The WALK-Copenhagen Trial (WALK-Cph): a Mixed Methods Study

Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre

Status: Terminated

Conditions: Hospitalization; Activity

Treatments: Other: Promotion of activity during and after hospitalization

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03825497

H-18027877

Details and patient eligibility

About

The WALK-Copenhagen project aims at enhancing physical activity during and after hospitalization in older medical patients by an intervention developed in co-operation with key stakeholders

Full description

In four phases we will develop (Phase 1), fidelity- and feasibility test (Phase 2), efficacy test (Phase 3) and adoption test the intervention (Phase 4). The project will use a combination of qualitative (Phase 1-4) and quantitative methods (Phase 2-3) and consists of two parallel tracks - WALK-Intervention and WALK-Implementation. Phase 1 of the study has been completed. Through workshops with patients, relatives, health professionals and researchers we have developped an intervention to enhance physical activity. Phase 2 will be carried out in October 2018 and January 2019 at Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre and in February 2019 at Copenhagen University Hospital, Frederiksberg. The developed intervention will be fidelity tested through daily observations at the wards. Also, the intervention will be feasibility tested in a prospective cohort study aiming at qualifying the intervention, testing recruitment strategies, testing patient willingness towards the intervention, testing randomization and blinding procedures and estimating an inclusion rate for Phase 3 (randomized controlled trial) to be conducted in 2019.

Update March 2019:

Due to a political decision to close down the medical ward at Copenhagen University Hospital, Frederiksberg in the spring of 2019, it was decided to change Phase 3 to a cohort study at Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre. This decision was based on the fact that the methodological setup of the study (cluster RCT) was unintentionally changed due to the close down of one of the intervention wards.

Update November 2019:

Due to changes in characteristics of patients admitted to the intervention ward and thus a very slow inclusion rate in Phase 3 (Cohort Study), it was decided to terminate inclusion of patients. Qualitative data will still be collected as anticipated.

Enrollment: 18 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• +65 years
• acutely admitted to intervention wards
• able to walk independently with or without walking aid

Exclusion criteria

• in isolation
• inability to cooperate
• not able to speak or understand Danish
• in treatment for cancer
• terminally ill
• transferred to intensive care unit or another ward within 24 hours after admission

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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18 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

1) On admission, patients will receive a welcome folder focusing on physical activity; 2) daily during hospitalization, patients will be encouraged to walk along a walk path in the hallway; 3) during hospitalization, patients will be encouraged to consult and use posters with exercises (sit to stand, heel raise, balance); 4) on admission, patients will receive a prescribed walk plan with 3 daily walking sessions to perform during hospitalization (3 times 1 minute, 5 minutes or 10 minutes); 5) during hospitalization patients will be motivated to pick up of clothes and beverages themselves; 6) patients will be discharged with a walk plan to use at home; 7) after discharge the municipality will follow up on patients receiving home care and patients with a rehabilitation plan

Treatment:

Other: Promotion of activity during and after hospitalization

Usual care

No Intervention group

Description:

All patients admitted to the control wards will receive usual care during and after hospitalization.