Articles

Feasibility of a specific task-oriented training versus its combination with manual therapy on balance and mobility in people post stroke at the chronic stage: study protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial

Large studies have shown that stroke is among the most relevant causes of acquired adult disability. Walking and balance impairment in stroke survivors often contribute to a restriction in daily activities and...

Authors: Kristina Traxler, Franz Schinabeck, Eva Baum, Edith Klotz and Barbara Seebacher

Feasibility study of the Home-based Exercises for Responsible Sex (HERS) intervention to promote correct and consistent condom use among young women

Male condoms are effective in preventing common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancy, if used correctly and consistently. However, condom use errors and problems are common and young...

Authors: Nicola Knights, Nicole Stone, Tom Nadarzynski, Katherine Brown, Katie Newby and Cynthia A. Graham

Healthy Parent Carers: feasibility randomised controlled trial of a peer-led group-based health promotion intervention for parent carers of disabled children

Parent carers of children with special educational needs or disability are at higher risk of poor mental and physical health. The need for a tailored, peer-led group programme was raised by parent carers, who ...

Authors: Gretchen Bjornstad, Beth Cuffe-Fuller, Obioha C. Ukoumunne, Mary Fredlund, Annabel McDonald, Kath Wilkinson, Jenny Lloyd, Annie Hawton, Vashti Berry, Mark Tarrant, Aleksandra Borek, Katharine Fitzpatrick, Annette Gillett, Shelley Rhodes, Stuart Logan and Christopher Morris

Protocol for mapping psychosocial screening to resources in pediatric oncology: a pilot randomized controlled trial

A pediatric cancer diagnosis and its treatment can have a detrimental effect on the mental health of children and their families. Screening to identify psychosocial risk in families has been recognized as a st...

Authors: Leandra Desjardins, Kelly Hancock, Peter Szatmari, Sarah Alexander, Wendy Shama, Claire De Souza, Denise Mills, Oussama Abla and Maru Barrera

The safety and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation in a population with bipolar disorder during depressive episodes: study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic, debilitating illness with significant medical morbidity, often secondary to current treatments, and a high recurrence rate. This burden of disease reflects limitations in th...

Authors: Noah C. A. Cooke, Asem Bala, Johane P. Allard, Susy Hota, Susan Poutanen and Valerie H. Taylor

Preparing for a community-based agriculture-to-nutrition trial in rural Malawi: formative research to assess feasibility and inform design and implementation decisions

This study reports findings from formative research conducted to assess the feasibility and inform the design and implementation of the Addressing Hidden Hunger with Agronomy (AHHA) trial. The AHHA trial was a...

Authors: Gabriella Chiutsi-Phiri, Alexander A. Kalimbira, Leonard Banda, Patson C. Nalivata, Marion Sanuka, Zione Kalumikiza, Limbanazo Matandika, Joseph Mfutso-Bengo, Elizabeth Allen, Elaine Ferguson, Joanna Sturgess, Martin R. Broadley, Simon Langley-Evans, Kate Millar, Dawd Gashu and Edward J. M. Joy

The headcam mother-infant interaction assessment tool: testing the feasibility and acceptability in Soweto, South Africa, using participatory engagement

Many children in low- and middle-income countries lack the stimulation needed to support healthy growth and development. Sensitive interactions between caregivers and infants may promote healthy movement behav...

Authors: Stephanie V. Wrottesley, Rebecca Pearson and Alessandra Prioreschi

Mentalization-based treatment for adolescents with conduct disorder (MBT-CD): protocol of a feasibility and pilot study

Conduct disorder (CD) is a complex mental disorder characterized by severe rule-breaking and aggressive behavior. While studies have shown that several therapeutic interventions are effective in treating CD sy...

Authors: Svenja Taubner, Sophie Hauschild, Lea Kasper, Michael Kaess, Esther Sobanski, Thorsten-Christian Gablonski, Paul Schröder-Pfeifer and Jana Volkert

Improving the oral health of older people in care homes (TOPIC): a protocol for a feasibility study

Evidence for interventions promoting oral health amongst care home residents is weak. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline NG48 aims to maintain and improve the oral health of...

