Physical activity with tailored mHealth support for individuals with intellectual disabilities: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

• Published in: JMIR research protocols 2020-05
• Main Authors: Michalsen, Henriette, Wangberg, Silje Camilla, Hartvigsen, Gunnar, Jaccheri, Letizia, Muzny, Miroslav, Henriksen, André, Olsen, Monica Isabel, Thrane, Gyrd, Jahnsen, Reidun Birgitta, Pettersen, Gunn, Arntzen, Cathrine, Anke, Audny
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Medical disciplines: 700; Medisinske Fag: 700; VDP
• ISSN: 1929-0748; 1929-0748
• DOI: 10.2196/19213

Individuals with intellectual disabilities (IDs) have lower levels of physical activity (PA) and greater barriers for participation in fitness activities, compared with members of the general population. As increased PA has positive effects on cardiovascular and psychosocial health, it is exceedingly important to identify effective interventions for use in everyday settings. mHealth methods such as motion sensor games (exergames) and smartphone reminders for PA have been explored and found to be promising in individuals with IDs. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of an individually tailored PA program with motivational mHealth support on daily levels of PA in youth and adults with IDs. The trial uses a randomized controlled design comprising 30 intervention participants and 30 controls, aged 16 to 60 years, with a sedentary lifestyle or low PA level. While the controls will receive standard care, the intervention aims to increase the level of PA in terms of objectively measured steps per day, body mass index, blood pressure, physical performance, social support for PA, self-efficacy in PA setting, behavior problems and goal attainment as secondary outcome variables. Using tailored mHealth support and smartphones or tablets to create structure, the intervention will focus on the communicative abilities of individual participants, using rewards and providing feedback, in order to motivate individuals to increase participation in PA. Participants in the intervention group, their close relatives, and care staff will be invited to participate in a preintervention goal-setting meeting on PA during the intervention period where Goal Attainment Scaling will be used to select the participants' PA goals for the intervention. All participants will be assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months, respectively. The main contribution of this paper is a detailed plan for how to run our study that will produce new knowledge about the relation between mHealth support, physical activities, and individuals with intellectual disabilities. We expect the new intervention to perform better than standard care in terms of improved PA, improved self-efficacy and social support for activities. Technology offers new opportunities to promote healthy behaviors. The results of the study will determine the effectiveness and sustainability of a tailored mHealth support intervention to increase PA in youth and adults with IDs. The trial is registered at ClinicalTria