Articles

Feasibility study of goal setting discussions between older adults and volunteers facilitated by an eHealth application: development of the Health TAPESTRY approach

In keeping with the changing needs of the Canadian population, primary care systems need to become more person-focused in providing quality care to older adults. As part of Health TAPESTRY, a complex intervent...

Authors: Dena Javadi, Larkin Lamarche, Ernie Avilla, Raied Siddiqui, Jessica Gaber, Mehreen Bhamani, Doug Oliver, Laura Cleghorn, Dee Mangin and Lisa Dolovich

Online cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) for the treatment of insomnia among individuals with alcohol use disorder: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is characterized by problematic drinking that becomes severe. Individuals with AUD often experience insomnia and other sleep disturbances at various phases of recovery. Cognitive beh...

Authors: Alyssa T. Brooks, Ralph T. Tuason, Subhajit Chakravorty, Shravya Raju, Lee M. Ritterband, Frances P. Thorndike and Gwenyth R. Wallen

Population-based paediatric respiratory infection surveillance: a prospective inception feasibility cohort study

There is a need to reduce unnecessary general practitioner (GP) consultations and improve antibiotic stewardship in primary care. Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in children are the most common reason for ...

Authors: Emma C. Anderson, Suzanne Ingle, Peter Muir, Charles R. Beck, John P. Leeming, Joanna Kesten, Christie Cabral and Alastair D. Hay

Multimorbidity rehabilitation versus disease-specific rehabilitation in people with chronic diseases: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Multimorbidity (the co-existence of two or more chronic conditions in an individual) is a growing healthcare burden internationally; however, healthcare and disease management, including rehabilitation, is oft...

Authors: Kathryn Barker, Anne E. Holland, Annemarie L. Lee, Terry Haines, Kathryn Ritchie, Claire Boote, Joanne Saliba, Stephanie Lowe, Fiona Pazsa, Lee Thomas, Monica Turczyniak and Elizabeth H. Skinner

Peer-led intervention to prevent and reduce STI transmission and improve sexual health in secondary schools (STASH): protocol for a feasibility study

Young people in the UK are at highest risk of sexually transmitted infections and report higher levels of unsafe sex than any other age group. Involving peer supporters in intervention delivery is acceptable t...

Authors: Ross Forsyth, Carrie Purcell, Sarah Barry, Sharon Simpson, Rachael Hunter, Lisa McDaid, Lawrie Elliot, Julia Bailey, Kirsty Wetherall, Mark McCann, Chiara Broccatelli, Laurence Moore and Kirstin Mitchell

Safety and feasibility of an interactive workshop and facilitated outdoor walking group compared to a workshop alone in increasing outdoor walking activity among older adults: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Limited outdoor walking is a marker of frailty and a risk factor for decline in mobility and self-care functioning, social isolation, and reduced health-related quality of life (HRQL). Objectives were to evalu...

Authors: Ruth Barclay, Sandra Webber, Jacquie Ripat, Theresa Grant, C. Allyson Jones, Lisa M. Lix, Nancy Mayo, Cornelia van Ineveld and Nancy M. Salbach

A study protocol “saving futures: developing an integrated model of rehabilitation and paediatric HIV care to foster success at school”

A significant number of children experience disabilities as a result of living with HIV, including those on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Current paediatric HIV care does not prioritise rehabilitation. Further...

Authors: Verusia Chetty, Stacy Maddocks, Saul Cobbing and Jill Hanass-Hancock

Correction to: The help for people with money, employment or housing problems (HOPE) intervention: pilot randomised trial with mixed methods feasibility research

Abstract

Authors: M. C. Barnes, A. M. Haase, L. J. Scott, M-J Linton, A. M. Bard, J. L. Donovan, R. Davies, S. Dursley, S. Williams, D. Elliott, J. Potokar, N. Kapur, K. Hawton, R. C. O’Connor, W. Hollingworth, C. Metcalfe…

A cluster-randomised feasibility trial of a children’s weight management programme: the Child weigHt mANaGement for Ethnically diverse communities (CHANGE) study

Community-based programmes for children with excess weight are widely available, but few have been developed to meet the needs of culturally diverse populations. We adapted an existing children’s weight manage...

