Walking with Diabetes (WW-DIAB) programme a walking programme for Indonesian type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: A pilot randomised controlled trial

Novita Intan Arovah; Bernadeta Margareta Wara Kushartanti; Tracy L Washington; Kristiann C Heesch

doi:10.1177/2050312118814391

Walking with Diabetes (WW-DIAB) programme a walking programme for Indonesian type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: A pilot randomised controlled trial

SAGE Open Med. 2018 Nov 23:6:2050312118814391. doi: 10.1177/2050312118814391. eCollection 2018.

Authors

Novita Intan Arovah^{1

2

3}, Bernadeta Margareta Wara Kushartanti², Tracy L Washington^{3

4}, Kristiann C Heesch^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
² Faculty of Sports Science, Yogyakarta State University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
³ Insitute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
⁴ Faculty of Science and Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

Abstract

Objectives: This pilot study aimed to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of a pedometer-based walking programme in Indonesian type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

Methods: Feasibility was assessed by monitoring participant recruitment, retention, and adherence to the step-monitoring and recording instructions. Effectiveness was assessed in a pilot randomised controlled trial. Participants were type 2 diabetes mellitus patients randomly assigned to a pedometer-only (PED-only) group (n = 22) and a pedometer with text message support (PED+) group (n = 21). Outcomes were step counts, self-reported physical activity, social cognitive constructs, glycaemic parameters, and health-related quality of life. These were assessed at baseline, 12-week intervention, and 12 weeks later. Longitudinal analyses using generalised estimating equations were carried out to assess treatment and time effects on study outcomes.

Results: All but one participant (98%) attended 12- and 24-week data collection follow-ups. Throughout the study period, 82% of PED+ participants submitted their daily steps log. Daily steps increased in both groups (p < 0.001) but more in the PED+ group (2064 more steps at week 24, 95% confidence interval: 200-3925, p = 0.03). Self-reported physical activity levels and glycaemic parameters increased similarly in the two groups over time (p < 0.05). Improvements in social cognitive processes were seen only in the PED+ group (p < 0.05). There were no significant improvements in health-related quality of life.

Conclusion: This study provides preliminary evidence that a pedometer-based walking programme, with or without additional support, is feasible and improves physical activity and glucose levels in Indonesian type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Greater increases in step counts can result from the provision of text message support and education materials than from the provision of a pedometer only.

Keywords: Diabetes/endocrinology; epidemiology/public health; health promotion; intervention studies; pedometer; physical activity; social cognitive theory; text message.