TY - JOUR
T1 - Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial of a Web-Based Intervention to Promote Healthy Eating, Physical Activity and Meaningful Social Connections Compared with Usual Care Control in People of Retirement Age Recruited from Workplaces
AU - Lara, Jose
AU - O’Brien, Nicola
AU - Godfrey, Alan
AU - Heaven, Ben
AU - Evans, Elizabeth H.
AU - Lloyd, Scott
AU - Moffatt, Suzanne
AU - Moynihan, Paula J.
AU - Meyer, Thomas
AU - Rochester, Lynn
AU - Sniehotta, Falko
AU - White, Martin
AU - Mathers, John C.
N1 - This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, for full details see http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ [Accessed: 22/08/2016]
PY - 2016/7/29
Y1 - 2016/7/29
N2 - Background
Lifestyle interventions delivered during the retirement transition might promote healthier
ageing. We report a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) of a web-based platform (Living,
Eating, Activity and Planning through retirement; LEAP) promoting healthy eating (based
on a Mediterranean diet (MD)), physical activity (PA) and meaningful social roles.
Methods
A single blinded, two-arm RCT with individual allocation. Seventy-five adult regular internet
users living in Northeast England, within two years of retirement, were recruited via employ-
ers and randomised in a 2:1 ratio to receive LEAP or a
‘
usual care
’
control. Intervention arm
participants were provided with a pedometer to encourage self-monitoring of PA goals.Feasibility of the trial design and procedures was established by estimating recruitment and
retention rates, and of LEAP from usage data. At baseline and 8-week follow-up, adherence
to a MD derived from three 24-hour dietary recalls and seven-day PA by accelerometry
were assessed. Healthy ageing outcomes (including measures of physiological function,
physical capability, cognition, psychological and social wellbeing) were assessed and
acceptability established by compliance with measurement protocols and completion rates.
Thematically analysed, semi-structured, qualitative interviews assessed acceptability of the
intervention, trial design, procedures and outcome measures.
Results
Seventy participants completed the trial; 48 (96%) participants in the intervention and 22
(88%) in the control arm. Participants had considerable scope for improvement in diet as
assessed by MD score. LEAP was visited a median of 11 times (range 1
–
80) for a mean
total time of 2.5 hours (range 5.5 min
–
8.3 hours).
‘
Moving more
‘
,
‘
eating well
’
and
‘
being
social
’
were the most visited modules. At interview, participants reported that diet and PA
modules were important and acceptable within the context of healthy ageing. Participants
found both trial procedures and outcome assessments acceptable.
Conclusions
The trial procedures and the LEAP intervention proved feasible and acceptable. Effective-
ness and cost-effectiveness of LEAP to promote healthy lifestyles warrant evaluation in a
definitive RCT.
Trial Registration
ClinicalTrials.gov
NCT02136381
AB - Background
Lifestyle interventions delivered during the retirement transition might promote healthier
ageing. We report a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) of a web-based platform (Living,
Eating, Activity and Planning through retirement; LEAP) promoting healthy eating (based
on a Mediterranean diet (MD)), physical activity (PA) and meaningful social roles.
Methods
A single blinded, two-arm RCT with individual allocation. Seventy-five adult regular internet
users living in Northeast England, within two years of retirement, were recruited via employ-
ers and randomised in a 2:1 ratio to receive LEAP or a
‘
usual care
’
control. Intervention arm
participants were provided with a pedometer to encourage self-monitoring of PA goals.Feasibility of the trial design and procedures was established by estimating recruitment and
retention rates, and of LEAP from usage data. At baseline and 8-week follow-up, adherence
to a MD derived from three 24-hour dietary recalls and seven-day PA by accelerometry
were assessed. Healthy ageing outcomes (including measures of physiological function,
physical capability, cognition, psychological and social wellbeing) were assessed and
acceptability established by compliance with measurement protocols and completion rates.
Thematically analysed, semi-structured, qualitative interviews assessed acceptability of the
intervention, trial design, procedures and outcome measures.
Results
Seventy participants completed the trial; 48 (96%) participants in the intervention and 22
(88%) in the control arm. Participants had considerable scope for improvement in diet as
assessed by MD score. LEAP was visited a median of 11 times (range 1
–
80) for a mean
total time of 2.5 hours (range 5.5 min
–
8.3 hours).
‘
Moving more
‘
,
‘
eating well
’
and
‘
being
social
’
were the most visited modules. At interview, participants reported that diet and PA
modules were important and acceptable within the context of healthy ageing. Participants
found both trial procedures and outcome assessments acceptable.
Conclusions
The trial procedures and the LEAP intervention proved feasible and acceptable. Effective-
ness and cost-effectiveness of LEAP to promote healthy lifestyles warrant evaluation in a
definitive RCT.
Trial Registration
ClinicalTrials.gov
NCT02136381
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0159703
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0159703
M3 - Article
SN - 1932-6203
SP - -
JO - PLoS ONE
JF - PLoS ONE
ER -