Authors: Miranda Pallan, Kiya L. Hurley, Tania Griffin, Emma Lancashire, Jacqueline Blissett, Emma Frew, Paramjit Gill, Karla Hemming, Louise Jackson, Kate Jolly, Eleanor McGee, Jayne Parry, Janice L. Thompson and Peymane Adab

Point-of-care ultrasound-guided cannulation versus standard cannulation in haemodialysis vascular access: protocol for a controlled random order crossover pilot and feasibility study

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has been used in various vascular access contexts; however, to date, it has not been widely adopted in haemodialysis clinics. People with end-stage kidney disease receiving hae...

Authors: Monica L. Schoch, Judy Currey, Liliana Orellana, Paul N. Bennett, Vicki Smith and Alison M. Hutchinson

Co-production and evaluation of an e-learning resource to improve African-Caribbean families’ knowledge about schizophrenia and engagement with services: a pilot randomised controlled trial protocol

A higher proportion of African-Caribbean people in the UK are diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders than other ethnic groups. High levels of shame and stigma at individual and community levels contri...

Authors: Henna Lemetyinen, Juliana Onwumere, Richard James Drake, Kathryn Abel, Carol Haigh, Georgina Moulton and Dawn Edge

A randomized controlled feasibility study to evaluate the effects of a goal-setting coaching intervention using feedback from an accelerometer on sedentary time in older people at risk of falls (SMART-MOVE): a study protocol

Sedentary behaviour and falls are important interrelated health issues in older people. One in three people aged 65 years and above fall at least once a year and sedentary behaviour has been identified as one ...

Authors: Kareeann Sok-Fun Khow, Joanne Dollard, Kathy Bray, Carla Smyth, Mellick Chehade, Olga Theou and Renuka Visvanathan

The help for people with money, employment or housing problems (HOPE) intervention: pilot randomised trial with mixed methods feasibility research

Job loss, austerity measures, financial difficulties and house repossession contribute to the risk of self-harm and suicide during recessions. Navigating the benefits system and accessing sources of welfare an...

Authors: M. C. Barnes, A. M. Haase, L. J. Scott, M-J Linton, A. M. Bard, J. L. Donovan, R. Davies, S. Dursley, S. Williams, D. Elliott, J. Potokar, N. Kapur, K. Hawton, R. C. O’Connor, W. Hollingworth, C. Metcalfe…

Research protocol: general practice organ donation intervention—a feasibility study (GPOD)

New interventions are required to increase the number of people donating their organs after death. In the United States of America (USA), general practice has proved to be a successful location to increase org...

Authors: Catrin Pedder Jones, Chris Papadopoulos, Gurch Randhawa and Zeeshan Asghar

Is it feasible to deliver a complex intervention to improve the outcome of falls in people with dementia? A protocol for the DIFRID feasibility study

People with dementia (PWD) experience ten times as many incident falls as people without dementia. Little is known about how best to deliver services to people with dementia following a fall. We used an integr...

Authors: Louise M. Allan, Alison Wheatley, Elizabeth Flynn, Amy Smith, Chris Fox, Denise Howel, Robert Barber, Tara Marie Homer, Louise Robinson, Steve Wayne Parry, Lynne Corner, Jim Anthony Connolly, Lynn Rochester and Claire Bamford

Testing the effectiveness of REACH Pregnancy Circles group antenatal care: protocol for a randomised controlled pilot trial

Antenatal care is an important public health priority. Women from socially disadvantaged, and culturally and linguistically diverse groups often have difficulties with accessing antenatal care and report more ...

