Abstract
Background
Physical activity is an important aspect of lifestyle management and of type 2 diabetes. although the percentage of people with type 2 diabetes regularly achieving recommended guidelines is low. Supported self-management underpinned by group educational programmes may be helpful but difficult to implement in remote and rural areas. We aimed to test the feasibility of an approach based on tailored education delivered individually by community-based exercise advisors to people with type 2 diabetes.
Methods
Following development of an online educational toolkit a mixture of Exercise Advisors with level 3 training and people with type 2 diabetes were recruited. People with diabetes had an initial face to face consultation with an Exercise Advisor with mutually agreed follow up interactions over a period of 6 months. To track changes in physical activity, people with diabetes aimed to wear an accelerometer device for 7 days at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Post intervention semi-structured interviews were undertaken with both groups of participants to gauge perspectives of the initiative.
Results
There was more than 56% total attrition from baseline to 3 months due primarily to COVID-19 and impact on clinical research. Around 50% of participants achieved minimum physical activity recommendations at each time point and 22% of participants had accelerometer data at 3 time points. People with diabetes valued individual interaction with exercise advisors and felt that the programme would be of greatest benefit to less active individuals. Exercise advisors felt that the programme provided more opportunities and increased confidence and that training in working with older less active individuals would be useful for them.
Conclusion
It is feasible to develop a physical activity programme delivered by non-healthcare practitioners that is underpinned by diabetes-specific education tailored to the needs of people with type 2 diabetes. Several project adaptions should be considered for progress to a pilot study to assess an integrated physical activity programme utilised by clinical services and delivered by community exercise advisors.
Physical activity is an important aspect of lifestyle management and of type 2 diabetes. although the percentage of people with type 2 diabetes regularly achieving recommended guidelines is low. Supported self-management underpinned by group educational programmes may be helpful but difficult to implement in remote and rural areas. We aimed to test the feasibility of an approach based on tailored education delivered individually by community-based exercise advisors to people with type 2 diabetes.
Methods
Following development of an online educational toolkit a mixture of Exercise Advisors with level 3 training and people with type 2 diabetes were recruited. People with diabetes had an initial face to face consultation with an Exercise Advisor with mutually agreed follow up interactions over a period of 6 months. To track changes in physical activity, people with diabetes aimed to wear an accelerometer device for 7 days at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Post intervention semi-structured interviews were undertaken with both groups of participants to gauge perspectives of the initiative.
Results
There was more than 56% total attrition from baseline to 3 months due primarily to COVID-19 and impact on clinical research. Around 50% of participants achieved minimum physical activity recommendations at each time point and 22% of participants had accelerometer data at 3 time points. People with diabetes valued individual interaction with exercise advisors and felt that the programme would be of greatest benefit to less active individuals. Exercise advisors felt that the programme provided more opportunities and increased confidence and that training in working with older less active individuals would be useful for them.
Conclusion
It is feasible to develop a physical activity programme delivered by non-healthcare practitioners that is underpinned by diabetes-specific education tailored to the needs of people with type 2 diabetes. Several project adaptions should be considered for progress to a pilot study to assess an integrated physical activity programme utilised by clinical services and delivered by community exercise advisors.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e70006 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Lifestyle Medicine |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 7 Dec 2024 |
Keywords
- online
- physical activity
- self-management
- toolkit
- type 2 diabetes
