The pragmatic randomised controlled trial

Effect of an Online Mobility Self-Management Program on Walking Speed in Older Adults With Preclinical Mobility Limitation: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Walking difficulties are a common and costly problem. However, disability associated with the decline in walking ability is not an inevitable consequence. With an aging population, it is increasingly important to establish strategies to help older adults preserve the capacity to live independently and function well in late life. Preclinical mobility limitation (PCML), which is characterized by subtle changes or limitations in mobility that precede disability, manifests as changes in how daily tasks such as walking are performed. Persons with PCML are at increased risk for the onset of disability and chronic disease. For that reason, PCML is a critical stage in the natural history of functional change when there is the opportunity for primary prevention interventions.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of a 12-week online mobility self-management program (Stepping Up) on mobility outcomes, including walking speed, aerobic exercise capacity, dual-task cost, physical functioning (balance and strength), balance confidence, extent of community mobility, self-management of mobility, and quality of life in older adults with PCML.

METHODS

This randomized controlled trial (RCT) will recruit 249 older adults (aged 55-75 years) screened for PCML. Participants will be assigned to the Stepping Up program, a telephone-based coaching walking program or an online chair-based yoga program. Programs will be delivered over 12 weeks and participants will undergo virtual assessments with a blinded physiotherapist at baseline, 12, 24, and 36 weeks. An economic evaluation will be conducted alongside this RCT.

RESULTS

A total of 253 participants were enrolled in the trial. Data collection commenced in August 2021 and will be completed in October 2025. Data analysis will begin in November 2025 and results will be published in the Summer of 2026.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, PCML has not been addressed by primary prevention interventions that incorporate both task-oriented motor learning exercise and mobility self-management sessions. Results will establish if the Stepping-Up program has the potential to serve as a model for sustainable, accessible, and cost-effective programming for individuals with early mobility limitations.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04368949; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04368949.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/72585.

A mindfulness-based intervention for Substance Use Disorder in a Brazilian vulnerable population: a feasibility mixed method study

Introduction

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is a chronic condition that impacts various facets of an individual's life, and society as a whole. The Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) protocol is an innovative intervention that can help to prevent relapse, particularly when used as a post-treatment approach. However, although there is significant evidence of its effectiveness in studies from high-income countries (HICs), there is a dearth of studies examining its feasibility and efficacy in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Thus, this study investigates the feasibility of MBRP as an adjunct to outpatient treatment for SUD in a socially vulnerable Brazilian population.

Methods

The study employed a mixed-methods design in eight Psychosocial Care Centers for Alcohol and Drugs (CAPS-ad) in the city of São Paulo, and involved 140 participants, 24 healthcare professionals and 7 CAPS-ad managers. In total, 17 MBRP intervention groups were conducted. The study assessed qualitative indicators of acceptability, demand, implementation, adaptation, integration, and limited efficacy testing through group interviews, in-depth interviews and field diary records. It also included limited efficacy testing of the protocol using a quantitative pre-post pilot study to investigate consumption behavior, using the Timeline Followback (TLFB) assessment method; depression, using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale; anxiety, using the state trait anxiety index (STAXI-2); craving, using the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS); readiness to change, using the Readiness-to-Change Ruler (RCR); and severity of dependence, using the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS). The qualitative data were triangulated with the quantitative data to comprehensively evaluate the feasibility of the intervention.

Results

The sample comprised socially vulnerable participants with a high dropout rate, primarily due to social factors. Despite facing challenges in respect of regular engagement and initial cultural misperceptions of meditation, the intervention showed positive acceptance and mental health benefits, including impacts on consumption behavior.

Discussion

The study emphasizes the importance of adapting the format of the protocol to better suit vulnerable populations, and to ensure its effective integration into the public healthcare system. Future research should explore protocol modifications, assess its effectiveness in different contexts, and conduct cost-benefit analyses for broader implementation.

Feasibility and Effectiveness of a Personalized Home-Based Motor-Cognitive Training Program in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Protocol for a Pragmatic Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Exergame-based motor-cognitive training in older adults has been associated with improvements in physical, cognitive, and psychological functioning. The novel Cocare system (Dividat GmbH), developed through a user-centered design process, allows motor-cognitive training in a telerehabilitation setting. It includes (1) a stationary stepping platform for supervised exergame training (Dividat Senso; Dividat GmbH), (2) a home-based version (Dividat Senso Flex, which is a rollable pressure-sensitive mat; Dividat GmbH), (3) an assessment system (including motor-cognitive tests), and (4) a rehabilitation cockpit for remote training supervision and management.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to test the feasibility and effectiveness of this novel training system.

METHODS

A total of 180 older adults from Switzerland, Italy, and Cyprus aged ≥60 years with a prescription for rehabilitation are randomly allocated to an intervention group or a control group. Both groups continue with their usual care, whereas participants in the intervention group additionally perform a 2-week supervised exergame training program at rehabilitation centers, followed by a 10-week home training program under remote supervision. The assessment system is used to indicate the start level of each participant, and, in both intervention periods, standardized progression rules are applied. The measures of feasibility include adherence, attrition, exergame enjoyment, willingness to perform such a training program, and the number and types of help requests. Effectiveness is assessed in terms of cognitive and physical functioning, balance confidence, and quality of life.

RESULTS

Data collection started in February 2023 and is ongoing. Final measurements are expected to be performed in January 2024.

CONCLUSIONS

Owing to the user-centered design approach, the Cocare system is expected to be user-friendly and offers several novel features to cover the whole continuum of care. This pragmatic trial will provide valuable information regarding final necessary adaptations and subsequent implementation efforts.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05751551; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05751551.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/49377.

Clinical research in dementia: A perspective on implementing innovation

The increasing global prevalence of dementia demands concrete actions that are aimed strategically at optimizing processes that drive clinical innovation. The first step in this direction requires outlining hurdles in the transition from research to practice. The different parties needed to support translational processes have communication mismatches; methodological gaps hamper evidence-based decision-making; and data are insufficient to provide reliable estimates of long-term health benefits and costs in decisional models. Pilot projects are tackling some of these gaps, but appropriate methods often still need to be devised or adapted to the dementia field. A consistent implementation perspective along the whole translational continuum, explicitly defined and shared among the relevant stakeholders, should overcome the "research-versus-adoption" dichotomy, and tackle the implementation cliff early on. Concrete next steps may consist of providing tools that support the effective participation of heterogeneous stakeholders and agreeing on a definition of clinical significance that facilitates the selection of proper outcome measures.

Antidepressant medication to prevent depression relapse in primary care: the ANTLER RCT

BACKGROUND

There has been a steady increase in the number of primary care patients receiving long-term maintenance antidepressant treatment, despite limited evidence of a benefit of this treatment beyond 8 months.

OBJECTIVE

The ANTidepressants to prevent reLapse in dEpRession (ANTLER) trial investigated the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of antidepressant medication in preventing relapse in UK primary care.

DESIGN

This was a Phase IV, double-blind, pragmatic, multisite, individually randomised parallel-group controlled trial, with follow-up at 6, 12, 26, 39 and 52 weeks. Participants were randomised using minimisation on centre, type of antidepressant and baseline depressive symptom score above or below the median using Clinical Interview Schedule - Revised (two categories). Statisticians were blind to allocation for the outcome analyses.

SETTING

General practices in London, Bristol, Southampton and York.

PARTICIPANTS

Individuals aged 18-74 years who had experienced at least two episodes of depression and had been taking antidepressants for ≥ 9 months but felt well enough to consider stopping their medication. Those who met an International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, diagnosis of depression or with other psychiatric conditions were excluded.

INTERVENTION

At baseline, participants were taking citalopram 20 mg, sertraline 100 mg, fluoxetine 20 mg or mirtazapine 30 mg. They were randomised to either remain on their current medication or discontinue medication after a tapering period.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was the time, in weeks, to the beginning of the first depressive episode after randomisation. This was measured by a retrospective Clinical Interview Schedule - Revised that assessed the onset of a depressive episode in the previous 12 weeks, and was conducted at 12, 26, 39 and 52 weeks. The depression-related resource use was collected over 12 months from medical records and patient-completed questionnaires. Quality-adjusted life-years were calculated using the EuroQol-5 Dimensions, five-level version.