Authors: Meg Wiggins, Mary Sawtell, Octavia Wiseman, Christine McCourt, Lauren Greenberg, Rachael Hunter, Sandra Eldridge, Penny Haora, Inderjeet Kaur and Angela Harden

Acute flares of knee osteoarthritis in primary care: a feasibility and pilot case-crossover study

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of persistent pain and disability. Traditionally viewed as a slowly progressive disease, the impact of symptom variability on prognosis remains unclear. ‘Acute-on-chronic...

Authors: Martin J. Thomas, Stephanie Butler-Walley, Trishna Rathod-Mistry, Zoe Mayson, Emma L. Parry, Christopher Pope, Tuhina Neogi and George Peat

Women’s experiences of medical treatment for endometriosis and its impact on PRE-EMPT trial participation: a qualitative study

Endometriosis is a common cause of chronic pelvic pain which can relapse after surgery, yet little research has been conducted on women’s experience of medical treatments for prevention of recurrence and the i...

Authors: Elaine Denny, Annalise Weckesser, Georgina Jones, Stavroula Bibila, Jane Daniels and Siladitya Bhattacharya

Blue blocking glasses worn at night in first year higher education students with sleep complaints: a feasibility study

Late adolescence and early adulthood is a period of highest incidence for onset of mental health problems. Transition to college environment has been associated with many risk factors such as the initial disru...

Authors: Guillermo Perez Algorta, Anna Van Meter, Bernadka Dubicka, Steven Jones, Eric Youngstrom and Fiona Lobban

Mixed-methods single-arm repeated measures study evaluating the feasibility of a web-based intervention to support family carers of persons with dementia in long-term care facilities

Following institutionalization of a relative with Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD), family carers continue to provide care. They must learn to negotiate with staff and navigate the system all of ...

Authors: Wendy Duggleby, Kathya Jovel Ruiz, Jenny Ploeg, Carrie McAiney, Shelley Peacock, Cheryl Nekolaichuk, Jayna Holroyd-Leduc, Sunita Ghosh, Kevin Brazil, Jennifer Swindle, Dorothy Forbes, Sandra Woodhead Lyons, Jasneet Parmar, Sharon Kaasalainen, Laura Cottrell and Jillian Paragg

The feasibility of using the EQ-5D-3L with adults with mild to moderate learning disabilities within a randomized control trial: a qualitative evaluation

In trials incorporating a health economic evaluation component, reliable validated measures for health-related quality of life (HRQOL) are essential. The EQ-5D is the preferred measure for cost-effectiveness a...

Authors: A. M. Russell, J. L. O’Dwyer, L. D. Bryant, A. O. House, J. C. Birtwistle, S. Meer, A. Wright-Hughes, R. E. A. Walwyn, E. Graham, A. J. Farrin and C. T. Hulme

Acceptability and feasibility of recruitment and data collection in a field study of hospital nurses’ handoffs using mobile devices

The portability and multiple functionalities of mobile devices make them well suited for collecting field data for naturalistic research, which is often beset with complexities in recruitment and logistics. Th...

Authors: Patrick Lavoie, Sean P Clarke, Christina Clausen, Margaret Purden, Jessica Emed, Tanya Mailhot and Valerie Frunchak

Effects of yoga on oxidative stress, motor function, and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease: a pilot randomized controlled trial

To examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of Hatha yoga on oxidative stress, motor function, and non-motor symptoms among individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Authors: Corjena Cheung, Rozina Bhimani, Jean F. Wyman, Jürgen Konczak, Lei Zhang, Usha Mishra, Marcia Terluk, Reena V. Kartha and Paul Tuite

Overcoming barriers to use of child car seats in an urban Aboriginal community—formative evaluation of a program for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services

Little is known about the barriers to use of child car seats in Australian Aboriginal communities, or the acceptability of programs to increase appropriate car seat use. This formative evaluation sought to con...

Authors: Lisa Keay, Kate Hunter, Martyn Ralph, Bobby Porykali, Marilyn Lyford, Kathleen Clapham, Winston Lo and Rebecca Ivers

Developing an integrated rehabilitation model for thoracic cancer services: views of patients, informal carers and clinicians

Access to rehabilitation to prevent disability and optimise function is recommended for patients with cancer, including following cancer diagnosis. Models to integrate rehabilitation within oncology services a...