Authors: Georgios Tsakos, Paul R. Brocklehurst, Sinead Watson, Anna Verey, Nia Goulden, Alison Jenkins, Zoe Hoare, Kirstie Pye, Rebecca R. Wassall, Andrea Sherriff, Anja Heilmann, Ciaran O’Neill, Craig J. Smith, Joe Langley, Renato Venturelli, Peter Cairns…

Factor VIII inhibitor bypass activity (FEIBA) for the reduction of transfusion in cardiac surgery: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot trial

Uncontrolled bleeding after cardiac surgery can be life-threatening. Factor eight inhibitor bypassing activity (FEIBA) is a prothrombin complex concentrate empirically used as rescue therapy for correction of ...

Authors: Valerie A. Sera, Ann E. Stevens, Howard K. Song, Victor M. Rodriguez, Frederick A. Tibayan and Miriam M. Treggiari

Correction to: Feasibility assessment of an 8-week attention-based training programme in the management of chronic spontaneous urticarial

Authors: Katie Ridge, Niall Conlon, Martina Hennessy and Pádraic J. Dunne

Contextual interference in children with brain lesions: a pilot study investigating blocked vs. random practice order of an upper limb robotic exergame

Evidence about contextual interference in children with brain lesions when practising motor tasks is lacking. Our main objective was to evaluate the feasibility of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing...

Authors: Judith V. Graser, Caroline H. G. Bastiaenen, Anja Gut, Urs Keller and Hubertus J. A. van Hedel

Back to living well: community-based management of low back pain: a feasibility study

Low back pain (LBP) is a long-term health condition with an unpredictable pattern of symptomatic episodes, remission, and recurrence. Recently published systematic reviews suggest that exercise is the most eff...

Authors: Luciana G. Macedo, Julie Richardson, Michele C. Battie, Mark Hancock, Matthew Kwan, Genevieve Hladysh and Linda Zhuo

Hand Osteoarthritis: investigating Pain Effects of estrogen-containing therapy (HOPE-e): a protocol for a feasibility randomised placebo-controlled trial

Hand osteoarthritis (OA) is a common condition, causing pain, stiffness and reduced quality of life. Incidence is higher amongst women, particularly around the age of the menopause. Whilst the relationship bet...

Authors: Ioana R. Marian, Megan Goff, Jennifer A. E. Williams, Malvika Gulati, Mae Chester-Jones, Anne Francis, Marion Watson, Tonia L. Vincent, Sue Woollacott, Charles Mackworth-Young, Victoria Glover, Dominic Furniss, Matthew Gardiner, Sarah E. Lamb, Katy Vincent, Vicki S. Barber…

Assessing the feasibility and acceptability of a financial versus behavioural incentive-based intervention for community health workers in rural Indonesia

The World Health Organization recommends that community health workers (CHWs) receive a mix of financial and non-financial incentives, yet notes that there is limited evidence to support the use of one type of...

Authors: Thomas Gadsden, Stephen Jan, Sujarwoto Sujarwoto, Budiarto Eko Kusumo and Anna Palagyi

Measures of excess \( \dot{\mathrm{V}} \)CO₂ and recovery \( \dot{\mathrm{V}} \)CO₂ as indices of performance fatigability during exercise: a pilot study

The severity of performance fatigability and the capacity to recover from activity are profoundly influenced by skeletal muscle energetics, specifically the ability to buffer fatigue-inducing ions produced fro...

Authors: Liana C. Wooten, Brian T. Neville and Randall E. Keyser

Ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma injections for post-traumatic greater occipital neuralgia: study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial

Post-traumatic headaches (PTH) are a common sequelae of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and greatly impact patient function and quality of life. Post-traumatic greater occipital neuralgia (GON) is a type of post-...

