Articles

Randomised feasibility trial and embedded qualitative process evaluation of a new intervention to facilitate the involvement of older patients with multimorbidity in decision-making about their healthcare during general practice consultations: the VOLITION study protocol

The number of older people with multiple health problems is increasing worldwide. This creates a strain on clinicians and the health service when delivering clinical care to this patient group, who themselves ...

Authors: Joanne Butterworth, Suzanne Richards, Fiona Warren, Emma Pitchforth and John Campbell

Examining recruitment feasibility and related outcomes in adults post-stroke

There are limited effective and evidence-based interventions for upper extremity hemiparesis post-stroke. To prepare for an RCT and minimize misuse of resources, there is value in conducting a feasibility study.

Authors: Erin C King, Megan Doherty, Daniel Corcos and Mary Ellen Stoykov

Prevention of post-cardiac surgery vitamin D deficiency in children with congenital heart disease: a pilot feasibility dose evaluation randomized controlled trial

The vast majority of children undergoing cardiac surgery have low vitamin D levels post-operative, which may contribute to greater illness severity and worse clinical outcomes. Prior to the initiation of a lar...

Authors: James Dayre McNally, Katie O’Hearn, Dean A. Fergusson, Jane Lougheed, Dermot R. Doherty, Gyaandeo Maharajh, Hope Weiler, Glenville Jones, Ali Khamessan, Stephanie Redpath, Pavel Geier, Lauralyn McIntyre, Margaret L. Lawson, Tara Girolamo and Kusum Menon

A community feasibility study of a cooking behavior intervention in African-American adults at risk for cardiovascular disease: DC COOKS (DC Community Organizing for Optimal culinary Knowledge Study) with Heart

Cooking interventions have increased in popularity in recent years. Evaluation by meta-analyses and systematic reviews show consistent changes in dietary quality reports and cooking confidence, but not of card...

Authors: Nicole Farmer, Tiffany M. Powell-Wiley, Kimberly R. Middleton, Brenda Roberson, Sharon Flynn, Alyssa T. Brooks, Narjis Kazmi, Valerie Mitchell, Billy Collins, Rachel Hingst, Lucy Swan, Shanna Yang, Seema Kakar, Timothy Harlan and Gwenyth R. Wallen

Protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility trial of exercise rehabilitation for people with postural tachycardia syndrome: the PULSE study

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is an autonomic nervous system disorder causing an abnormal cardiovascular response to upright posture. It affects around 0.2% of the population, most commonly ...

Authors: Gordon McGregor, Siew Wan Hee, Helen Eftekhari, Nikki Holliday, Gemma Pearce, Harbinder Sandhu, Jane Simmonds, Shivam Joshi, Lesley Kavi, Julie Bruce, Sandeep Panikker, Boon Lim and Sajad Hayat

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

If adults practice several motor tasks together, random practice leads to better transfer and retention compared to blocked practice. Knowledge about this contextual interference (CI) effect could be valuable ...

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

Weekly group tummy time classes are feasible and acceptable to mothers with infants: a pilot cluster randomized controlled trial

The World Health Organization recommends 30 min of tummy time daily for improved motor development and reduced likelihood of plagiocephaly. As only 30% of infants meet this recommendation, parents require stra...

Authors: Lyndel Hewitt, Samantha Stephens, Abbe Spencer, Rebecca M. Stanley and Anthony D. Okely

Feasibility study on pre or postoperative accelerated radiotherapy (POP-ART) in breast cancer patients

In early-stage breast cancer, the cornerstone of treatment is surgery. After breast-conserving surgery, adjuvant radiotherapy has shown to improve locoregional control and overall survival rates. The use of br...

