Effects on sedentary behaviour of an approach to reduce sedentary behaviour in patients with minor ischaemic stroke: A randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Objectives

To determine the effects on sedentary behaviour of an approach that promotes reduction in sedentary behaviour in patients with minor ischaemic stroke after intervention and at follow-up.

Design

A randomised controlled trial.

Setting

During hospitalisation and after hospital discharge

Subjects

In total, 86 patients with minor ischaemic stroke admitted to an acute care hospital were assigned to the intervention (n = 43) and control (n = 43) groups.

Intervention

An intervention group that received an approach to reduce sedentary behaviour upon hospital admission until 3 months after discharge (education, self-monitoring, phone calls, etc.) and a control group that received the usual care during hospitalisation. From 3 to 6 months after discharge, no group received any intervention.

Main Outcome

The primary outcome was the change (%) in sedentary behaviour from baseline to post-intervention (3 months after discharge) and follow-up (6 months after discharge). Sedentary behaviour was measured at baseline (upon hospital admission), post-intervention, and at follow-up using accelerometers.

Results

At the post-intervention stage, the intervention group showed a significantly greater change in sedentary behaviour from baseline than that shown by the control group (sedentary behaviour: intervention group, −22.7%; control group, −14.9%; P = 0.013; effect size = 0.58). At follow-up too, the intervention group showed a significantly greater change in sedentary behaviour from baseline than that shown by the control group (sedentary behaviour: intervention group, −20.4%; control group, −13.6%; P = 0.025; effect size = 0.54).

Conclusions

An approach to reduce sedentary behaviour in patients with minor ischaemic stroke effectively reduces sedentary behaviour, which is sustained up to follow-up.

Trial registration

This study is registered at www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index/htm UMIN000038616.