Authors: Joanne Bayly, Bethany M Edwards, Nicola Peat, Geoffrey Warwick, Ivo M Hennig, Arvind Arora, Andrew Wilcock, Irene J Higginson and Matthew Maddocks

The ‘Better Conversations with Primary Progressive Aphasia (BCPPA)’ program for people with PPA (Primary Progressive Aphasia): protocol for a randomised controlled pilot study

Primary progressive aphasia is a language-led dementia, often associated with frontotemporal dementia. It presents as insidious deterioration of language skills (e.g. naming objects and understanding complex s...

Authors: Anna Volkmer, Aimee Spector, Jason D Warren and Suzanne Beeke

Supporting general practitioner-based care for poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (the DECIDE study): feasibility study and protocol for a pilot cluster randomised controlled trial

Poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with significant morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. Control of T2DM can be challenging for healthcare professionals for a number of reaso...

Authors: Mark E Murphy, Molly Byrne, Fiona Boland, Derek Corrigan, Paddy Gillespie, Tom Fahey and Susan M Smith

Evaluation of a smartwatch-based intervention providing feedback of daily activity within a research-naive stroke ward: a pilot randomised controlled trial

The majority of stroke patients are inactive outside formal therapy sessions. Tailored activity feedback via a smartwatch has the potential to increase inpatient activity. The aim of the study was to identify ...

Authors: Sophie Lawrie, Yun Dong, Dax Steins, Zhidao Xia, Patrick Esser, Shanbin Sun, Fei Li, James D Amor, Christopher James, Hooshang Izadi, Yi Cao, Derick Wade, Nancy Mayo and Helen Dawes

Formative research implications on design of a randomized controlled trial for oral health promotion in children

The COordinated Oral health Promotion (CO-OP) Chicago trial will test the efficacy of a community health worker (CHW) intervention to improve oral health behaviors for children at high risk for early childhood...

Authors: Molly A Martin, Helen H Lee, Jazmin Landa, Mark Minier, David Avenetti and Anna Sandoval

Using a peanut ball during labour versus not using a peanut ball during labour for women using an epidural: study protocol for a randomised controlled pilot study

The peanut ball has only been recently used as a support for women labouring with epidurals. The peanut ball is shaped like a peanut and fits snugly between the woman’s legs so that both legs are maintained as...

Authors: Virginia Stulz, David Campbell, Biing Yin, Wafa Al Omari, Robin Burr, Heather Reilly and Kenny Lawson

Advancing global health through cardiovascular research, mentorship, and capacity building: in memoriam, professor Bongani Mayosi (1967–2018)

Authors: Jean B. Nachega, Mpiko Ntsekhe, Jimmy Volmink and Lehana Thabane

Feasibility and acceptability of technology-based caregiver engagement strategies delivered in a summertime childhood obesity prevention intervention: results from an internal pilot of the Camp NERF (Nutrition, Education, Recreation, and Fitness) study

The most efficacious childhood obesity prevention interventions have involved caregivers directly or indirectly. Due to the high reliance on technology, research examining technological intervention approaches...

Authors: Laura C. Hopkins, Mary Fristad, Jacqueline D. Goodway, Bernadette Melnyk, Ihuoma Eneli, Chris Holloman, Julie A. Kennel, Alison Webster, Amy R. Sharn and Carolyn Gunther

Motivational interviewing for low mood and adjustment early after stroke: a feasibility randomised trial

Management of psychological adjustment and low mood after stroke can result in positive health outcomes. We have adapted a talk-based therapy, motivational interviewing (MI), and shown it to be potentially eff...

