Helping older adults with early frailty use 24-hour activity and sleep guidance
Moving More: Supporting Uptake of Evidence for Physical Activity in Older Adults With Complex Health Care Needs
This project will test whether a 24-hour movement counselling approach delivered by physiotherapists helps older adults with early frailty and chronic conditions be more active and balance sleep and rest compared with usual goal-focused counselling.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Ages | N/A to 99 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of British Columbia Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Vancouver, British Columbia) |
| Trial ID | NCT06894914 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Physiotherapists in the Greater Vancouver Area will be trained and randomized to deliver either a 24-hour Movement Guidelines counselling approach or a usual goal-oriented counselling approach that focuses on achieving 150 minutes/week of moderate-to-vigorous activity. Community-dwelling adults over 65 with early frailty and at least one chronic condition who can walk short distances and consent to participation will receive the assigned counselling through routine physiotherapy sessions. The project is a pilot implementation evaluation that will measure feasibility, implementation context, and preliminary effects on activity and related outcomes, and will include interviews and focus groups to refine the approach. Outcomes and experiences from both patients and PTs will inform whether the 24-hour approach is practical and promising for a larger trial.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are community-dwelling adults aged over 65 with early frailty (1–2 CHS deficits), at least one chronic condition, ability to walk 3 metres (with or without aid), MMSE >24, English proficiency, and willingness to have physiotherapy sessions audio-recorded and to provide consent.
Not a fit: People with more advanced frailty, severe mobility limitations, significant cognitive impairment, active psychiatric diagnoses, non-English speakers, or those unable to consent or participate in audio-recorded sessions are unlikely to benefit from this pilot.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the 24-hour counselling approach could help slow frailty progression by increasing daily activity and improving balance of activity, rest, and sleep, leading to better function and quality of life.
How similar studies have performed: Previous PT-led goal-oriented counselling programs improved moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in randomized trials for older adults with osteoarthritis, but using the new 24-hour Movement Guidelines specifically for early frailty is a novel application.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Physiotherapists: Inclusion Criteria: * Eligible PTs are those who self-report at least 40% of their caseload is working with older adults and practice in the in the Greater Vancouver Area. In addition, they are willing to: 1. participate in online training for the assigned physical activity counselling strategy 2. be randomised to one of the counselling groups. Exclusion Criteria: * Those who do not meet the Inclusion Criteria Older adults: Inclusion Criteria: 1. are age \> 65 years 2. live in the community 3. have 1 or 2 of the deficits in the CHS index 4. have \> 1 chronic conditions 5. are able to walk 3 metres with or without an assistive device 6. have a Mini-Mental State Examination score \> 24/30 7. do not have a diagnosed psychiatric condition (e.g., depression) 8. understand, speak and read English proficiently 9. are willing to have their physiotherapy sessions audio-recorded 10. are able to provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Those who do not meet the Inclusion Criteria
Where this trial is running
Vancouver, British Columbia
- Arthritis Research Canada — Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Linda Li, PhD — University of British Columbia
- Study coordinator: Linda Li, PhD
- Email: lli@arthritisresearch.ca
- Phone: 604-207-4020
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.