Authors: Jacqueline E. Stone, Tak S. Fung, Matthew Machan, Christina Campbell, Rodney Li Pi Shan and Chantel T. Debert

Feasibility of a virtual reality-based approach to improve behavioral weight management outcomes

Behavioral weight loss interventions promote clinically significant weight loss over 12 months, but weight regain remains problematic and a substantial proportion of participants do not achieve long-term weigh...

Authors: Suzanne Phelan, Sapna Peruvemba, David Levinson, Noah Stulberg, Aidan Lacy, Maria Legato and James P. Werner

The Wire Study—a protocol for a multi-stage feasibility study evaluating K-wire fixation of hand fractures in the UK

Hand fractures are common and sometimes require surgery to restore function. Placement of Kirschner wires (K-wires) is the most common form of surgical fixation. After placement, a key decision is whether to b...

Authors: Justin Conrad Rosen Wormald, Mark Medhat Mikhail, Jeremy Neil Rodrigues, Sonya Gardiner, Theodore Pezas, Hawys Lloyd-Hughes, Fadi Issa, Abhilash Jain and Matthew David Gardiner

Development of a complex arts-based intervention for patients with end-stage kidney disease whilst receiving haemodialysis

Patients with end-stage kidney disease who receive haemodialysis experience a protracted treatment regimen that can result in an increased risk of depression and anxiety. Arts-based interventions could address...

Authors: Claire Elizabeth Carswell, Joanne Reid, Ian Walsh, William Johnston, Jenny B. Lee, Helen McAneney, Robert Mullan, Hugh Nelson, Michael Matthews, Elizabeth Weatherup, Andrea Spencer, Jean Michelo, Anne Quail, Grainne Kielty, Alistair Mackenzie, Jenny Elliott…

Diarrhoea Management using Over-the-counter Nutraceuticals in Daily practice (DIAMOND): a feasibility RCT on alternative therapy to reduce antibiotic use

Although rarely indicated, antibiotics are commonly used for acute diarrhoea in China. We conducted a randomised, double blind exploratory clinical trial of loperamide, berberine and turmeric for treatment of ...

Authors: Yanhong Jessika Hu, Xudong Zhou, Shanjuan Wang, Merlin Willcox, Colin Garner, David Brown, Taeko Becque, Beth Stuart, Zongru Han, Qin Chang, Michael Moore and Paul Little

Feasibility study of peer-led and school-based social network Intervention (STASH) to promote adolescent sexual health

Effective sex education is the key to good sexual health. Peer-led approaches can augment teacher-delivered sex education, but many fail to capitalise on mechanisms of social influence. We assessed the feasibi...

Authors: Kirstin R. Mitchell, Carrie Purcell, Sharon A. Simpson, Chiara Broccatelli, Julia V. Bailey, Sarah J. E. Barry, Lawrie Elliott, Ross Forsyth, Rachael Hunter, Mark McCann, Lisa McDaid, Kirsty Wetherall and Laurence Moore

LISTEN UP (Locally Integrated Screening and Testing Ear aNd aUral Programme): a feasibility study protocol for a community pharmacy-based ear health intervention

Ear disease is a major cause of preventable hearing loss and is very common in rural communities, estimated to affect 1.3 million Australians. Rural community pharmacists are well placed to provide improved ea...

Authors: Selina Maree Taylor, Alice Cairns, Efi Mantzourani and Beverley D. Glass

Automated Self-Administered 24-H Dietary Assessment Tool (ASA24) recalls for parent proxy-reporting of children’s intake (> 4 years of age): a feasibility study

Robust measurement of dietary intake in population studies of children is critical to better understand the diet–health nexus. It is unknown whether parent proxy-report of children’s dietary intake through onl...

Authors: Isobel Sharpe, Sharon I. Kirkpatrick, Brendan T. Smith, Charles D. G. Keown-Stoneman, Jessica Omand, Shelley Vanderhout, Jonathon L. Maguire, Catherine S. Birken and Laura N. Anderson

Occupational therapy addressing the ability to perform activities of daily living among persons living with chronic conditions: a randomised controlled pilot study of ABLE 2.0

The ABLE intervention was developed to enhance the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL) tasks among persons living with chronic conditions. ABLE is a generic, home-based, individualised, 8-week ...

