friends/family, sexual life, family life, and physical and mental health (1=very dissatisfying to 6=very satisfying). The mean score of the 11 items will be calculated for this measure.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, and Week 10
Patient Health Questionnaire
Measures symptoms of depression using 9 items. Participants will be asked, "Over the past 4 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems?" and rate each symptom (eg, little interest or pleasure in doing things, poor appetite or overeating) on a 4-point scale (0=not at all; 1=Several days; 2=More than half the days 3=nearly every day). A mean score of the items will be computed with higher scores indicating higher reported symptoms of depression.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, and Week 10
Health Care Climate Questionnaire
Measures self-determination theory perspective on need support. Participants will respond to six items (e.g., "My exercise counselor listened to how I would like to do things regarding my exercise") on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (7). A higher mean score indicates greater perceptions of need support.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 6, and Week 10
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.