Planning implementation and scale-up of physical activity interventions for people with walking difficulties: study protocol for the process evaluation of the ComeBACK trial

Siobhan Wong; Leanne Hassett; Harriet Koorts; Anne Grunseit; Allison Tong; Anne Tiedemann; Colin J Greaves; Abby Haynes; Andrew Milat; Lisa A Harvey; Nicholas F Taylor; Rana S Hinman; Marina De Barros Pinherio; Matthew Jennings; Daniel Treacy; Sandra O'Rourke; Courtney West; Elizabeth Ramsay; Catherine Kirkham; Claire Morris; Catherine Sherrington

doi:10.1186/s13063-021-05990-3

Planning implementation and scale-up of physical activity interventions for people with walking difficulties: study protocol for the process evaluation of the ComeBACK trial

Trials. 2022 Jan 15;23(1):40. doi: 10.1186/s13063-021-05990-3.

Authors

Siobhan Wong¹, Leanne Hassett^{2

3}, Harriet Koorts⁴, Anne Grunseit⁵, Allison Tong^{6

7}, Anne Tiedemann², Colin J Greaves⁸, Abby Haynes², Andrew Milat⁹, Lisa A Harvey¹⁰, Nicholas F Taylor^{11

12}, Rana S Hinman¹³, Marina De Barros Pinherio², Matthew Jennings¹⁴, Daniel Treacy^{2

15}, Sandra O'Rourke², Courtney West², Elizabeth Ramsay², Catherine Kirkham², Claire Morris¹⁶, Catherine Sherrington²

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, The University of Sydney and Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia. siobhan.wong@sydney.edu.au.
² Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, The University of Sydney and Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia.
³ Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
⁴ School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
⁵ Prevention Research Collaboration, Sydney Medical School, Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
⁶ Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
⁷ Centre for Kidney Research, The Children's Hospital, Westmead, Sydney, Australia.
⁸ Psychology Applied to Health, School of Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
⁹ Sydney Medical School, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
¹⁰ John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research, Northern Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
¹¹ Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
¹² Eastern Health, Alfred Health, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia.
¹³ Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine, Department of Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
¹⁴ South Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia.
¹⁵ South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia.
¹⁶ Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.

Abstract

Background: There is currently little evidence of planning for real-world implementation of physical activity interventions. We are undertaking the ComeBACK (Coaching and Exercise for Better Walking) study, a 3-arm hybrid Type 1 randomised controlled trial evaluating a health coaching intervention and a text messaging intervention. We used an implementation planning framework, the PRACTical planning for Implementation and Scale-up (PRACTIS), to guide the process evaluation for the trial. The aim of this paper is to describe the protocol for the process evaluation of the ComeBACK trial using the framework of the PRACTIS guide.

Methods: A mixed methods process evaluation protocol was developed informed by the Medical Research Council (MRC) guidance on process evaluations for complex interventions and the PRACTIS guide. Quantitative data, including participant questionnaires, health coach and administrative logbooks, and website and text message usage data, is being collected over the trial period. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups with trial participants, health coaches and health service stakeholders will explore expectations, factors influencing the delivery of the ComeBACK interventions and potential scalability within existing health services. These data will be mapped against the steps of the PRACTIS guide, with reporting at the level of the individual, provider, organisational and community/systems. Quantitative and qualitative data will elicit potential contextual barriers and facilitators to implementation and scale-up. Quantitative data will be reported descriptively, and qualitative data analysed thematically.

Discussion: This process evaluation integrates an evaluation of prospective implementation and scale-up. It is envisaged this will inform barriers and enablers to future delivery, implementation and scale-up of physical activity interventions. To our knowledge, this is the first paper to describe the application of PRACTIS to guide the process evaluation of physical activity interventions.

Trial registration: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ( ANZCTR ) Registration date: 10/12/2018.

Keywords: Implementation; Physical activity; Process evaluation; Scale-up.

Publication types

Clinical Trial Protocol

MeSH terms

Australia
Exercise*
Focus Groups
Humans
Prospective Studies
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Walking*

Grants and funding

1145739/national health and medical research council