Peer Support for Exercise Habits

(SHINE Trial)

Overseen By Erin S Pearson, PhD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Lakehead University

Disqualifiers: Men, Not full-time student, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 6

Duration: 6 weeks

24 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this randomized controlled pilot trial is to test the effectiveness of a six-week tailored physical activity program with and without peer mentoring on the psychological constructs and exercise behaviour of inactive undergraduate women. The objectives are to: * Quantify the degree to which a peer-mentorship intervention affects exercise motivation determined through three basic psychological needs (i.e., autonomy, competence, and relatedness). * Examine general psychological distress and exercise engagement throughout the study. * Qualitatively explore participants' experiences following the completion of the program using an open-ended survey to gain a better understanding of its impact. Researchers will compare the parallel arm conditions to see how the inclusion of social support impacts exercise engagement. Participants will be asked to engage in exercise three times a week at the campus gym; those in the intervention condition will have an assigned peer-mentor who will join them for one weekly session and virtually communicate with them between sessions.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on exercise habits rather than medication use.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment The Supporting Her In Navigating Exercise Program?

Research shows that peer support can help people stick to exercise routines, as seen in programs for heart disease patients and breast cancer survivors. These studies found that having peers for support increased physical activity levels and made it easier for participants to maintain their exercise habits. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the Peer Support for Exercise Habits program safe for participants?

Research on physical activity interventions, including peer support programs, shows that serious adverse events are rare. Most reported issues are minor, like muscle strains, and can be minimized by starting with low-intensity exercises and gradually increasing intensity. ^{4 6 7 8 9}

How is the Supporting Her In Navigating Exercise Program treatment different from other treatments for exercise habits?

The Supporting Her In Navigating Exercise Program is unique because it incorporates peer support to enhance social connections and motivation, which is not typically emphasized in other exercise habit treatments. This approach leverages trained peer volunteers to provide practical, informational, motivational, and emotional support, making it a cost-effective and socially engaging way to improve exercise adherence. ^{2 4 10 11 12}

Research Team

Erin S Pearson, PhD

Principal Investigator

Lakehead University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for inactive undergraduate women who are interested in starting an exercise routine. Participants should be willing to work out three times a week at the campus gym and complete surveys about their experience.

Inclusion Criteria

Have access to online technology (e.g., email, zoom)

Full-time undergraduate student at Lakehead University

Classified as an exercise initiate (e.g., report one or fewer bouts of exercise per week)

Exclusion Criteria

Not enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student at Lakehead University

Lack of access to technology

I cannot travel to the campus.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Baseline Orientation

Participants complete a baseline survey, receive a facility tour, and are assigned to a study condition

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants engage in a 6-week exercise program with or without peer mentoring

6 weeks

3 visits per week (in-person), virtual communication for intervention group

Follow-up

Participants complete an open-ended exit questionnaire to explore their program experiences

1 week

1 visit (in-person or virtual)

Treatment Details

Interventions

• The Supporting Her In Navigating Exercise Program

Trial Overview The study tests if having a peer mentor helps increase motivation and reduce psychological distress compared to just following an exercise program alone. Half of the participants will have a mentor join them once a week, with additional virtual support.

Participant Groups

Group I: Exercise plus mentor Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will be encouraged to engage in independent exercise twice a week for 30 minutes. They will be randomly assigned to a peer-mentor, with whom they will engage in on-on-one exercise once a week for 30 minutes. Between sessions, they will engage in virtual communication with each other for about 30 minutes each week. Each participant-mentor duo will continue this protocol for 6-weeks.

Group II: Exercise alone Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will be encouraged to engage in exercise three times a week for thirty minutes, over a span of 6-weeks.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Lakehead University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

29

Recruited

3,900+

St. Joseph's Care Group

Collaborator

Trials

5

Recruited

350+

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Collaborator

Trials

1,417

Recruited

26,550,000+

Findings from Research

Patients with heart disease who participated in a peer support program were generally older and more likely to be female, suggesting that these demographics may be more inclined to seek support for maintaining physical activity.

Over 12 months, those who joined the peer support program maintained their physical activity levels, while those who did not participate experienced a significant decline, indicating that peer support can effectively help sustain activity post-rehabilitation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Peer support to promote physical activity after completion of centre-based cardiac rehabilitation: evaluation of access and effects. Clark, AM., Munday, C., McLaughlin, D., et al.[2022]

In a study of 363 college students, esteem social support from friends was found to be the strongest predictor of both total and strenuous leisure-time exercise, highlighting the importance of positive encouragement in promoting physical activity.

Descriptive social norms, which reflect the behaviors of friends, also significantly influenced the frequency of strenuous exercise, indicating that what peers do can motivate individuals to exercise more.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Social support and social norms: do both contribute to predicting leisure-time exercise? Okun, MA., Ruehlman, L., Karoly, P., et al.[2019]

In a study of 396 college students, it was found that sex and psychosocial factors like exercise self-efficacy and social support significantly influenced the likelihood of meeting physical activity guidelines (PAGs).

Interventions aimed at enhancing psychosocial factors, particularly social support, could effectively encourage students to engage in both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Factors related to meeting physical activity guidelines in active college students: A social cognitive perspective. Farren, GL., Zhang, T., Martin, SB., et al.[2018]

A 12-week peer support intervention in an exercise referral scheme (ERS) showed that trained peer volunteers significantly enhanced the client experience by providing practical, motivational, and emotional support, which is crucial for successful exercise adherence.