RESULTS

Between 9 March 2017 and 1 March 2019, we randomised 238 participants to antidepressant continuation (the maintenance group) and 240 participants to antidepressant discontinuation (the discontinuation group). The time to relapse of depression was shorter in the discontinuation group, with a hazard ratio of 2.06 (95% confidence interval 1.56 to 2.70; p < 0.0001). By 52 weeks, relapse was experienced by 39% of those who continued antidepressants and 56% of those who discontinued antidepressants. The secondary analysis revealed that people who discontinued experienced more withdrawal symptoms than those who remained on medication, with the largest difference at 12 weeks. In the discontinuation group, 37% (95% confidence interval 28% to 45%) of participants remained on their randomised medication until the end of the trial. In total, 39% (95% confidence interval 32% to 45%) of participants in the discontinuation group returned to their original antidepressant compared with 20% (95% confidence interval 15% to 25%) of participants in maintenance group. The health economic evaluation demonstrated that participants randomised to discontinuation had worse utility scores at 3 months (-0.037, 95% confidence interval -0.059 to -0.015) and fewer quality-adjusted life-years over 12 months (-0.019, 95% confidence interval -0.035 to -0.003) than those randomised to continuation. The discontinuation pathway, besides giving worse outcomes, also cost more [extra £2.71 per patient over 12 months (95% confidence interval -£36.10 to £37.07)] than the continuation pathway, although the cost difference was not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who discontinue long-term maintenance antidepressants in primary care are at increased risk of relapse and withdrawal symptoms. However, a substantial proportion of patients can discontinue antidepressants without relapse. Our findings will give patients and clinicians an estimate of the likely benefits and harms of stopping long-term maintenance antidepressants and improve shared decision-making. The participants may not have been representative of all people on long-term maintenance treatment and we could study only a restricted range of antidepressants and doses. Identifying patients who will not relapse if they discontinued antidepressants would be clinically important.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN15969819 and EudraCT 2015-004210-26.

FUNDING

This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 25, No. 69. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Effects of an exercise and sport intervention among refugees living in a Greek refugee camp on mental health, physical fitness and cardiovascular risk markers: study protocol for the SALEEM pragmatic randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Due to ongoing political and social conflicts, the number of international refugees has been increasing. Refugees are exposed to severe mental and physical strain, as well as traumatic experiences during their flight. Therefore, the risk of psychiatric disorders is markedly increased among international refugees. International organizations have criticized the lack of early interventions as a key problem, because untreated mental disorders are often difficult to cure at a later stage. Today, exercise and sport have been successfully employed to treat a wide range of psychiatric disorders. With patients with post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), very limited empirical evidence exists, and studies carried out with international refugees are nearly non-existent.

METHODS

We intend to implement a pragmatic randomized controlled trial (RCT) with an exercise and sport intervention group (n = 68, 50% women) and a wait-list control group (n = 68, 50% women) in the Koutsochero refugee camp, located close to the city of Larissa (Greece). During the RCT, exercise and sport will be offered five times per week (60 min/session) for 10 weeks. Participants will be asked to participate in at least two sessions per week. The programme is developed according to the participants' needs and preferences and they will be able to choose between a range of activities. PTSD symptoms will serve as primary outcome, and several secondary outcomes will be assessed. Qualitative data collection methods will be used to gain a more in-depth appraisal of the participants' perception of the intervention programme. In the second year of study, the programme will be opened to all camp residents. A strategy will be developed how the programme can be continued after the end of the funding period, and how the programme can be scaled up beyond the borders of the Koutsochero camp.

DISCUSSION

By moving towards the primary prevention of chronic physical conditions and psychiatric disorders, a relevant contribution can be done to enhance the quality and quantity of life of refugee camp residents in Greece. Our findings may also strengthen the evidence for exercise as medicine as a holistic care option in refugee camps, by helping camp residents to adopt and maintain a physically active lifestyle.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study was registered prospectively on the 8 February 2021 with ISRCTN https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN16291983.

The preterm infant-parent programme for attachment-PIPPA Study: a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

There is increasing recognition of adverse mental health consequences of preterm birth and the impact on social-emotional development. However, the quality of the developing parent-infant relationship may be protective, with enhanced maternal sensitivity to infants' cues associated with improved outcomes.

METHODS

Eighty mothers and their preterm infants born <32 weeks gestation were randomised to intervention and standard care groups. Intervention comprised reflective interview, observation of infant cues and video interaction guidance (VIG). The primary outcome, maternal sensitivity during play, was measured by the Child Adult Relationship Evaluation-Index. Secondary outcomes were infant social-emotional problems measured by the Ages and Stages Questionnaire-Social-Emotional version.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference between the intervention and standard care groups in maternal sensitivity during play at 9 months corrected age (CA). In the secondary outcome analysis at 12 months CA, infants in the intervention group had fewer self-regulation problems than infants whose mothers received standard care. Per-protocol analysis revealed that infants whose mothers completed VIG had significantly fewer communication problems.

CONCLUSIONS

This early attachment-focussed intervention integrating VIG for mothers and their preterm infants did not enhance maternal sensitivity; however, there were effects on infant social-emotional problems at 12 months CA.

IMPACT

Preterm birth can adversely affect infant and parent mental health and the quality of the parent-infant relationship. Early intervention to support parent-infant interaction can have positive effects on infant social-emotional development. There was no statistically significant difference in maternal sensitivity during play at 9 months CA. However, there were fewer infant self-regulation and communication problems reported by mothers at 12 months CA following intervention. Further evaluations of attachment-focussed interventions in the neonatal intensive care unit are needed.

A Compassion-Focused Ecological Momentary Intervention for Enhancing Resilience in Help-Seeking Youth: Uncontrolled Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

Digital interventions offer new avenues for low-threshold prevention and treatment in young people. Ecological momentary interventions (EMIs) represent a powerful approach that allows for adaptive, real-time, and real-world delivery of intervention components in daily life by real-time processing of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data. Compassion-focused interventions (CFIs) may be particularly amenable to translation into an EMI to strengthen emotional resilience and modify putative risk mechanisms, such as stress sensitivity, in the daily lives of young help-seeking individuals.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to investigate the feasibility, safety, and initial therapeutic effects of a novel, accessible, transdiagnostic, ecological momentary CFI for improving emotional resilience to stress (EMIcompass).

METHODS

In this uncontrolled pilot study, help-seeking youth with psychotic, depressive, or anxiety symptoms were offered the EMIcompass intervention in addition to treatment as usual. The EMIcompass intervention consisted of a 3-week EMI (including enhancing, consolidating, and EMA-informed interactive tasks) administered through a mobile health app and three face-to-face sessions with a trained psychologist intended to provide guidance and training on the CFI exercises presented in the app (ie, training session, follow-up booster session, and review session).

RESULTS

In total, 10 individuals (mean age 20.3 years, SD 3.8; range 14-25) were included in the study. Most (8/10, 80%) participants were satisfied and reported a low burden of app usage. No adverse events were observed. In approximately one-third of all EMAs, individuals scored high on stress, negative affect, or threat anticipation during the intervention period, resulting in real-time, interactive delivery of the CFI intervention components in addition to weekly enhancing and daily consolidating tasks. Although the findings should be interpreted with caution because of the small sample size, reduced stress sensitivity, momentary negative affect, and psychotic experiences, along with increased positive affect, were found at postintervention and the 4-week follow-up. Furthermore, reductions in psychotic, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were found (r=0.30-0.65).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provide evidence on the feasibility and safety of the EMIcompass intervention for help-seeking youth and lend initial support to beneficial effects on stress sensitivity and mental health outcomes. An exploratory randomized controlled trial is warranted to establish the feasibility and preliminary evidence of its efficacy.

Video conference vs face-to-face group psychotherapy for distressed cancer survivors: A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

This study assesses the effectiveness of face-to-face group positive psychotherapy for cancer survivors (PPC) compared to its online adaptation, online group positive psychotherapy for cancer survivors (OPPC), which is held via videoconference. A two-arm, pragmatic randomized controlled trial was conducted to examine the effects of both interventions on emotional distress, post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), and post-traumatic growth (PTG) among cancer survivors and analyze attrition to treatment.

METHODS

Adult women with a range of cancer diagnoses were invited to participate if they experienced emotional distress at the end of their primary oncological treatment. Emotional distress, PTSS, and PTG were assessed at baseline, immediately after treatment, and 3 months after treatment. Intention-to-treat analyses were carried out using general linear mixed models to test the effect of the interventions overtime. Logistic regressions were performed to test differential adherence to treatment and retention to follow-up.

