A randomized, controlled, behavioral intervention to promote walking after abdominal organ transplantation: results from the LIFT study.
Serper M, Barankay I, et al.Transplant International 2020 [record in progress]
Aims
To evaluate the effectiveness of a home-based, low-impact exercise programme consisting of wearable devices, health engagement questions and financial incentives on post-transplant weight gain and walking among kidney and liver transplant recipients.
Interventions
Exercise programme versus control intervention with device versus control. The control intervention consisted of standard instructions regarding healthy diet and physical activity. Participants in the exercise arm and in the control intervention with device had access to an online portal with health information including answers to health engagement questions as well as links with educational online resources regarding healthy diet and physical activity. In addition, the exercise arm received step goals and health engagement questions sent via text messages with financial incentives.
Participants
Adult kidney and liver transplant recipients.
Outcomes
The primary study outcome was change in patient weight. The secondary outcome was daily steps.
Follow-up
4 months
CET Conclusions
This pilot RCT aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a 12-week, home-based, low-impact exercise program on post-transplant weight gain and walking among kidney and liver transplant recipients. The control group received standard instructions regarding a healthy diet and physical activity. The accelerometer group used a wearable accelerometer and had access to an online portal with health information. The study intervention group used the wearable accelerometer and received step goals and health engagement questions via text messages with financial incentives. Participants in the study intervention group were credited with $54 in a virtual account from which small amounts were deducted in case they failed to meet their step goal or did not correctly answer health engagement questions. Balances were paid out on a monthly basis. The authors present a sample size calculation however it was not based on the primary outcome weight gain but on the secondary outcome daily steps. The study was single blind, i.e. the investigators were blinded to group assignment and outcome assessment was blinded. The study randomised 127 patients of which 117 completed the study. There was positive feedback from the participants regarding the feasibility of the programmes. There were no differences between groups for the primary outcome weight change but participants in the study intervention group were more likely to walk ≥7000 steps per day compared to the accelerometer group.
Data analysis
Per protocol analysis
Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov - NCT03221465