Participants found the peer support to be cost-effective and acceptable, suggesting that integrating peer volunteers can improve social support accessibility and potentially increase completion rates of exercise referral programs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Multi-Stakeholder Retrospective Acceptability of a Peer Support Intervention for Exercise Referral. Portman, RM., Levy, AR., Maher, AJ., et al.[2021]

A study involving 161 inactive breast cancer survivors found that peer support through monthly phone calls or weekly text messages significantly improved physical activity maintenance at 12 months compared to a self-monitoring only group.

Both the Reach Plus Phone and Reach Plus Message interventions led to additional weekly moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, with the text message group showing the greatest increase, highlighting the effectiveness of ongoing peer support in sustaining physical activity after an initial intervention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physical Activity Adoption and Maintenance Among Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Trial of Peer Mentoring. Pinto, BM., Dunsiger, SI., Kindred, MM., et al.[2022]

Researchers in resistance training studies often lack clear guidance and motivation for thorough adverse event (AE) reporting, which can lead to inconsistent practices.

There is a need for exercise-specific guidelines for AE reporting, as current standards are perceived as not applicable to exercise trials, highlighting the importance of tailored strategies to improve reporting consistency.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Researchers' perspectives on adverse event reporting in resistance training trials: a qualitative study. El-Kotob, R., Pagcanlungan, JR., Craven, BC., et al.[2022]

In a review of over 5,500 participants from 11 physical activity interventions, no serious study-related adverse events were reported, indicating a high level of safety in these exercise programs.

While minor musculoskeletal injuries were noted, the studies emphasized a 'start low and go slow' approach, suggesting that moderate-intensity physical activity is safe and effective for sedentary, chronically ill, or older populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Screening, safety, and adverse events in physical activity interventions: collaborative experiences from the behavior change consortium. Ory, M., Resnick, B., Jordan, PJ., et al.[2022]

The ADVANCE study aims to evaluate how adverse events (AEs) are reported in exercise oncology trials, which is crucial for assessing the safety of exercise interventions for cancer patients.

By reviewing published trials and using a standardized checklist for reporting AEs, the study seeks to identify gaps in current practices and inform future research on improving the consistency and transparency of AE reporting in this field.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse Events Reporting of Clinical Trials in Exercise Oncology Research (ADVANCE): Protocol for a Scoping Review. Luo, H., Schumacher, O., Galvão, DA., et al.[2022]

The Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template (CERT) is a 16-item guideline developed to improve the clarity and completeness of exercise intervention descriptions in research, based on input from international exercise experts.

By standardizing how exercise programs are reported, the CERT aims to enhance the replication of studies, increase the clinical application of effective exercise interventions, and ultimately improve patient health outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template (CERT): Explanation and Elaboration Statement. Slade, SC., Dionne, CE., Underwood, M., et al.[2022]

A scoping review of 42 articles identified eight key social support strategies that help people with disabilities participate in physical activity at community gyms, including supervision, peer support, and specialist support.

Direct supervision and peer support were the most common forms of assistance, highlighting the importance of experienced staff and community connections in promoting exercise participation among individuals with disabilities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Social Support Initiatives That Facilitate Exercise Participation in Community Gyms for People with Disability: A Scoping Review. Kennedy, RA., McKenzie, G., Holmes, C., et al.[2023]

A study involving 134 patients with physical symptoms showed that a 10-session keep-fit exercise program significantly improved physical well-being and reduced stress after one year, indicating its effectiveness as a primary prevention strategy.

The intervention not only enhanced lifestyle changes but also suggested potential reductions in sick leave, which could lead to lower national medical costs if more individuals participated.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Health benefits from a layman intervention in the primary health care. Fridlund, B., Eriksson, B., Isacsson, C., et al.[2019]

In a study of 269 adults aged 50 to 65, specific social support for exercise was found to be a stronger predictor of adherence to a 1-year endurance exercise program than general social support, indicating the importance of targeted encouragement.

Participants preferred less initial support from exercise staff, which was linked to better adherence in the first 6 months, while ongoing support from family and friends became crucial for maintaining adherence in the latter half of the program.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sources of social support as predictors of exercise adherence in women and men ages 50 to 65 years. Oka, RK., King, AC., Young, DR.[2007]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Peer support to promote physical activity after completion of centre-based cardiac rehabilitation: evaluation of access and effects. [2022]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Social support and social norms: do both contribute to predicting leisure-time exercise? [2019]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Factors related to meeting physical activity guidelines in active college students: A social cognitive perspective. [2018]

4. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Multi-Stakeholder Retrospective Acceptability of a Peer Support Intervention for Exercise Referral. [2021]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physical Activity Adoption and Maintenance Among Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Trial of Peer Mentoring. [2022]

6. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Researchers' perspectives on adverse event reporting in resistance training trials: a qualitative study. [2022]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Screening, safety, and adverse events in physical activity interventions: collaborative experiences from the behavior change consortium. [2022]

8. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse Events Reporting of Clinical Trials in Exercise Oncology Research (ADVANCE): Protocol for a Scoping Review. [2022]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template (CERT): Explanation and Elaboration Statement. [2022]

10. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Social Support Initiatives That Facilitate Exercise Participation in Community Gyms for People with Disability: A Scoping Review. [2023]

11. Ireland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Health benefits from a layman intervention in the primary health care. [2019]

12. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sources of social support as predictors of exercise adherence in women and men ages 50 to 65 years. [2007]