Authors: Hans Van Hulle, Vincent Vakaet, Giselle Post, Annick Van Greveling, Chris Monten, An Hendrix, Koen Van de Vijver, Jo Van Dorpe, Pieter De Visschere, Geert Braems, Katrien Vandecasteele, Hannelore Denys, Wilfried De Neve and Liv Veldeman

Implementation of a trauma-informed, evidence-informed intervention for Latinx families experiencing interpersonal violence and child maltreatment: protocol for a pilot randomized control trial of SafeCare+®

A consistently demonstrated overlap exists between the occurrence of domestic violence and child maltreatment, yet these issues are historically addressed by distinct systems and programming. The randomized co...

Authors: Danielle L. Fettes, Gregory A. Aarons, Valerie Brew, Karla Ledesma and Jane Silovsky

Correction to: Assessing the acceptability of a text messaging service and smartphone app to support patient adherence to medications prescribed for high blood pressure: a pilot study

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Authors: Aikaterini Kassavou, Charlotte Emily A’Court, Jagmohan Chauhan, James David Brimicombe, Debi Bhattacharya, Felix Naughton, Wendy Hardeman, Cecilia Mascolo and Stephen Sutton

A pilot study examining the use of Goal Management Training in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Recent meta-analyses point towards cognitive impairments in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), particularly in such executive function subdomains as planning and organization. Scant attention has focused on ...

Authors: Duncan H. Cameron, Randi E. McCabe, Karen Rowa, Charlene O’Connor and Margaret C. McKinnon

Feasibility study on the adoption of the WHO safe childbirth checklist by front-line healthcare providers and managers in Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire

The World Health Organization Safe Childbirth Checklist tool was specifically designed for developing countries such as sub-Saharan African countries, to ensure safety and security of the couple mother and new...

Authors: Kadidiatou Raissa Kourouma, Wambi Maurice Evariste Yaméogo, Daouda Doukouré, Marie Laurette Agbré Yacé, Akoua Tano Kamelan, Soltié Aminata Coulibaly-Koné, Tiéba Millogo and Séni Kouanda

Raising Well at Home: a pre-post feasibility study of a lifestyle intervention for caregivers and their child with obesity

Few efficacious pediatric obesity interventions have been successfully translated and sustained in real-world practice, often due to inadequate fit with the priorities of under-resourced populations. Lifestyle...

Authors: Debra Haire-Joshu, Cindy Schwarz, Rebekah Jacob, Pat Kristen, Shelly Johnston, Karyn Quinn and Rachel Tabak

Feasibility of the SINEX program for patients with traumatic anterior shoulder instability

An optimal treatment for traumatic anterior shoulder instability (TASI) remains to be identified. A shoulder instability neuromuscular exercise (SINEX) program has been designed for patients with TASI, but has...

Authors: Amalie Nilssen Hagesæter, Tonje Løvold, Birgit Juul-Kristensen, Jesper Blomquist, Randi Hole, Henrik Eshoj and Liv Heide Magnussen

The Early Positive Approaches to Support (E-PAtS) study: study protocol for a feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial of a group programme (E-PAtS) for family caregivers of young children with intellectual disability

Children with intellectual disability have an IQ < 70, associated deficits in adaptive skills and are at increased risk of having clinically concerning levels of behaviour problems. In addition, parents of chi...

Authors: Elinor Coulman, Richard Hastings, Nick Gore, David Gillespie, Rachel McNamara, Stavros Petrou, Jeremy Segrott, Jill Bradshaw, Kerry Hood, Andrew Jahoda, Geoff Lindsay, Fiona Lugg-Widger, Michael Robling, Jacqui Shurlock and Vaso Totsika

Vestibular rehabilitation for persons with stroke and concomitant dizziness—a pilot study

Dizziness is common among patients with first time stroke. It affects self-perceived health and is a risk factor for falls. Vestibular rehabilitation (VR) is effective for treating dizziness among various cond...

Authors: Eva Ekvall Hansson, Hélène Pessah-Rasmussen, Annika Bring, Birgit Vahlberg and Liselott Persson

Suicide risk after psychiatric discharge: study protocol of a naturalistic, long-term, prospective observational study

Suicide risk of psychiatric patients has proven to be strongly increased in the months after discharge from a psychiatric hospital. Despite this high risk, there is a lack of systematic research on the causes ...

