Fighting fatigue using a physical activity intervention

Study Title: The role of physical activity in fatigue experienced by people with inflammatory arthritis: A sub-study of OPAM-IA

Principal Investigator:

Masoud Pourrahmat, BSc MSc student, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia Trainee, Arthritis Research Canada

Supervisor:

Dr. Linda Li, PT, PhD Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia Senior Scientist, Arthritis Research Canada

Supervisory committee members:

Dr. Catherine Backman, PhD, Reg. OT(BC), FCAOT Professor, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia   Dr. Lynne Feehan, BScPT, MSc, PhD Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia   Dr. Hui Xie, BSc, MS, PhD Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University

Study Start Date: September 2017               Study End Date: TBD

Why do this research?

Fatigue is prevalent among people with inflammatory arthritis and has detrimental impact on quality of life. There is a body of evidence suggesting that increased physical activity in inflammatory arthritis leads to overall health benefits such as improving joint health, mobility, and psychological well-being.   Currently, the Effectiveness of Online Physical Activity Monitoring in Inflammatory Arthritis (OPAM-IA) trial is addressing the problem of inactivity in people living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The present study will use data from the OPAM-IA trial to assess the association between physical activity and fatigue level, and determine if the physical activity counselling program being tested in OPAM-IA can reduce the fatigue experienced by the participants.   This study may support the future development of more effective treatment strategies for fatigue management in people living with inflammatory arthritis.

What will be done?

1. Find the association between fatigue levels and the following: physical activity, pain, depression, sleep quality, obesity, and smoking status.
2. Find the difference in the fatigue level of people receiving the OPAM-IA physical activity counselling program compared with people receiving control.
3. Find out whether the change in physical activity can predict the change in fatigue.

Who is involved?

The OPAM-IA research team consists of 7 co-investigators, 6 research staff, and 12 collaborators. Approximately sixty people with RA and sixty people with SLE will be recruited. Eligibility criteria consists of:

1. RA or SLE diagnosis.
2. No previous experience in using any physical activity wearables.

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups to either receive the intervention immediately or wait 2 months before getting the intervention. Participants in the Immediate Group will be asked to attend a group education session, use a Fitbit Flex with the FitViz app, and receive counselling by a registered physiotherapist. Participants in the Delayed Group will wait 2 months to start the same intervention. Throughout the study, assessments will be done at the beginning, and at the end of months 2, 4, and 6. These assessments include an online questionnaire and wearing another research based accelerometer for 7 days.  

Co-Investigators:

Dr. Lynne Feehan, BScPT, MSc, PhD Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia   Dr. Antonio Aviña-Zubeita, MD, MSc, PhD Assistant Professor, University of British Columbia   Dr. Charles Goldsmith, MSc, PhD Professor, Biostatistics, Simon Fraser University   Dr. Anne Townsend, PhD Research Associate, University of British Columbia   Dr. Catherine Backman, PhD, Reg. OT(BC), FCAOT Professor, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia   Dr. Diane Gromala, PhD Professor, Simon Fraser University   Dr. Chris Shaw, PhD Associate Professor, Simon Fraser University

Research Staff:

Juliane Chien, Research Assistant, Arthritis Research Canada Hussein Mamdani, Research Assistant, Arthritis Research Canada Stephanie Therrien, Research Assistant, Arthritis Research Canada Johnathan Tam, Research Coordinator, Arthritis Research Canada Jenny Leese, PhD trainee, Arthritis Research Canada Masoud Pourrahmat, MSc trainee, Arthritis Research Canada

Collaborators:

Greg Noonan, Mary Pack Arthritis Program Paul Adam, Mary Pack Arthritis Program Dr. Leigh Callahan, Thurston Arthritis Research Center Pam Montie, Arthritis Patient Advisory Board Cherly Koehn, Arthritis Consumer Experts Dr. John Esdaile, University of British Columbia, Arthritis Research Canada Dr. Kam Shojania, University of British Columbia, Arthritis Research Canada Dr. David Collins, University of British Columbia Dr. Jason Kur, Pacific Arthritis Centre Dr. Jennifer Reynolds, Vancouver General Hospital Dr. Ken Blocka, University of British Columbia Dr. Shahin Jamal, University of British Columbia

Funding Agency:

The Arthritis Society   Masoud Pourrahmat is supported as a graduate student by “PRECISION: Preventing Complications from Inflammatory Skin, Joint and Bowel Conditions” a Team Grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Canada (THC-316595).

How do people get involved?

Please note that recruitment for this study is now closed.