Authors: Vita Hagelskjær, Kristina Tomra Nielsen, Cecilie von Bülow, Maud Graff and Eva Ejlersen Wæhrens

Development and feasibility of a modified Fugl-Meyer lower extremity assessment for telerehabilitation: a pilot study

The majority of stroke survivors experience motor impairment which benefits from rehabilitation treatment. Telerehabilitation, remote delivery of rehabilitation services, is a possible solution providing acces...

Authors: Sue Peters, Marcela Botero, Allison Evers, Brianna Fong, Botond Jakab, Emily Petter and Janice J. Eng

Feasibility of a school-based physical activity intervention for adolescents with disability

Adolescents with disability are less active and have lower levels of physical fitness than their typically developing peers. Schools are ideal settings to address this; however, few school-based interventions ...

Authors: Angus A. Leahy, Sarah G. Kennedy, Jordan J. Smith, Narelle Eather, James Boyer, Matthew Thomas, Nora Shields, Ben Dascombe and David R. Lubans

How are emotional distress and reassurance expressed in medical consultations for people with long-term conditions who were unable to receive curative treatment? A pilot observational study with huntington’s disease and prostate cancer

It is unclear whether how people with long-term conditions express distress, and how clinicians respond, influences perceptions of consultation outcomes. The pilot study examined emotional distress and reassur...

Authors: Niall C. Anderson, Yuefang Zhou and Gerry Humphris

Mindfulness-based stress reduction adapted to pregnant women with psychosocial vulnerabilities—a protocol for a randomized feasibility study in a Danish hospital-based outpatient setting

This protocol is for a feasibility study of a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program adapted for pregnant women with psychosocial vulnerabilities. The rationale for the study is the need for a wider...

Authors: S. Skovbjerg, D. Birk, S. Bruggisser, A. L. A. Wolf and L. Fjorback

Deep brain stimulation of the Cuneiform nucleus for levodopa-resistant freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease: study protocol for a prospective, pilot trial

Freezing of gait (FOG) is a particularly debilitating motor deficit seen in a subset of Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients that is poorly responsive to standard levodopa therapy or deep brain stimulation (DBS) ...

Authors: Stephano J. Chang, Iahn Cajigas, James D. Guest, Brian R. Noga, Eva Widerström-Noga, Ihtsham Haq, Letitia Fisher, Corneliu C. Luca and Jonathan R. Jagid

A feasibility hybrid II randomised controlled trial of volunteer ‘Health Champions’ supporting people with serious mental illness manage their physical health: study protocol

People with serious mental illnesses (SMI) such as schizophrenia often also have physical health illnesses and interventions are needed to address the resultant multimorbidity and reduced life expectancy. Rese...

Authors: Julie Williams, Elliann Fairbairn, Ray McGrath, Ioannis Bakolis, Andy Healey, Ubong Akpan, Isabel Mdudu, Fiona Gaughran, Euan Sadler, Zarnie Khadjesari, Kate Lillywhite and Nick Sevdalis

Brain stimulation in attention deficits after traumatic brain injury: a literature review and feasibility study

After a traumatic brain injury, disturbances in the attentional processes have a direct negative effect on functional recovery and on return to complex activities. To date, there is no good attention remediati...

Authors: Ève Boissonnault, Johanne Higgins, Geneviève LaGarde, Dorothy Barthélemy, Céline Lamarre and Jehane H. Dagher

Non-pharmacological interventions a feasible option for addressing dementia-related sleep problems in the context of family care

Sleep disturbances are challenging symptoms associated with mild cognitive impairment or dementia (MCIoD). This study assessed the feasibility of sleep monitoring and non-pharmacological interventions to impro...

Authors: Rosemary Gibson, Anthony Dowell, Linda Jones and Philippa Gander

A real-world feasibility study of the PLAYshop: a brief intervention to facilitate parent engagement in developing their child’s physical literacy

Development of physical literacy, defined as “the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for life,” can ...