RESULTS

A total of 269 individuals participated. The observed treatment effect was significant in both modalities, PPC and OPPC. Emotional distress (b = -2.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -3.15 to -1.33) and PTSS (b = -3.25, 95% CI = -4.97 to -1.53) decreased significantly over time, and PTG (b = 3.08, 95% CI = 0.38-5.78) increased significantly. Treatment gains were sustained across outcomes and over time. Analyses revealed no significant differences between modalities of treatment, after adjusting for baseline differences, finding that OPPC is as effective and engaging as PPC.

CONCLUSIONS

The OPPC treatment was found to be effective and engaging for female cancer early survivors. These results open the door for psycho-oncology interventions via videoconference, which are likely to lead to greater accessibility and availability of psychotherapy.

Effectiveness of an avatar educational application for improving heart failure patients' knowledge and self-care behaviors: A pragmatic randomized controlled trial

AIM

To evaluate the effectiveness of education using avatars for improving patients' heart failure knowledge and self-care.

BACKGROUND

A lack of knowledge and self-care contributes to poor outcomes and rehospitalization for people with heart failure.

DESIGN

A multi-centred, non-blinded pragmatic randomized controlled trial.

METHODS

Heart failure patients were randomly assigned to intervention (avatar education application) or usual care groups. Participants were followed up at baseline, 30 and 90 days. ANCOVA was used to compare the scores of heart failure knowledge and self-care, between the two groups. Fisher's exact test was used to compare the two groups' heart failure-cause readmission. Bivariate exact binary logistic regression was used to identify the predictors associated with baseline levels of knowledge.

RESULTS

A total of 36 participants were recruited (between October 2018 - March 2019). The mean age of participants was 67.5 (SD 11.3) years. At enrolment, approximately half (47.2%) have been living with Heart Failure for over 5 years. Two groups were comparable at baseline in their demographic and clinical characteristics. At 90 days, the intervention group participants had a higher increase in knowledge score on the Dutch Heart Failure Knowledge Scales compared with the control group (22.2% versus 3.7% P = .002, partial η²  = 0.262, 95% CI -2.755 to -0.686). There was no between-group difference observed at 30- or 90-day follow-up, on self-care behaviour (Self-care of heart failure index) or healthcare use. Overall satisfaction with the avatar app was 91.3%.

CONCLUSION

The addition of a co-designed avatar app to usual care improved knowledge in our group of Heart Failure participants at 30 days and continued to increase up to 90 days. The results suggest that our avatar app was perceived as an enjoyable and engaging means of delivering critical knowledge and self-care information.

IMPACT

Heart failure is associated with poor clinical outcomes (i.e., readmission rates and mortality rate) and substantial economic burden. The effectiveness of Heart Failure patient education using avatar have not been investigated previously. In this study, the avatar app improved knowledge and self-care behaviours. This innovation could be used at the bedside, at home by nurses, patients and families.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Australian New Zealand Trial Registry ACTRN12617001403325.

What are the recovery and attrition outcomes for group CBT and individual CBT for generalised anxiety disorder in an IAPT service? An exploratory study

Group cognitive behavioural therapy (gCBT) is commonly used in Increasing Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services. However, there is limited knowledge of the efficacy of gCBT as a delivery format for generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). To address gaps in literature, this study aims to explore the efficacy and attrition of individual and group CBT interventions, respectively, at Step 3 for GAD using data from a routine IAPT service over a 24-month period. Data were retrospectively derived from a routine serviceʼs IAPTus database, separating those eligible for comparison into group (n = 44) and individual (n = 55) CBT for GAD. Outcomes were differences in pre–post self-reported anxiety (GAD-7) and depression (PHQ-9) scores, clinical recovery and attrition for gCBT and individual CBT. Both gCBT and individual CBT yielded significant reductions in self-reported anxiety and depression scores over time. Results indicate that 53% of patients attending individual CBT achieved clinical recovery, with similar but less competitive rates of 41% in gCBT. Attrition rates were similar between gCBT (29.5%) and individual CBT (27.3%), respectively. Preliminary results suggest that both individual and gCBT are effective interventions for GAD patients in IAPT, offering symptom alleviation and comparable recovery and attrition rates post-intervention. This observational design offers credibility and insight into a pragmatic evaluative and explorative comparison. gCBT may offer an acceptable and potentially economical alternative.

Key learning aims

(1)

STEP.De study-a multicentre cluster-randomised effectiveness trial of exercise therapy for patients with depressive symptoms in healthcare services: study protocol

INTRODUCTION

Although exercise therapy has widely been shown to be an efficacious treatment modality for depression, evidence for its effectiveness and cost efficiency is lacking. The Sport/Exercise Therapy for Depression study is a multicentre cluster-randomised effectiveness trial that aims to compare the effectiveness and cost efficiency of exercise therapy and psychotherapy as antidepressant treatment.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

480 patients (aged 18-65) with an International Classification of Diseases diagnosis associated with depressive symptoms are recruited. Up to 30 clusters (psychotherapists) are randomly assigned to allocate patients to either an exercise or a psychotherapy treatment as usual in a 2:1 ratio. The primary outcome (depressive symptoms) and the secondary outcomes (work and social adjustment, quality of life) will be assessed at six measurement time points (t0: baseline, t1: 8 weeks after treatment initiation, t2: 16 weeks after treatment initiation, t3/4/5: 2, 6, 12 months after treatment). Linear regression analyses will be used for the primary endpoint data analysis. For the secondary endpoints, mixed linear and logistic regression models with fixed and random factors will be added. For the cost efficiency analysis, expenditures in the 12 months before and after the intervention and the outcome difference will be compared between groups in a multilevel model. Recruitment start date was 1 July 2018 and the planned recruitment end date is 31 December 2020.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study protocol was approved by the ethics committee of the University of Potsdam (No. 17/2018) and the Freie Universität Berlin (No. 206/2018) and registered in the ISRCTN registry. Informed written consent will be obtained from all participants. The study will be reported in accordance with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials and the Recommendations for Interventional Trials statements. The results will be published in peer-reviewed academic journals and disseminated to the public.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ISRCTN28972230.

Common Design Concepts in Randomized Controlled Trials

It is a known fact that Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) are the gold standard design methods in medical investigations particularly when the aim is comparison of medical therapies or effectiveness of intervention between treatment groups. This design method, once carefully followed, presents the highest level of evidence attainable in the measurement of treatment effect. Oftentimes, researchers confuse concepts related to the design of RCTs and thereby jeopardizing its benefits. Furthermore, in resource-poor settings, a very limited access to educational materials on design, conduct, and reporting of clinical trials exists. This among other reasons explains why most studies in such settings are observational in nature as RCTs are not as popular. This review adopted a narrative synthesis approach to aggregate current knowledge scattered in literatures in respect of selected common design concepts in RCTs so as to elucidate on their meaning and demands. Overall, 25 literatures drawn majorly from the PubMed database including 8 textbook materials were involved in examining the following concepts; Study Population in RCTs Setting, Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures, Single and Multicenter Trials, Pragmatic and Explanatory trials, and Blinding. Appropriate search terms for each of the concepts were entered into the PubMed database and relevant articles accessed. This review article, intended for educational purposes could also serve as a guide, especially for new entrants, in the design of RCTs. It is hoped that this educational material would contribute immensely toward maximizing the benefits of this all-important design method.

Osteopathic treatment of patients with shoulder pain. A pragmatic randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Shoulder complaints are common in the general population. Typically, the diagnosis of a specific pathology is lacking. The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of an osteopathic treatment in patients suffering from shoulder pain.

METHODS

A pragmatic randomized controlled trial was conducted in patients with a history of shoulder pain of 6 weeks to 12 months, and a pain intensity level of at least 40% on the visual analogue scale (VAS). Participants were identified from the general population in Germany and allocated by means of external randomization to an intervention group or a control group. Patients in the intervention group received five osteopathic treatments at intervals of two weeks. Treatment was custom tailored and based on osteopathic principles. Controls received their osteopathic treatment after an 8-week untreated waiting period. Primary outcome parameters were pain intensity and frequency, measured by VAS and Likert Scales. Secondary outcome parameters were shoulder specific pain and disability (Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, SPADI), and quality of life (SF-36).