Authors: Tim J. Krause, Annette Lederer, Magdalena Sauer, Jasmin Schneider, Cathrin Sauer, Burkhard Jabs, Elmar Etzersdorfer, Axel Genz, Michael Bauer, Susann Richter, Dan Rujescu and Ute Lewitzka

Acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis with sensitized acupoints: results from a pilot, feasibility randomized controlled trial

Although previous clinical studies suggest possible benefits of acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis (KOA), the value of acupuncture at sensitized points is uncertain. We aimed to preliminarily assess the feasi...

Authors: Pengli Jia, Jiali Liu, Ling Li, Yanan Luo, Ying Li, Ling Zhao, Fanrong Liang, Zhibin Liu, Kang Zou, Li Tang and Xin Sun

Implementing nudges for suicide prevention in real-world environments: project INSPIRE study protocol

Suicide is a global health issue. There are a number of evidence-based practices for suicide screening, assessment, and intervention that are not routinely deployed in usual care settings. The goal of this stu...

Authors: Molly Davis, Courtney Benjamin Wolk, Shari Jager-Hyman, Rinad S. Beidas, Jami F. Young, Jennifer A. Mautone, Alison M. Buttenheim, David S. Mandell, Kevin G. Volpp, Katherine Wislocki, Anne Futterer, Darby Marx, E. L. Dieckmeyer and Emily M. Becker-Haimes

HALT (Hernia Active Living Trial): protocol for a feasibility study of a randomised controlled trial of a physical activity intervention to improve quality of life in people with bowel stoma with a bulge/parastomal hernia

Parastomal hernia (PSH) can be repaired surgically, but results to date have been disappointing, with reported recurrence rates of 30 to 76%. Other types of intervention are therefore needed to improve the qua...

Authors: Gill Hubbard, Rebecca J. Beeken, Claire Taylor, Raymond Oliphant, Angus J. M. Watson, Julie Munro, Sarah Russell and William Goodman

A randomised feasibility trial of an intervention to support sharing of HIV status for 18–25-year olds living with perinatally acquired HIV compared with standard care: HIV Empowering Adults’ Decisions to Share—UK/Uganda Project (HEADS-UP)

Young adults with perinatally acquired HIV (PAH) face several challenges, including adhering to antiretroviral therapy (ART), managing the risk of onward HIV transmission and maintaining positive well-being. S...

Authors: Michael Evangeli, Caroline Foster, Victor Musiime, Sarah Fidler, Janet Seeley and Georgina Gnan

Feasibility of preoperative tattooing of percutaneously biopsied axillary lymph node: an experimental pilot study

In the last three decades, axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) has been replaced by sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in all clinically node-negative patients. However, when SLNB alone is performed in clinic...

Authors: Abida K. Sattar, Basim Ali, Imrana Masroor, Shaista Afzal, Mohammad Usman Tariq, Romana Idrees, Maseeh Uzzaman and Wardah Khalid

Design, rationale and analysis plan for the Stand Up for Health trial in contact centres: a stepped wedge feasibility study

Contact centres are one of the most sedentary workplaces, with employees spending a very high proportion of their working day sitting down. About a quarter of contact centre staff regularly experience musculos...

Authors: Richard A. Parker, Jillian Manner, Divya Sivaramakrishnan, Graham Baker, Andrew Stoddart, Scott Lloyd and Ruth Jepson

The feasibility of an innovative GP-physiotherapist partnership to identify and manage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (INTEGRATED): study protocol

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) contributes significantly to mortality, hospitalisations and health care costs worldwide. There is evidence that the detection, accurate diagnosis and management of...

