Effects on sedentary behaviour of an approach to reduce sedentary behaviour in patients with minor ischaemic stroke: A randomised controlled trial

Objectives To determine the effects on sedentary behaviour of an approach that promotes reduction in sedentary behaviour in patients with minor ischaemic stroke after intervention and at follow-up. Design A randomised controlled trial. Setting During hospitalisation and after hospital discharge Subjects In total, 86 patients with minor ischaemic stroke admitted to an acute care hospital were assigned to the intervention (n = 43) and control (n = 43) groups. Intervention An intervention group that received an approach to reduce sedentary behaviour upon hospital admission until 3 months after discharge (education, self-monitoring, phone calls, etc.) and a control group that received the usual care during hospitalisation. From 3 to 6 months after discharge, no group received any intervention. Main Outcome The primary outcome was the change (%) in sedentary behaviour from baseline to post-intervention (3 months after discharge) and follow-up (6 months after discharge). Sedentary behaviour was measured at baseline (upon hospital admission), post-intervention, and at follow-up using accelerometers. Results At the post-intervention stage, the intervention group showed a significantly greater change in sedentary behaviour from baseline than that shown by the control group (sedentary behaviour: intervention group, −22.7%; control group, −14.9%; P = 0.013; effect size = 0.58). At follow-up too, the intervention group showed a significantly greater change in sedentary behaviour from baseline than that shown by the control group (sedentary behaviour: intervention group, −20.4%; control group, −13.6%; P = 0.025; effect size = 0.54). Conclusions An approach to reduce sedentary behaviour in patients with minor ischaemic stroke effectively reduces sedentary behaviour, which is sustained up to follow-up. Trial registration This study is registered at www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index/htm UMIN000038616.