Authors: Cassandra Lane, Valerie Carson, Kayla Morton, Kendra Reno, Chris Wright, Madison Predy and Patti-Jean Naylor

Children Learning About Second-hand Smoke (CLASS II): a mixed methods process evaluation of a school-based intervention

Children are vulnerable to the effects of second-hand smoke exposure. Creating smoke-free homes is an effective strategy to limit exposure. We developed a smoke-free intervention (SFI) using children as a cata...

Authors: Cath Jackson, Rumana Huque, Farid Ahmed, Shammi Nasreen, Sarwat Shah, Jasjit S. Ahluwalia, Mona Kanaan, Aziz Sheikh and Kamran Siddiqi

Lifestyle, exercise and activity package for people living with progressive multiple sclerosis (LEAP-MS): protocol for a single-arm feasibility study

We have co-designed a tailored blended physiotherapy intervention for people with progressive multiple sclerosis (PwPMS) who often struggle to access support for physical activity. Underpinned by self-manageme...

Authors: Julie Latchem-Hastings, Elizabeth Randell, Kate Button, Fiona Jones, Rachel Lowe, Helen Dawes, Fiona Wood, Freya Davies, Vincent Poile, Rhian O’Halloran, Barbara Stensland, Emma Tallantyre, Rebecca Playle, Adrian Edwards and Monica Busse

Development and assessment of feasibility of a community-based peer support intervention to mitigate social isolation and stigma of adolescent motherhood in Harare, Zimbabwe

Adolescent mothers in Zimbabwe often experience stigma, isolation, and lack coping skills and resources to successfully navigate motherhood. Social isolation and stigma are linked to poor mental health outcome...

Authors: Chiwoneso B. Tinago, Edward A. Frongillo, Andrea M. Warren, Vivian Chitiyo, Ashley K. Cifarelli, Shannon Fyalkowski and Victoria Pauline

Feasibility and acceptability of an enhanced cognitive behavioural therapy programme for parent–child dyads with anxiety disorders: a mixed-methods pilot trial protocol

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is the most widely recognised and efficacious psychological therapy for the treatment of anxiety disorders in children and adults. However, suboptimal remission rates indica...

Authors: Samantha Galea, Chloe A. Salvaris, Marie B. H. Yap, Peter J. Norton and Katherine A. Lawrence

Keeping adults physically active after Falls Management Exercise (FaME) programmes end: development of a physical activity maintenance intervention

Falls prevention exercise programmes help to improve muscle strength, balance and physical function, and reduce falling rates in older adults. Improvements in muscle strength, balance and physical function are...

Authors: Sarah Audsley, Denise Kendrick, Pip Logan and Elizabeth Orton

Development, piloting, and evaluation of an evidence-based informed consent form for total knee arthroplasty (EvAb-Pilot): a protocol for a mixed methods study

Practitioners frequently use informed consent forms to support the physician-patient communication and the informed consent process. Informed consent for surgery often focuses on risk centered information due ...

Authors: Alina Weise, Julia Lühnen, Stefanie Bühn, Felicia Steffen, Sandro Zacher, Julia Lauberger, Deha Murat Ates, Andreas Böhmer, Henning Rosenau, Anke Steckelberg and Tim Mathes

Enabling culturally safe sexual health services in western Sydney: a protocol to improve STI treatment outcomes for Aboriginal young people

Aboriginal people face challenges on several fronts when it comes to the health and wellbeing of their community, compared to the rest of the Australian population. This is no different in urban areas such as ...

Authors: Ashley Ubrihien, Kylie Gwynne and David A. Lewis

Feasibility, safety and acceptability of select outcome measures in a physiotherapy study protocol for boys with haemophilia

There is a lack of functional performance measures for children and young people with haemophilia (CYPwH) with associated control data from typically developing boys (TDB). The literature advocates development...

