Physical activity is widely documented as one of the cornerstones of Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
management as it is directly linked to mortality and quality of life. Levels of physical
inactivity and sedentary behaviour have been poorly investigated among the CF population
in Ireland. The measurement of these behaviours is important in order to monitor
prevalence amongst people with CF (PWCF) and determine methods by which health care
providers can assist with maintaining and enhancing physical activity.
The use of physical activity monitoring can provide health care providers with insightful
real world analysis of physical activity and exercise behaviours. Over the last decade
there has been many advancements in technology and fitness tracking with positive results
being demonstrated in the healthy population and in chronic diseases such as Diabetes
Mellitus II, post surgery and Multiple Sclerosis. Limited research has been conducted
among PWCF to date.
The aim of this research project is to examine physical activity levels amongst PWCF and
determine the effect of a 12 week randomised parallel intervention on a number of health
outcomes.
Participants will be provided with an accelerometer to assess physical activity and
sedentary behaviour at baseline. The participants will then undergo further baseline
testing to determine exercise capacity, body composition, quality of life,
breathlessness, sleep quality and wellbeing. Baseline short and long term goals will be
established together with the participant and physiotherapist.
Participants will then be randomly allocated to either the intervention or the
comparator. A researcher independent of the recruitment process (MC) will complete the
first random allocation using a sealed opaque envelope. Following this a minimisation
randomisation procedure will be completed based on lung function, where FEV1 of <70%
predicted lung function will be classified as having mild lung disease. While those with
an FEV1 of 30-50% predicted lung function will be classified as having moderate lung
disease, with <30% indicating severe lung disease. Allocation will be revealed after
recruitment and baseline assessments have occurred.
Both groups will receive a fitness tracker which will be linked to an online monitoring
system (Fitabase) for 24 weeks.
The intervention group will receive personalised feedback via a text message every week
on their physical activity levels as measured by their fitness tracker and progress on
attainment of their goals established at the start of the study. Feedback will be
provided from their CF physiotherapists.
The comparator group will not receive any feedback on their Fitbit data. After 12 weeks
both groups will be re-assessed. Thereafter, both groups will continue with the Fitbits
alone for 12 weeks. Finally outcome measures including lung function, physical activity
levels, aerobic capacity, quality of life, sleep quality, muscle mass and well-being will
be re-assessed again at 24 weeks.
Following the intervention semi structured interviews will be conducted to qualitatively
establish satisfaction with the interventions and provide insight into barriers and
enablers to achieving goals and physical activity levels.The results of this study may
provide valuable insights into potential interventions to optimise the health and
well-being of PWCF.