Authors: Kulsum Patel, Caroline L Watkins, Chris J Sutton, Emma-Joy Holland, Valerio Benedetto, Malcolm F Auton, David Barer, Kausik Chatterjee and Catherine E Lightbody

A mixed methods feasibility study of the Kusamala Program at a nutritional rehabilitation unit in Malawi

Children admitted to nutritional rehabilitation units (NRUs) for inpatient treatment of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) are at high risk of poor developmental and nutritional outcomes. The Kusamala Program is ...

Authors: Allison I Daniel, Meta van den Heuvel, Melissa Gladstone, Mike Bwanali, Wieger Voskuijl, Celine Bourdon, Isabel Potani, Sara Fernandes, Jenala Njirammadzi and Robert H J Bandsma

Study protocol: a pilot randomized controlled trial to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of a counseling intervention, delivered by nurses, for those who have attempted self-poisoning in Sri Lanka

Deliberate self-harm in the form of non-fatal self-poisoning is a major public health problem in Sri Lanka. Previous work suggests that many nurses in Sri Lanka—particularly those who work in primary care in t...

Authors: A. N. L. M. De Silva, Andrew H. Dawson, Indika B. Gawarammana, Sampath Tennakoon and Thilini Rajapakse

Thiamine versus placebo in older heart failure patients: study protocol for a randomized controlled crossover feasibility trial (THIAMINE-HF)

Heart failure (HF) is a major cardiovascular disease with increasing prevalence. Thiamine deficiency occurs in 33% of patients with HF. However, the effectiveness of thiamine supplementation in HF is not known.

Authors: Eric Kai Chung Wong, Justin Yusen Lee, Darryl P. Leong, Lawrence Mbuagbaw, Haroon Yousuf, Sabina Keen, Sharon E. Straus, Christopher J. Patterson and Catherine Demers

Development, acceptability and feasibility of a communication skills training package for therapeutic radiographers to reduce fear of recurrence development in breast cancer patients (FORECAST2)

Many patients who have been treated for breast cancer experience high levels of fear that the cancer will return. The FORECAST pilot study showed that for a third of the patients, fears of cancer recurrence (F...

Authors: Mara van Beusekom, Josie Cameron, Carolyn Bedi, Elspeth Banks, Tom Kelsey and Gerry Humphris

Culturally congruent mentorship can reduce disruptive behavior among elementary school students: results from a pilot study

Our study objective was to examine the feasibility of implementing a culturally congruent mentorship pilot program, Youth-First (YF), that targets behavior modification among elementary school-aged children wi...

Authors: Arthur H. Owora, Najah Salaam, Sydney H. Russell Leed, Dessa Bergen-Cico, Timothy Jennings-Bey, Arnett Haygood El, Robert A. Rubinstein and Sandra D. Lane

Oral prednisolone for acute otitis media in children: protocol of a pilot randomised, open-label, controlled study (OPAL study)

Acute otitis media (AOM) is an acute inflammation of the middle ear commonly found in children, for which antibiotics are frequently prescribed. However, antibiotics are beneficial for only one third of AOM ca...

Authors: Respati W. Ranakusuma, Amanda R. McCullough, Eka D. Safitri, Yupitri Pitoyo, Widyaningsih, Christopher B. Del Mar and Elaine M. Beller

Home-based balance training using Wii Fit™: a pilot randomised controlled trial with mobile older stroke survivors

Several studies have reported that using the Wii™ Balance Board can provide added value regarding balance (re-)training in neurological diseases. However, for the large group of mobile older stroke survivors, ...

Authors: André Golla, Tobias Müller, Kai Wohlfarth, Patrick Jahn, Kerstin Mattukat and Wilfried Mau

‘Get Healthy!’ A physical activity and nutrition program for older adults with intellectual disability: pilot study protocol

Older adults with intellectual disability have high rates of lifestyle-related illness yet remain poorly engaged in physical activity and nutrition interventions. There is a need to clarify what types of healthy ...

Authors: Carmela Salomon, Jessica Bellamy, Elizabeth Evans, Renae Reid, Michelle Hsu, Scott Teasdale and Julian Trollor

Synovectomy during total knee arthroplasty: a pilot single-centre randomised controlled trial

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an effective procedure for late-stage osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee; however, up to 20% of patients remain dissatisfied. In some patients, this may be due to residual inflamm...