Authors: Nicola Thorpe, Phillip Harniess, Eleanor Main, Nicola Hubert, Sarah Rand, David Stephensen, Ri Liesner and Melanie Bladen

Accelerated transcranial magnetic stimulation (aTMS) to treat depression with treatment switching: study protocol of a pilot, randomized, delayed-start trial

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a technique for stimulating brain activity using a transient magnetic field to induce an electrical current in the brain producing depolarization of focal...

Authors: Xiao Wei Tan, Edimansyah Abdin and Phern Chern Tor

Feasibility assessment of an 8-week attention-based training programme in the management of chronic spontaneous urticaria

Chronic spontaneous urticaria is a common disorder that is poorly understood and frequently misdiagnosed. Psychological difficulties are a significant factor in dermatological diseases and may also aggravate s...

Authors: Katie Ridge, Niall Conlon, Martina Hennessy and Pádraic J. Dunne

Correction to: Reamed intramedullary nailing versus circular frame external fixation for segmental tibial fractures (STIFF-F): a mixed methods feasibility study

Authors: Caroline B. Hing, Elizabeth Tutton, Toby O. Smith, Molly Glaze, Jamie R. Stokes, Jonathan Cook, Melina Dritsaki, Emma Phelps, Cushla Cooper, Alex Trompeter, Michael Pearse, Michael Law and Matthew L. Costa

Optimising psychological treatment for Anxiety DisordErs in Pregnancy (ADEPT): study protocol for a feasibility trial of time-intensive CBT versus weekly CBT

Moderate to severe anxiety disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social phobia and panic disorder are common, and affect approximately 11–16% of women in...

Authors: Fiona L. Challacombe, Laura Potts, Ben Carter, Vanessa Lawrence, Alaina Husbands and Louise M. Howard

Protocol for a feasibility study incorporating a randomised pilot trial with an embedded process evaluation and feasibility economic analysis of ThinkCancer!: a primary care intervention to expedite cancer diagnosis in Wales

Compared to the rest of Europe, the UK has relatively poor cancer outcomes, with late diagnosis and a slow referral process being major contributors. General practitioners (GPs) are often faced with patients p...

Authors: Stefanie Disbeschl, Alun Surgey, Jessica L. Roberts, Annie Hendry, Ruth Lewis, Nia Goulden, Zoe Hoare, Nefyn Williams, Bethany Fern Anthony, Rhiannon Tudor Edwards, Rebecca-Jane Law, Julia Hiscock, Andrew Carson-Stevens, Richard D. Neal and Clare Wilkinson

Acceptance and commitment therapy for fatigue interference in advanced gastrointestinal cancer and caregiver burden: protocol of a pilot randomized controlled trial

Fatigue interference with activities, mood, and cognition is one of the most prevalent and bothersome concerns of advanced gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients. As fatigue interferes with patient functioning,...

Authors: Catherine E. Mosher, Ekin Secinti, Kurt Kroenke, Paul R. Helft, Anita A. Turk, Patrick J. Loehrer Sr, Amikar Sehdev, Ahmad A. Al-Hader, Victoria L. Champion and Shelley A. Johns

Prevention of cervical cancer through two HPV-based screen-and-treat implementation models in Malawi: protocol for a cluster randomized feasibility trial

Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer incidence and mortality among Malawian women, despite being a largely preventable disease. Implementing a cervical cancer screening and preventive treatment (CCSP...

Authors: Jennifer H. Tang, Jennifer S. Smith, Shannon McGue, Luis Gadama, Victor Mwapasa, Effie Chipeta, Jobiba Chinkhumba, Erik Schouten, Bagrey Ngwira, Ruanne Barnabas, Mitch Matoga, Maganizo Chagomerana and Lameck Chinula

Azithromycin for uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition: study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial

Given the high risk of infectious mortality among children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM), the World Health Organization recommends routine administration of a broad-spectrum antibiotic like amoxicillin ...

Authors: Kieran S. O’Brien, Ali Sié, Clarisse Dah, Millogo Ourohire, Ahmed M. Arzika, Valentin Boudo, Elodie Lebas, William W. Godwin, Benjamin F. Arnold and Catherine E. Oldenburg