RESULTS

A total of 70 patients aged 25-70 years (average age 45.6 ± 13.4 years) were included, 36 in the intervention group and 34 in the control group. The inter-group comparison of changes revealed clinically relevant improvements in favor of the intervention group for the main outcome parameters maximal pain intensity (VAS: between group difference of means 41.5; 95% CI: 34.6 to 48.3; p < 0.005) and average pain intensity (VAS: between group difference of means 40.4; 95% CI: 33.2 to 47.5; p < 0.005). The proportion of participants with a low frequency of pain increased in the osteopathic group only (from 7 to 34 vs. 9 to 6 in the control group, p = 0.006), and the number of patients with a high frequency decreased in the osteopathic group only (from 29 to 2 vs. 25 to 28, p < 0.0005). Shoulder specific pain and disability also improved. The follow-up assessment in the intervention group showed further improvements.

CONCLUSIONS

Five osteopathic treatments over a period of eight weeks led to statistically significant and clinically relevant positive changes of pain and disability in patients suffering from shoulder pain.

Protocol for the Optimune trial: a randomized controlled trial evaluating a novel Internet intervention for breast cancer survivors

INTRODUCTION

Depression and fatigue are common in breast cancer survivors, and their presence is associated with personal suffering and worse prognosis. While many women receive short-term psychological support in the acute treatment phase, this is rarely available in subsequent phases. Internet interventions for breast cancer survivors could provide additional psychological support, as they are easily accessible and may be effective. However, no trial has yet examined the effectiveness of an Internet intervention that provides cognitive behavioural therapy techniques plus lifestyle advice for this population. This trial aims to test whether Optimune, a novel Internet intervention we developed for that purpose, leads to improvements in quality of life and relevant lifestyle habits over the course of 3 to 6 months.

METHODS

This randomized controlled trial (RCT) will include 360 female breast cancer survivors who have completed the active tumour eradication phase. Participants will be recruited from various settings, including web-based advertisements and Internet forums in German-speaking countries. The main inclusion criteria are a breast cancer diagnosis less than 5 years ago and completion of acute treatment at least 1 month ago, as verified by discharge letter from an oncology treatment centre. Participants will be randomly assigned to either (1) a control group, in which they receive care as usual (CAU) and are given access to Optimune after a delay of 3 months (CAU/wait list control), or (2) a treatment group that may also use CAU and will receive 12-month access to Optimune immediately after randomization. The three primary endpoints are quality of life, physical activity and diet quality, assessed with the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Food Quality Questionnaire, at 3 months post-baseline; secondary outcomes include cancer-related fatigue, emotional stress, depression, anxiety, fear of progression, insomnia, usefulness of the programme and negative treatment effects. Online assessments are conducted at baseline (T0), 3 months (T1) and 6 months (T2).

DISCUSSION

Results of this RCT are expected to extend the body of knowledge with regard to the effectiveness of CBT-based Internet interventions for female breast cancer survivors.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03643640. Registered on 23 August 2018.

Implementing learning health systems in the UK NHS: Policy actions to improve collaboration and transparency and support innovation and better use of analytics

Learning health systems (LHS) use digital health and care data to improve care, shorten the timeframe of improvement projects, and ensure these are based on real-world data. In the United Kingdom, policymakers are depending on digital innovation, driven by better use of data about current health service performance, to enable service transformation and a more sustainable health system. This paper examines what would be needed to develop LHS in the United Kingdom, considering national policy implications and actions, which local organisations and health systems could take. The paper draws on a seminar attended by academics, policymakers, and practitioners, a brief literature review, and feedback from policy experts and National Health Service (NHS) stakeholders. Although there are examples of some aspects of LHS in the UK NHS, it is hard to find examples where there is a continuous cycle of improvement driven by information and where analysis of data and implementing improvements is part of usual ways of working. The seminar and literature identified a number of barriers. Incentives and capacity to develop LHS are limited, and requires a shift in analytic capacity from regulation and performance, to quality improvement and transformation. The balance in priority given to research compared with implementation also needs to change. Policy initiatives are underway which address some barriers, including building analytical capacity, developing infrastructure, and data standards. The NHS and research partners are investing in infrastructure which could support LHS, although clinical buy in is needed to bring about improvement or address operational challenges. We identify a number of opportunities for local NHS organisations and systems to make better use of health data, and for ways that national policy could promote the collaboration and greater use of analytics which underpin the LHS concept.

Wise Practices for Cultural Safety in Electronic Health Research and Clinical Trials With Indigenous People: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial

Background

There is a paucity of controlled clinical trial data based on research with Indigenous peoples. A lack of data specific to Indigenous peoples means that new therapeutic methods, such as those involving electronic health (eHealth), will be extrapolated to these groups based on research with other populations. Rigorous, ethical research can be undertaken in collaboration with Indigenous communities but requires careful attention to culturally safe research practices. Literature on how to involve Indigenous peoples in the development and evaluation of eHealth or mobile health apps that responds to the needs of Indigenous patients, providers, and communities is still scarce; however, the need for community-based participatory research to develop culturally safe technologies is emerging as an essential focus in Indigenous eHealth research. To be effective, researchers must first gain an in-depth understanding of Indigenous determinants of health, including the harmful consequences of colonialism. Second, researchers need to learn how colonialism affects the research process. The challenge then for eHealth researchers is to braid Indigenous ethical values with the requirements of good research methodologies into a culturally safe research protocol.

Objective

A recent systematic review showed that Indigenous peoples are underrepresented in randomized controlled trials (RCTs), primarily due to a lack of attention to providing space for Indigenous perspectives within the study frameworks of RCTs. Given the lack of guidelines for conducting RCTs with Indigenous communities, we conducted an analysis of our large evaluation data set collected in the Diagnosing Hypertension-Engaging Action and Management in Getting Lower Blood Pressure in Indigenous Peoples and Low- and Middle- Income Countries (DREAM-GLOBAL) trial over a period of five years. Our goal is to identify wise practices for culturally safe, collaborative eHealth and RCT research with Indigenous communities.

Methods

We thematically analyzed survey responses and qualitative interview/focus group data that we collected over five years in six culturally diverse Indigenous communities in Canada during the evaluation of the clinical trial DREAM-GLOBAL. We established themes that reflect culturally safe approaches to research and then developed wise practices for culturally safe research in pragmatic eHealth research.

Results

Based on our analysis, successful eHealth research in collaboration with Indigenous communities requires a focus on cultural safety that includes: (1) building a respectful relationship; (2) maintaining a respectful relationship; (3) good communication and support for the local team during the RCT; (4) commitment to co-designing the innovation; (5) supporting task shifting with the local team; and (6) reflecting on our mistakes and lessons learned or areas for improvement that support learning and cultural safety.

Conclusions

Based on evaluation data collected in the DREAM-GLOBAL RCT, we found that there are important cultural safety considerations in Indigenous eHealth research. Building on the perspectives of Indigenous staff and patients, we gleaned wise practices for RCTs in Indigenous communities.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02111226; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02111226

Objectively measured physical activity and depressive symptoms in adult outpatients diagnosed with major depression. Clinical perspectives

Physical activity (PA) is linked to reduced risk of depression, but research on the objectively measured PA in clinically diagnosed adult outpatients with major depressive disorder (MDD) is scarce. This study aimed to examine relationships of objectively measured PA with depression and mood. A total of 19 outpatients (6 males) with MDD, a mean age of 47.79 ± 11.67 years and mild-moderate depression participated in the study. To record PA, participants wore a triaxial accelerometer device on the right hip during waking hours for seven consecutive days. Depression and mood were assessed with self-reports immediately after day seven. Participants wore the accelerometers for a high number of days (M = 6.26 ± 1.24 days) and hours per day (13.40 ± 2.61 h), recording light (266.01 ± 100.74 min/day) or moderate (31.19 ± 24.90 min/day) PA, and sedentary time (515.33 ± 155.71 min/day). Stepwise regression analysis yield a significant prediction (p < .05) with only moderate PA contributing to the prediction of depression (Beta = -0.47, p < .05). The model explained 22% of the variance of depression. Our findings provide valuable preliminary evidence regarding the relationship between objectively measured PA and lower depression in clinically diagnosed outpatients with MDD, suggesting moderate PA may help alleviating depressive symptoms.