Authors: Lisa Pagano, Zoe McKeough, Sally Wootton, Stephen Crone, Deborah Pallavicini, Andrew S. L. Chan, Sriram Mahadev, Nicholas Zwar and Sarah Dennis

Evaluation of a manualised speech and language therapy programme for children with social communication disorder: the SCIP feasibility study

Children with Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder (SPCD) have long-term needs in using and processing social language and have a high risk of later mental health difficulties. A manualised speech and lan...

Authors: Catherine Adams, Jacqueline Gaile, Hazel Roddam, Janet Baxendale, Laura Clitheroe and Richard Emsley

Implementing combined WHO mhGAP and adapted group interpersonal psychotherapy to address depression and mental health needs of pregnant adolescents in Kenyan primary health care settings (INSPIRE): a study protocol for pilot feasibility trial of the integrated intervention in LMIC settings

Addressing adolescent pregnancies associated health burden demands new ways of organizing maternal and child mental health services to meet multiple needs of this group. There is a need to strengthen integrati...

Authors: Manasi Kumar, Keng-Yen Huang, Caleb Othieno, Dalton Wamalwa, Kimberly Hoagwood, Jurgen Unutzer, Shekhar Saxena, Inge Petersen, Simon Njuguna, Beatrice Amugune, Onesmus Gachuno, Fred Ssewamala and Mary McKay

Mood, Activity Participation, and Leisure Engagement Satisfaction (MAPLES): a randomised controlled pilot feasibility trial for low mood in acquired brain injury

Acquired brain injury (ABI) affects approximately 79.3 million individuals annually and is linked with elevated rates of depression and low mood. Existing methods for treating depression in ABI have shown mixe...

Authors: Andrea Kusec, Fionnuala C. Murphy, Polly V. Peers, Cara Lawrence, Emma Cameron, Claire Morton, Andrew Bateman, Peter Watson and Tom Manly

Assessing the acceptability of a text messaging service and smartphone app to support patient adherence to medications prescribed for high blood pressure: a pilot study

This paper describes a pilot non-randomised controlled study of a highly tailored 56-day text messaging and smartphone app prototype intervention to increase adherence to anti-hypertensive medication in primar...

Authors: Aikaterini Kassavou, Charlotte Emily A’Court, Jagmohan Chauhan, James David Brimicombe, Debi Bhattacharya, Felix Naughton, Wendy Hardeman, Cecilia Mascolo and Stephen Sutton

An app-, web- and social support-based weight loss intervention for adults with obesity: the ‘HelpMeDoIt!’ feasibility randomised controlled trial

Social support has an important role in successful weight loss. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of an app-, web- and social support-based intervention in supporting adults...

Authors: Sharon Anne Simpson, Lynsay Matthews, Juliana Pugmire, Alex McConnachie, Emma McIntosh, Elinor Coulman, Kathryn Hughes, Mark Kelson, Sarah Morgan-Trimmer, Simon Murphy, Olga Utkina-Macaskill and Laurence Anthony Russell Moore

A mixed methods evaluation of the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of a pilot project ECHO for community health workers (CHWs)

Despite the positive effects of community health workers (CHWs) on addressing social determinants of health, improving patient health outcomes, and decreasing overall healthcare costs, there is a lack of stand...

Authors: April Joy Damian, Sarafina Robinson, Faaiza Manzoor, Mandy Lamb, Adriana Rojas, Ariel Porto and Daren Anderson

Geriatric assessment for older adults with sickle cell disease: protocol for a prospective cohort pilot study

The life expectancy for people with sickle cell disease (SCD) has improved tremendously over the last 50 years. This population experiences hemolysis and vaso-occlusion in multiple organs that lead to complica...

Authors: Charity I. Oyedeji, Katherine Hall, Alison Luciano, Miriam C. Morey and John J. Strouse

A mixed methods randomised feasibility trial investigating the management of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in acute traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of long-term disability in working age adults. Recent studies show that most acute TBI patients demonstrate vestibular features of dizziness and imbalance, oft...