Authors: Kenneth S. Rankin, Jayasree Ramaskandhan, Michelle Bardgett, Katie Merrie, Rajkumar Gangadharan, Ian Wilson and David Deehan

Post-infectious sequelae after Campylobacter enteric infection: a pilot study in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA

Campylobacter is a leading cause of gastroenteritis across the globe caused by the ingestion of contaminated food, water, or contact with animals carrying Campylobacter bacteria. The resulting disease, campylo...

Authors: Erika Barrett, Dametreea Carr, Melanie L. Bell and Kristen Pogreba-Brown

Adaptation of the Ambulatory and Home Care Record for collecting palliative care service utilisation data from family carers in the UK: a pilot study

Measuring service use and costs is an important aspect of service delivery evaluation. In end-of-life care, there is heavy reliance on care by family/friends (informal carers) and this should be reflected in t...

Authors: Laura M. Holdsworth, Heather Gage, Peter Williams and Claire Butler

Preoperative Behavioural Intervention versus standard care to Reduce Drinking before elective orthopaedic Surgery (PRE-OP BIRDS): protocol for a multicentre pilot randomised controlled trial

Evidence suggests that increased preoperative alcohol consumption increases the risk of postoperative complications; therefore, a reduction or cessation in alcohol intake before surgery may reduce perioperativ...

Authors: Christopher Snowden, Ellen Lynch, Leah Avery, Craig Gerrand, Eilish Gilvarry, Nicola Goudie, Catherine Haighton, Lesley Hall, Nicola Howe, Denise Howel, Elaine McColl, James Prentis, Elaine Stamp and Eileen Kaner

Treating anxiety after stroke (TASK): the feasibility phase of a novel web-enabled randomised controlled trial

Anxiety affects a quarter of strokes. It can be disabling even after mild stroke and transient ischaemic attack (TIA). It is not feasible to deliver conventional psychological therapies to the large population...

Authors: Ho-Yan Yvonne Chun, Alan J. Carson, Martin S. Dennis, Gillian E. Mead and William N. Whiteley

The effect of alcohol strength on alcohol consumption: a randomised controlled cross-over pilot trial

Effective interventions are required to reduce alcohol consumption and its associated harms at the population level. Reducing the alcohol content of beverages has the potential to reduce alcohol consumption th...

Authors: Parvati R. Perman-Howe, Emma L. Davies and David R. Foxcroft

Pilot and feasibility studies in exercise, physical activity, or rehabilitation research

Clinical trials of physical activity and rehabilitation interventions can be challenging. Pilot or feasibility studies can be conducted prior to a definitive randomized controlled trial (RCT), to improve the c...

Authors: Rasha El-Kotob and Lora M. Giangregorio

A mixed-methods feasibility study protocol to assess the communication behaviours within the dental health professional-parent-child triad in a general dental practice setting

The promotion of twice yearly application of fluoride varnish (FVA) to the teeth of pre-school children in the dental practice is one component of Scotland’s child oral health improvement programme (Childsmile...

Authors: Siyang Yuan, Gerry Humphris, Al Ross, Lorna MacPherson, Yuefang Zhou and Ruth Freeman

Study protocol: a randomized, double-blind, parallel, two-arm, placebo control trial investigating the feasibility and safety of immunoglobulin treatment in COPD patients for prevention of frequent recurrent exacerbations

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic progressive inflammatory disease of the airways, associated with frailty, disability, co-morbidity, and mortality. Individuals with COPD experience inc...

Authors: Juthaporn Cowan, Sunita Mulpuru, Shawn Aaron, Gonzalo Alvarez, Antonio Giulivi, Vicente Corrales-Medina, Venkatesh Thiruganasambandamoorthy, Kednapa Thavorn, Ranjeeta Mallick and D. William Cameron