Pharmacoepidemiology: Using randomised control trials and observational studies in clinical decision-making

Weighing up sources of evidence is a key skill for clinical decision-makers. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies each have advantages and disadvantages, and in both cases perceived weaknesses can be improved through modifications of design and analysis. In the field of pharmacoepidemiology, RCTs are the best way to determine whether an intervention modifies an outcome being studied, largely because randomisation reduces bias and confounding. Observational studies are useful to investigate whether benefits/harms of a treatment are seen in day-to-day clinical practice in a wider group of patients. Although observational studies, even in a small cohort, can provide very useful clinical evidence, they may also be misleading (as shown by subsequent RCTs), in part because of allocation bias. There is an unmet need for clinicians to become well versed in appraising the study design and statistical analysis of observational pharmacoepidemiology (OP) studies, rather like the medical training already offered for RCT evaluation. This is because OP studies are likely to become more common with the computerisation of healthcare records and increasingly contribute to the evidence base available for clinical decision-making. However, when the results of an RCT conflict with the results of an OP study, the findings of the RCT should be preferred, especially if its findings have been repeated elsewhere. Conversely, OP studies that align with the findings of RCTs can provide rich and useful information to complement that generated by RCTs.

A pragmatic randomised controlled trial of preferred intensity exercise in depressed adult women in the United Kingdom: secondary analysis of individual variability of depression

BACKGROUND

This study is a secondary analysis of the trial by Callaghan et al. (2011), which reported higher antidepressant effects for preferred intensity (n = 19) vs. prescribed intensity (n = 19) exercise of three sessions/week over four weeks in depressed women. In particular, the present study sought to examine whether greater clinically significant individual change/recovery was observed in the preferred compared to the prescribed exercise group.

METHODS

The reliable change index and the C_cutoff score criteria described by Jacobson and Truax (1991) were employed to determine clinical significance. These criteria examined if individual change in depression scores from pre- to post-intervention in the preferred intensity group were statistically significant beyond the standard error of difference derived from the active comparator prescribed group, and subsequently within a normal population range. Patients fulfilling the first or both criteria were classified as improved or recovered, respectively.

RESULTS

Post-intervention depression scores of six patients in the preferred intensity exercise group (32%) demonstrated statistically reliable improvement (p < 0.05) and recovery. Half of this subgroup started as moderately depressed. No patient demonstrated a reliable deterioration in depression. Due to a small sample size, it was impossible to determine whether patients on psychiatric medication or medication-free patients were equally benefited from preferred intensity exercise. Thirteen patients in the preferred intensity group (68%) displayed non-statistically significant change in post-intervention depression scores (p > 0.05), although eight of them showed a non-significant improvement in post-intervention depression scores and three could not technically show an improvement in depression due to floor effects (baseline depression within normal range).

CONCLUSIONS

Preferred intensity exercise of three sessions/week over four weeks led almost a third of the patients to record scores consistent with recovery from depression. Health professionals may consider that short-term preferred intensity exercise provides clinically significant antidepressant effects comparing favourably to exercise on prescription.

Beyond interviews and focus groups: a framework for integrating innovative qualitative methods into randomised controlled trials of complex public health interventions

Background

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are widely used for establishing evidence of the effectiveness of interventions, yet public health interventions are often complex, posing specific challenges for RCTs. Although there is increasing recognition that qualitative methods can and should be integrated into RCTs, few frameworks and practical guidance highlight which qualitative methods should be integrated and for what purposes. As a result, qualitative methods are often poorly or haphazardly integrated into existing trials, and researchers rely heavily on interviews and focus group discussions. To improve current practice, we propose a framework for innovative qualitative research methods that can help address the challenges of RCTs for complex public health interventions.

Methods

We used a stepped approach to develop a practical framework for researchers. This consisted of (1) a systematic review of the innovative qualitative methods mentioned in the health literature, (2) in-depth interviews with 23 academics from different methodological backgrounds working on RCTs of public health interventions in 11 different countries, and (3) a framework development and group consensus-building process.

Results

The findings are presented in accordance with the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) Statement categories for ease of use. We identify the main challenges of RCTs for public health interventions alongside each of the CONSORT categories, and potential innovative qualitative methods that overcome each challenge are listed as part of a Framework for the Integration of Innovative Qualitative Methods into RCTs of Complex Health Interventions. Innovative qualitative methods described in the interviews include rapid ethnographic appraisals, document analysis, diary methods, interactive voice responses and short message service, community mapping, spiral walks, pair interviews and visual participatory analysis.

Conclusions

The findings of this study point to the usefulness of observational and participatory methods for trials of complex public health interventions, offering a novel contribution to the broader literature about the need for mixed methods approaches. Integrating a diverse toolkit of qualitative methods can enable appropriate adjustments to the intervention or process (or both) of data collection during RCTs, which in turn can create more sustainable and effective interventions. However, such integration will require a cultural shift towards the adoption of method-neutral research approaches, transdisciplinary collaborations, and publishing regimes.

Nurse-led clinic for patients with liver cirrhosis-effects on health-related quality of life: study protocol of a pragmatic multicentre randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Liver cirrhosis affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL) even in its early stages. Morbidity is especially high when the disease decompensates and self-care actions become essential. Nurse involvement in secondary prevention in other chronic diseases has contributed to better symptom control, less need of inpatient care and improved HRQoL. In order to evaluate the impact of nurse involvement in the follow-up of patients with liver cirrhosis, we decided to compare structured nurse-led clinics, inspired by Dorothea Orem's nursing theory and motivational strategies, with a group of patients receiving standard care. The primary outcome is HRQoL and the secondary outcomes are quality of care, visits to outpatient clinics or hospitals, disease progress and health literacy.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is a pragmatic, multicentre randomised controlled study conducted at six Swedish hepatology departments. Eligible patients are adults with diagnosed cirrhosis of the liver (n=500). Participants are randomised into either an intervention with nurse-led follow-up group or into a standard of care group. Recruitment started in November 2016 and is expected to proceed until 2020. Primary outcomes are physical and mental HRQoL measured by RAND-36 at enrolment, after 1 and 2 years.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study is ethically approved by the Regional Ethical Review Board in Uppsala. The results shall be disseminated in international conferences and peer-reviewed articles.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT02957253; Pre-results.

Reducing challenging behaviour of adults with intellectual disabilities in supported accommodation: A cluster randomized controlled trial of setting-wide positive behaviour support

BACKGROUND

Improving the quality of social care through the implementation of setting-wide positive behaviour support (SWPBS) may reduce and prevent challenging behaviour.

METHOD

Twenty-four supported accommodation settings were randomized to experimental or control conditions. Settings in both groups had access to individualized PBS either via the organisation's Behaviour Support Team or from external professionals. Additionally, within the experimental group, social care practice was reviewed and improvement programmes set going. Progress was supported through coaching managers and staff to enhance their performance and draw more effectively on existing resources, and through monthly monitoring over 8-11 months. Quality of support, quality of life and challenging behaviour were measured at baseline and after intervention with challenging behaviour being additionally measured at long-term follow-up 12-18 months later.

RESULTS

Following intervention there were significant changes to social care practice and quality of support in the experimental group. Ratings of challenging behaviour declined significantly more in the experimental group and the difference between groups was maintained at follow-up. There was no significant difference between the groups in measurement of quality of life. Staff, family members and professionals evaluated the intervention and its outcomes positively.

CONCLUSIONS

Some challenging behaviour in social care settings may be prevented by SWPBS that improves the quality of support provided to individuals.

FIT for FUNCTION: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The current state of evidence suggests that community-based exercise programs are beneficial in improving impairment, function, and health status, and are greatly needed for persons with stroke. However, limitations of these studies include risk of bias, feasibility, and cost issues.

METHODS/DESIGN

This single-blinded, randomized controlled trial (RCT) of 216 participants with stroke will compare the effectiveness of a 12-week YMCA community-based wellness program (FIT for FUNCTION) specifically designed for community-dwelling persons with stroke to persons who receive a standard YMCA membership. The primary outcome will be community reintegration using the Reintegration to Normal Living Index at 12 and 24 weeks. Secondary outcomes include measurement of physical activity level using the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity and accelerometry; balance using the Berg Balance Scale; lower extremity function using the Short Physical Performance Battery; exercise capacity using the 6-min walk test; grip strength and isometric knee extension strength using hand held dynamometry; and health-related quality of life using the European Quality of Life 5-Dimension Questionnaire. We are also assessing cardiovascular health and lipids; glucose and inflammatory markers will be collected following 12-h fast for total cholesterol, insulin, glucose, and glycated hemoglobin. Self-efficacy for physical activity will be assessed with a single question and self-efficacy for managing chronic disease will be assessed using the Stanford 6-item Scale. The Patient Activation Measure will be used to assess the patient's level of knowledge, skill, and confidence for self-management. Healthcare utilization and costs will be evaluated. Group, time, and group × time interaction effects will be estimated using generalized linear models for continuous variables, including relevant baseline variables as covariates in the analysis that differ appreciably between groups at baseline. Cost data will be treated as non-parametric and analyzed using a Mann-Whitney U test.