Authors: Rebecca M. Smith, Natalie Marroney, Jenna Beattie, Abby Newdick, Vassilios Tahtis, Caroline Burgess, Jonathan Marsden and Barry M. Seemungal

Feasibility of the PalliSupport care pathway: results from a mixed-method study in acutely hospitalized older patients at the end of life

A transitional care pathway (TCP) could improve care for older patients in the last months of life. However, barriers exist such as unidentified palliative care needs and suboptimal collaboration between care ...

Authors: Isabelle Flierman, Marjon van Rijn, Marike de Meij, Marjolein Poels, Dorende M. Niezink, Dick L. Willems and Bianca M. Buurman

Online prenatal trial in mindfulness sleep management (OPTIMISM): protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial

Sleep deficiency affects a majority of pregnant women with significant impact on daily function, mood, and pregnancy and birth outcomes. This ongoing study combines two evidence-based strategies for improving ...

Authors: Ira Kantrowitz-Gordon, Susan M. McCurry, Carol A. Landis, Rachel Lee and Dahee Wi

Evaluation of a clinical pharmacist team-based telehealth intervention in a rural clinic setting: a pilot study of feasibility, organizational perceptions, and return on investment

Remote, centralized clinical pharmacist services provided by board-certified clinical pharmacists have been shown to effectively assist in chronic disease management. We assess the feasibility of implementing ...

Authors: Logan T. Murry, Christopher P. Parker, Rachel J. Finkelstein, Matthew Arnold and Korey Kennelty

Feasibility and acceptability of a televideo physical activity and nutrition program for recent kidney transplant recipients

Post-transplant weight gain affects 50–90% of kidney transplant recipients adversely affecting survival, quality of life, and risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Diet modification and physical activi...

Authors: Cheryl A. Gibson, Aditi Gupta, J. Leon Greene, Jaehoon Lee, Rebecca R. Mount and Debra K. Sullivan

Improving maternal and fetal pregnancy outcomes: in memoriam, Doctor Frederick Morfaw (1980-2020)

Authors: Lawrence Mbuagbaw and Lehana Thabane

Mind the gap: an intervention to support caregivers with a new autism spectrum disorder diagnosis is feasible and acceptable

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) benefit when their caregivers can effectively advocate for appropriate services. Barriers to caregiver engagement such as provider mistrust, cultural differences, s...

Authors: Suzannah Iadarola, Melanie Pellecchia, Aubyn Stahmer, Hyon Soo Lee, Lindsay Hauptman, Elizabeth McGhee Hassrick, Samantha Crabbe, Sarah Vejnoska, Elizabeth Morgan, Heather Nuske, Paul Luelmo, Chris Friedman, Connie Kasari, Amanda Gulsrud, David Mandell and Tristram Smith

Improving patient experience and safety at transitions of care through the Your Care Needs You (YCNY) intervention: a study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled feasibility trial

Patients, particularly older people, often experience safety issues when transitioning from hospital to home. Although the evidence is currently equivocal as to how we can improve this transition of care, inte...

Authors: Ruth Baxter, Jenni Murray, Jane K. O’Hara, Catherine Hewitt, Gerry Richardson, Sarah Cockayne, Laura Sheard, Thomas Mills and Rebecca Lawton

Developing a theory-based multimedia intervention for schools to improve young people’s asthma: my asthma in school (MAIS)

Asthma control in adolescents is low with half of the young people in a London study identified as having suboptimal control when measured using the Asthma Control Test. Control of asthma symptoms can be impro...

Authors: Gioia Mosler, Katherine Harris, Jonathan Grigg and Liz Steed

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

Acute otitis media (AOM) is associated with high antibiotic prescribing rates. Antibiotics are somewhat effective in improving pain and middle ear effusion (MEE); however, they have unfavourable effects. Alter...

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

Development and feasibility of a tailored habit-based dietary intervention coupled with natural tooth replacement on the nutritional status of older patients

Older adults suffering partial tooth loss may need additional intervention strategies other than natural tooth replacement alone to improve their nutritional status. This study aimed to design and develop a ha...