DISCUSSION

This is a RCT with broad study eligibility criteria intended to recruit a wide spectrum of individuals living in the community with stroke. If positive benefits are demonstrated, results will provide strong research evidence to support the implementation of structured, community-based exercise and education/self-management programs for a broad range of people living in the community with stroke.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02703805 . Registered on 14 October 2014.

The evolving randomised controlled trial in mental health: studying complexity and treatment process

As a gold-standard methodology for the testing of the effectiveness of health treatments, the randomised controlled trial (RCT) continues to evolve to meet the challenges of new contexts and areas of medicine. This article reviews two particular evolving features of RCTs that make them increasingly well adapted to testing psychological interventions in mental health. The first is a new confidence that RCTs can be successfully adapted to test the more complex (often psychosocial) health interventions and technologies. The second is an increasing emphasis on using the RCT method to explore many facets of the process of treatment as well as its outcome. These two developments should help the RCT method to come of age in mental health, increase the face validity of the RCT method for practitioners and aid the effective translation of research work into improvements in practice.

Research methods in complementary and alternative medicine: an integrative review

The scientific literature presents a modest amount of evidence in the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). On the other hand, in practice, relevant results are common. The debates among CAM practitioners about the quality and execution of scientific research are important. Therefore, the aim of this review is to gather, synthesize and describe the differentiated methodological models that encompass the complexity of therapeutic interventions. The process of bringing evidence-based medicine into clinical practice in CAM is essential for the growth and strengthening of complementary medicines worldwide.

Feasibility of the trial procedures for a randomized controlled trial of a community-based peer-led wheelchair training program for older adults

BACKGROUND

A novel peer-led manual wheelchair (MWC) training program may support the training needs of older adults, but establishing program feasibility is a pragmatic first step. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a peer-led Wheelchair training Self-Efficacy Enhanced for Use (WheelSeeU) program.

METHODS

Forty MWC users (mean age 65 years) were randomly assigned to the experimental (WheelSeeU) or control group. Feasibility indicators of process, resources, management, and safety were collected throughout the study.

RESULTS

The consent rate was 49%. Participant retention rate was 90% post-intervention and 87.5% at follow-up (6 months). All participants reported perceived benefits from WheelSeeU. Participants and trainers adhered to the study protocol (>90%), and fidelity of the WheelSeeU intervention was attained (>90%). There were no adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

WheelSeeU is an innovative and feasible approach for providing MWC training to older adults that is accessible beyond initial rehabilitation without increased clinician burden. With minor modifications, it is feasible that WheelSeeU can be administered to older adults living in the community.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT01838135.

A focused ethnography of a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service: factors relevant to the implementation of a depression trial

BACKGROUND

Prior to commencing a randomised controlled trial, we conducted a focused ethnography to ensure that the trial was well suited to the proposed setting.

METHODS

A six-month observation of a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service site in the North-East of England was undertaken to observe the site procedures, staff culture and patient care pathways. During this period, documentary data were collected and interviews were conducted with key informants to provide insight into staff perceptions of the proposed trial. The data were coded using thematic analysis and the resulting themes were verified by a second coder.

RESULTS

Seventeen documents were collected, 158 h of observation and six formal staff interviews were undertaken. Four themes emerged from the data; non-clinically orientated variation in practice, diagnosis, capacity and staff economy. Non-clinically orientated variation in practice occurred when staff decisions were based upon resource availability rather than on clinical judgement. Diagnosis demonstrated differing staff confidence in making diagnoses and in the treatment of patients who had received a diagnosis. Capacity consisted of the time to attend training and the psychological capacity to consider or incorporate learning into practice. Staff economy was characterised by staff changes and shortages. There was significant interaction between the themes, with staff economy emerging as a central barrier to research. The results directly informed adaptations to the trial protocol.

CONCLUSIONS

An ethnographic approach has provided important insights into the individual, practical and organisational boundaries into which a trial would need to be implemented.

A Framework for the Study of Complex mHealth Interventions in Diverse Cultural Settings

BACKGROUND

To facilitate decision-making capacity between options of care under real-life service conditions, clinical trials must be pragmatic to evaluate mobile health (mHealth) interventions under the variable conditions of health care settings with a wide range of participants. The mHealth interventions require changes in the behavior of patients and providers, creating considerable complexity and ambiguity related to causal chains. Process evaluations of the implementation are necessary to shed light on the range of unanticipated effects an intervention may have, what the active ingredients in everyday practice are, how they exert their effect, and how these may vary among recipients or between sites.

OBJECTIVE

Building on the CONSORT-EHEALTH (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials of Electronic and Mobile HEalth Applications and onLine TeleHealth) statement and participatory evaluation theory, we present a framework for the process evaluations for mHealth interventions in multiple cultural settings. We also describe the application of this evaluation framework to the implementation of DREAM-GLOBAL (Diagnosing hypertension-Engaging Action and Management in Getting Lower BP in Indigenous and LMIC [low- and middle-income countries]), a pragmatic randomized controlled trial (RCT), and mHealth intervention designed to improve hypertension management in low-resource environments. We describe the evaluation questions and the data collection processes developed by us.

METHODS

Our literature review revealed that there is a significant knowledge gap related to the development of a process evaluation framework for mHealth interventions. We used community-based participatory research (CBPR) methods and formative research data to develop a process evaluation framework nested within a pragmatic RCT.

RESULTS

Four human organizational levels of participants impacted by the mHealth intervention were identified that included patients, providers, community and organizations actors, and health systems and settings. These four levels represent evaluation domains and became the core focus of the evaluation. In addition, primary implementation themes to explore in each of the domains were identified as follows: (1) the major active components of the intervention, (2) technology of the intervention, (3) cultural congruence, (4) task shifting, and (5) unintended consequences. Using the four organizational domains and their interaction with primary implementation themes, we developed detailed evaluation research questions and identified the data or information sources to best answer our questions.

CONCLUSIONS

Using DREAM-GLOBAL to illustrate our approach, we succeeded in developing an uncomplicated process evaluation framework for mHealth interventions that provide key information to stakeholders, which can optimize implementation of a pragmatic trial as well as inform scale up. The human organizational level domains used to focus the primary implementation themes in the DREAM-GLOBAL process evaluation framework are sufficiently supported in our research, and the literature and can serve as a valuable tool for other mHealth process evaluations.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02111226; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02111226 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6oxfHXege).

A critical review of exercise as a treatment for clinically depressed adults: time to get pragmatic

OBJECTIVE

Although considerable evidence supports the efficacy of exercise as an antidepressant treatment, critical reviews informing routine practice and future research directions are scarce.

METHODS

We critically reviewed exercise studies for clinically depressed adults, focussing on the PICOS criteria referred to participants, interventions, comparisons, outcomes, and study designs.

RESULTS

Most studies have not screened their samples for symptom heterogeneity. Also, they have employed heterogeneous exercise interventions and control groups that may lead to an underestimation of the benefits of exercise. In addition, pragmatic trials allowing scalable replication and implementation in routine practice are scarce. Future studies, can consider the research domain criteria as a diagnostic framework, and conduct moderator analyses to identify depressed subgroups with symptomatology and biopsychosocial characteristics associated with differential responses to exercise interventions. The search for biomarkers of the antidepressant responses to exercise should be prioritised. Further, non-physically active comparison groups should be used to minimise treatment cross-overs and thus the underestimation of the effects of exercise interventions. Finally, the use of outcome measures that maintain their validity at low and moderate levels of symptom severity and the development of trials with a pragmatic design are essential.

CONCLUSION

The current evidence base is fraught with methodological considerations that need to be taken into account in order to increase further our understanding on the impact of exercise as medicine in depression. Future research should include moderator analyses, incorporate biomarker assays, use appropriate control and comparison groups, assess outcomes with psychometrically sensitive measures, and prioritise pragmatic trials towards transition to routine practice.

Protocol for the ENCODE trial: evaluating a novel online depression intervention for persons with epilepsy

BACKGROUND

Depression is common among persons with epilepsy (PwE), affecting roughly one in three individuals, and its presence is associated with personal suffering, impaired quality of life, and worse prognosis. Despite the availability of effective treatments, depression is often overlooked and treated inadequately in PwE, in part because of assumed concerns over drug interactions or proconvulsant effects of antidepressants. Internet-administered psychological interventions might complement antidepressant medication or psychotherapy, and preliminary evidence suggests that they can be effective. However, no trial has yet examined whether an Internet intervention designed to meet the needs of PwE can achieve sustained reductions in depression and related symptoms, such as anxiety, when offered as adjunct to treatment as usual.

METHODS/DESIGN

This randomized controlled trial will include 200 participants with epilepsy and a current depressive disorder, along with currently at least moderately elevated depression (Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) sum score of at least 10). Patients will be recruited via epilepsy treatment centers and other sources, including Internet forums, newspaper articles, flyers, posters, and media articles or advertisements, in German-speaking countries. Main inclusion criteria are: self-reported diagnosis of epilepsy and a depressive disorder, as assessed with a phone-administered structured diagnostic interview, none or stable antidepressant medication, no current psychotherapy, no other major psychiatric disorder, no acute suicidality. Participants will be randomly assigned to either (1) a care-as-usual/waitlist (CAU/WL) control group, in which they receive CAU and are given access to the Internet intervention after 3 months (that is, a CAU/WL control group), or (2) a treatment group that may also use CAU and in addition immediately receives six-month access to the novel, Internet-administered intervention. The primary outcome measure is the PHQ-9, collected at three months post-baseline; secondary measures include self-reported anxiety, work and social adjustment, epilepsy symptoms (including seizure frequency and severity), medication adherence, potential negative treatment effects and health-related quality of life. Measurements are collected online at pre-treatment (T0), three months (T1), six months (T2), and nine months (T3).

DISCUSSION

Results of this trial are expected to extend the body of knowledge with regard to effective and efficient treatment options for PwE who experience elevated depression and anxiety.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02791724 . Registered 01 June 2016.

Effectiveness of group music therapy versus recreational group singing for depressive symptoms of elderly nursing home residents: pragmatic trial

OBJECTIVES

Several studies have suggested positive effects of music therapy in dementia, but research on age-related depression has been limited and of insufficient quality. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of interactive group music therapy versus recreational group singing on depressive symptoms in elderly nursing home residents.

METHOD

Residents of two German nursing homes with sufficient length of stay who were not bedridden were invited to participate in a pragmatic trial. A total of 117 participants, grouped into four clusters (based on their wards), were randomised to interactive group music therapy (n = 62; 20 units of 40 minutes, 2×/week) or recreational group singing (n = 55; 10 units of 90 minutes, 1×/week). The level of depressive symptoms was assessed using the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale at baseline (47% with at least mild depression) and follow-up in the 6th and 12th weeks. There was no blinding of assessors.

RESULTS

The level of depressive symptoms improved significantly more in those assigned to music therapy (n = 60) than in recreational singing (n = 53), both in 6th week (mean difference 3.0 scores, 95% CI 1.21 to 4.79, p = 0.001) and 12th week (mean difference 4.50 scores, 95% CI 2.51 to 6.50, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that music therapy decreases depressive symptoms in elderly people in nursing homes more effectively than recreational singing.

Notes on the use of randomised controlled trials to evaluate complex interventions: Community treatment orders as an illustrative case

Over the past seven decades, randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have revolutionised clinical research and achieved a gold standard status. However, extending their use to evaluate complex interventions is problematic. In this paper we will demonstrate that complex intervention RCTs violate the necessary premises that govern the RCTs logic and underpin their rigour. The lack of blinding, heterogeneity of participants, as well as poor treatment standardisation and difficulty of controlling for confounders, which characterise complex intervention RCTs, can potentially be profoundly detrimental to their integrity. Proponents of this approach argue that matching "real world" circumstances, while maintaining the randomised design, enhances external validity. We counter this argument by pointing out that an inverted U relation exists between internal and external validity, and thus relaxing the experimental conditions beyond a certain threshold can potentially paradoxically render the RCT externally invalid, i.e. its results cannot be used anywhere. We shall illustrate the inappropriate use of RCTs to evaluate community treatment orders and propose an alternative epistemic model that is based on mechanistic reasoning and Cartwright's capacity concept.

Ecological Interventionist Causal Models in Psychosis: Targeting Psychological Mechanisms in Daily Life

Integrated models of psychotic disorders have posited a number of putative psychological mechanisms that may contribute to the development of psychotic symptoms, but it is only recently that a modest amount of experience sampling research has provided evidence on their role in daily life, outside the research laboratory. A number of methodological challenges remain in evaluating specificity of potential causal links between a given psychological mechanism and psychosis outcomes in a systematic fashion, capitalizing on longitudinal data to investigate temporal ordering. In this article, we argue for testing ecological interventionist causal models that draw on real world and real-time delivered, ecological momentary interventions for generating evidence on several causal criteria (association, time order, and direction/sole plausibility) under real-world conditions, while maximizing generalizability to social contexts and experiences in heterogeneous populations. Specifically, this approach tests whether ecological momentary interventions can (1) modify a putative mechanism and (2) produce changes in the mechanism that lead to sustainable changes in intended psychosis outcomes in individuals' daily lives. Future research using this approach will provide translational evidence on the active ingredients of mobile health and in-person interventions that promote sustained effectiveness of ecological momentary interventions and, thereby, contribute to ongoing efforts that seek to enhance effectiveness of psychological interventions under real-world conditions.

A randomized controlled trial protocol testing a decision support intervention for older patients with advanced kidney disease

AIM

To assess the effectiveness of a decision support intervention using a pragmatic single blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND

Worldwide the proportion of older people (aged 65 years and over) is rising. This population is known to have a higher prevalence of chronic diseases including chronic kidney disease. The resultant effect of the changing health landscape is seen in the increase in older patients (aged ≥65 years) commencing on dialysis. Emerging evidence suggests that for some older patients dialysis may provide minimal benefit. In a majority of renal units non-dialysis management is offered as an alternative to undertaking dialysis. Research regarding decision-making support that is required to assist this population in choosing between dialysis or non-dialysis management is limited.

DESIGN

A multisite single blinded pragmatic randomized controlled trial is proposed.

METHODS

Patients will be recruited from four Queensland public hospitals and randomizd into either the control or intervention group. The decision support intervention is multimodal and includes counselling provided by a trained nurse. The comparator is standard decision-making support. The primary outcomes are decisional regret and decisional conflict. Secondary outcomes are improved knowledge and quality of life. Ethics approval obtained November 2014.

CONCLUSION

This is one of the first randomized controlled trials assessing a decision support intervention in older people with advance chronic kidney disease. The results may provide guidance for clinicians in future approaches to assist this population in decision-making to ensure reduced decisional regret and decisional conflict.

Exercise for adolescents with depression: valued aspects and perceived change

INTRODUCTION

Despite systematic reviews demonstrating an association between exercise participation and reduced depressive symptoms in young people, there is no qualitative research exploring the experience of depressed adolescents who have engaged in an exercise intervention.

AIMS

To explore the experience of depressed adolescents who had recently engaged in a preferred intensity exercise intervention.

METHOD

The participants (n = 26) were recruited through health and social care services, were all in treatment for depression, and were purposefully sampled for interview following engagement in a preferred intensity exercise intervention, which was being evaluated via a pragmatic randomized controlled trial. A thematic approach was undertaken to analyse and organize the data.

RESULTS

Numerous beneficial changes were reported by participants alongside specific aspects of the intervention that were valued.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS

The findings suggest that preferred intensity exercise can lead to feelings of improved mood, enjoyment and achievement, alongside benefits that transcend depressive symptom reduction. Considering mental health nurses are in key positions to promote exercise in this population, the current findings provide vital information for this purpose.