Authors: Leigh-Ann McCrum, Sinead Watson, Laura McGowan, Bernadette McGuinness, Christopher Cardwell, Mike Clarke, Jayne V. Woodside and Gerry McKenna

Feasibility and predictors of change of narrative exposure therapy for displaced populations: a repeated measures design

Displaced victims of interpersonal violence, such as refugees, asylum seekers, and victims of sexual exploitation, are growing in numbers and are often suffering from a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A...

Authors: Rina S. Ghafoerkhan, Henriette E. van Heemstra, Willem F. Scholte, Joriene R. J. van der Kolk, Jackie June F. ter Heide, Simone M. de la Rie, Linda M. Verhaak, Evelien Snippe and Paul A. Boelen

Problem-solving therapy rather than treatment as usual for adults after self-harm: a pragmatic, feasibility, randomised controlled trial (the MIDSHIPS trial)

Non-fatal self-harm is one of the commonest reasons for adults’ emergency hospital attendance. Although strongly associated with fatal and non-fatal repetition, there is weak evidence about effective intervent...

Authors: David Owens, Alexandra Wright-Hughes, Liz Graham, Paul Blenkiron, Kayleigh Burton, Michelle Collinson, Amanda Farrin, Simon Hatcher, Katie Martin, John O’Dwyer, Louise Pembroke, David Protheroe, Sandy Tubeuf and Allan House

A web-based educational intervention to implement trauma-informed care in a paediatric healthcare setting: protocol for a feasibility study using pre-post mixed methods design

Adoption of responsive trauma-informed practices by staff in hospital-based paediatric care may help mitigate downstream costs associated with treatment delivery due to reduced pain and distress for children a...

Authors: Megan Simons, Alexandra De Young, Steven M. McPhail, Gillian Harvey, Justin Kenardy, Sanjeewa Kularatna, Roy Kimble and Zephanie Tyack

Exploring community perceptions in preparation for a randomised controlled trial of biofortified flour in Pakistan

Biofortification of staple food crops may be a cost-effective and sustainable approach to reducing micronutrient deficiencies in resource-poor settings with low dietary diversity. However, its success depends ...

Authors: Usman Mahboob, Heather Ohly, Edward J. M. Joy, Victoria Moran, Mukhtiar Zaman and Nicola M. Lowe

Self-administration of medication during hospitalization—a randomized pilot study

Self-administration of medication (SAM) during hospitalization is a complex intervention where patients are involved in their course of treatment. The study aim was to pilot test the SAM intervention. The obje...

Authors: Charlotte Arp Sørensen, Charlotte Olesen, Marianne Lisby, Ulrika Enemark and Annette de Thurah

A co-production approach guided by the behaviour change wheel to develop an intervention for reducing sedentary behaviour after stroke

Stroke survivors are highly sedentary; thus, breaking up long uninterrupted bouts of sedentary behaviour could have substantial health benefit. However, there are no intervention strategies specifically aimed ...

Authors: Jennifer Hall, Sarah Morton, Jessica Hall, David J. Clarke, Claire F. Fitzsimons, Coralie English, Anne Forster, Gillian E. Mead and Rebecca Lawton

Peer navigation for individuals with serious mental illness leaving jail: a pilot randomized trial study protocol

Serious mental illness (SMI) is a prevalent public health problem affecting 25% of individuals in jail. Re-entry to the community following incarceration is a vulnerable time for justice-involved individuals w...

Authors: Maji Hailemariam, Lauren M. Weinstock and Jennifer E. Johnson

Heavy shoulder strengthening exercise in people with hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD) and long-lasting shoulder symptoms: a feasibility study

People with hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD) are in great risk of experiencing shoulder symptoms, but evidence for treatment is sparse. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate the feasibility of 16-week ...

Authors: Behnam Liaghat, Søren T. Skou, Uffe Jørgensen, Jens Sondergaard, Karen Søgaard and Birgit Juul-Kristensen