Modular Approach to Therapy for Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, or Conduct Problems in outpatient child and adolescent mental health services in New Zealand: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Mental health disorders are common and disabling for young people because of the potential to disrupt key developmental tasks. Implementation of evidence-based psychosocial therapies in New Zealand is limited, owing to the inaccessibility, length, and cost of training in these therapies. Furthermore, most therapies address one problem area at a time, although comorbidity and changing clinical needs commonly occur in practice. A more flexible approach is needed. The Modular Approach to Therapy for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, or Conduct Problems (MATCH-ADTC) is designed to overcome these challenges; it provides a range of treatment modules addressing different problems, within a single training program. A clinical trial of MATCH-ADTC in the USA showed that MATCH-ADTC outperformed usual care and standard evidence-based treatment on several clinical measures. We aim to replicate these findings and evaluate the impact of providing training and supervision in MATCH-ADTC to: (1) improve clinical outcomes for youth attending mental health services; (2) increase the amount of evidence-based therapy content; (3) increase the efficiency of service delivery.

METHODS

This is an assessor-blinded multi-site effectiveness randomized controlled trial. Randomization occurs at two levels: (1) clinicians (≥60) are randomized to intervention or usual care; (2) youth participants (7-14 years old) accepted for treatment in child and adolescent mental health services (with a primary disorder that includes anxiety, depression, trauma-related symptoms, or disruptive behavior) are randomly allocated to receive MATCH-ADTC or usual care. Youth participants are recruited from 'mainstream', Māori-specific, and Pacific-specific child and adolescent mental health services. We originally planned to recruit 400 youth participants, but this has been revised to 200 participants. Centralized computer randomization ensures allocation concealment. The primary outcome measures are: (i) the difference in trajectory of change of clinical severity between groups (using the parent-rated Brief Problem Monitor); (ii) clinicians' use of evidence-based treatment procedures during therapy sessions; (iii) total time spent by clinicians delivering therapy.

DISCUSSION

If MATCH-ADTC demonstrates effectiveness it could offer a practical efficient method to increase access to evidence-based therapies, and improve outcomes for youth attending secondary care services.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12614000297628 .

Approaches to Mixed Methods Dissemination and Implementation Research: Methods, Strengths, Caveats, and Opportunities

Limited translation of research into practice has prompted study of diffusion and implementation, and development of effective methods of encouraging adoption, dissemination and implementation. Mixed methods techniques offer approaches for assessing and addressing processes affecting implementation of evidence-based interventions. We describe common mixed methods approaches used in dissemination and implementation research, discuss strengths and limitations of mixed methods approaches to data collection, and suggest promising methods not yet widely used in implementation research. We review qualitative, quantitative, and hybrid approaches to mixed methods dissemination and implementation studies, and describe methods for integrating multiple methods to increase depth of understanding while improving reliability and validity of findings.

Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy in Women With Postpartum Low Back Pain and Disability: A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial

Context: Persistent low back pain (LBP) is a common complaint among women during and after pregnancy, and its effects on quality of life can be disabling.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMTh; manipulative care provided by foreign-trained osteopaths) in women with persistent LBP and functional disability after childbirth.

Methods: A pragmatic randomized controlled trial was conducted among a sample of women with a history of pregnancy-related LBP for at least 3 months after delivery. Participants were identified from the general population in Germany. By means of external randomization, women were allocated to an OMTh group and a waitlist control group. Osteopathic manipulative therapy was provided 4 times at intervals of 2 weeks, with a follow-up after 12 weeks. The OMTh was tailored to each participant and based on osteopathic principles. The participants allocated to the control group did not receive OMTh during the 8-week study; rather, they were put on a waiting list to receive OMTh on completion of the study. Further, they were not allowed to receive any additional treatment (ie, medication, physical therapy, or other sources of pain relief) during the study period. The main outcome measures were pain intensity as measured by a visual analog scale and the effect of LBP on daily activities as assessed by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).

Results: A total of 80 women aged between 23 and 42 years (mean [SD], 33.6 [4.5] years) were included in the study, with 40 in the OMTh group and 40 in the control group. Pain intensity decreased in the OMTh group from 7.3 to 2.0 (95% CI, 4.8-5.9; P<.001) and in the control group from 7.0 to 6.5 (95% CI, -0.2 to -0.9; P=.005). The between-group comparison of changes revealed a statistically significant improvement in pain intensity in the OMTh group (between-group difference of means, 4.8; 95% CI, 4.1-5.4; P<.001) and level of disability (between-group difference of means, 10.6; 95% CI, 9.9-13.2; P<.005). The follow-up assessment in the OMTh group (n=38) showed further improvement.

Conclusion: During 8 weeks, OMTh applied 4 times led to clinically relevant positive changes in pain intensity and functional disability in women with postpartum LBP. Further studies that include prolonged follow-up periods are warranted. (German Clinical Trials Register: DRKS00006280.)

Cost-effectiveness of abatacept, rituximab, and TNFi treatment after previous failure with TNFi treatment in rheumatoid arthritis: a pragmatic multi-centre randomised trial

Introduction

For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) whose treatment with a tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) is failing, several biological treatment options are available. Often, another TNFi or a biological with another mode of action is prescribed. The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of three biologic treatments with different modes of action in patients with RA whose TNFi therapy is failing.

Methods

We conducted a pragmatic, 1-year randomised trial in a multicentre setting. Patients with active RA despite previous TNFi treatment were randomised to receive abatacept, rituximab or a different TNFi. The primary outcome (Disease Activity Score in 28 joints) and the secondary outcomes (Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index and 36-item Short Form Health Survey scores) were analysed using linear mixed models. Cost-effectiveness was analysed on the basis of incremental net monetary benefit, which was based on quality-adjusted life-years (calculated using EQ-5D scores), and all medication expenditures consumed in 1 year. All analyses were also corrected for possible confounders.

Results

Of 144 randomised patients, 5 were excluded and 139 started taking abatacept (43 patients), rituximab (46 patients) or a different TNFi (50 patients). There were no significant differences between the three groups with respect to multiple measures of RA outcomes. However, our analysis revealed that rituximab therapy is significantly more cost-effective than both abatacept and TNFi over a willingness-to-pay range of 0 to 80,000 euros.

Conclusions

All three treatment options were similarly effective; however, when costs were factored into the treatment decision, rituximab was the best option available to patients whose first TNFi treatment failed. However, generalization of these costs to other countries should be undertaken carefully.

Trial registration

Netherlands Trial Register number NTR1605. Registered 24 December 2008.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13075-015-0630-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

OARSI Clinical Trials Recommendations: Design and conduct of implementation trials of interventions for osteoarthritis

Rigorous implementation research is important for testing strategies to improve the delivery of effective osteoarthritis (OA) interventions. The objective of this manuscript is to describe principles of implementation research, including conceptual frameworks, study designs and methodology, with specific recommendations for randomized clinical trials of OA treatment and management. This manuscript includes a comprehensive review of prior research and recommendations for implementation trials. The review of literature included identification of seminal articles on implementation research methods, as well as examples of previous exemplar studies using these methods. In addition to a comprehensive summary of this literature, this manuscript provides key recommendations for OA implementation trials. This review concluded that to date there have been relatively few implementation trials of OA interventions, but this is an emerging area of research. Future OA clinical trials should routinely consider incorporation of implementation aims to enhance translation of findings.

Computer-delivered cognitive-behavioural treatments for obsessive compulsive disorder: preliminary meta-analysis of randomized and non-randomized effectiveness trials

Cognitive behavioural treatments (CBTs) are well-established for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). However, few patients receive CBT, due to factors like geographical limitations, perceived stigmatization, and lack of CBT services. Some evidence suggests that computer-delivered cognitive-behavioural treatments (CCBTs) could be an effective strategy to improve patients’ access to CBT. To date a meta-analysis on effectiveness of CCBTs for OCD has not been conducted. The present study used meta-analytical techniques to summarize evidence on CCBTs for OCD on OCD and depression symptom outcomes at post-treatment and follow-up. A meta-analysis was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Treatments were classified as CCBTs if including evidence-based cognitive-behavioural components for OCD (psychoeducation, exposure and response prevention, cognitive restructuring), delivered through devices like computers, palmtops, telephone-interactive voice-response systems, CD-ROMS, and cell phones. Studies were included if they used validated outcomes for OCD. Eight studies met inclusion criteria (n= 392). A large effect favouring CCBTs over control conditions was found for OCD symptoms at post-treatment (d= 0.82,p= 0.001), but not for depression symptom outcomes (d= 0.15,p= 0.20). Theoretical implications and directions for research are discussed. A larger number of randomized controlled trials is required.