Weight Loss Intervention for Individuals With Lower Extremity Amputation (MOVE-LEAP)

Home-based Weight Loss Intervention for Individuals With Lower Extremity Amputation

The purpose of this study is to pilot test a program to help overweight and obese individuals with a lower extremity amputation (LEA) lose weight and become more physically active. The investigators will randomize approximately 30 individuals to either a self-directed weight loss program (n=15) or a coached weight loss program (n=15). The primary purpose of this pilot study is to determine if a home-based weight loss/physical activity (PA) intervention is feasible in individuals with a LEA. MOVE-LEAP is a 20-week program that involves 11 phone calls from a health coach and a single home visit by a physical therapist.

This pilot study aims to:

1. test the feasibility of recruiting overweight/obese individuals with LEA into a randomized trial;
2. assess whether the intervention can be delivered with high fidelity, and
3. evaluate whether the intervention is acceptable to and safe as determined by participant feedback, participation and retention for outcome measures.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Lower Extremity Amputation
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Coached group; Behavioral: Self-directed control group; Other: Screened only

Detailed Description

Participants randomized to the intervention arm will receive (1) a home visit by an exercise specialist and (2) a 20-week telephone-delivered weight loss program, modeled on the VA's Telephone Lifestyle Coaching Program (MOVE!TLC). All participants (both the coached arm and self-directed arm) will be mailed a MOVE-LEAP packet [containing eating and physical activity logs, information on how to set weight loss goals, suggestions for physical activity/exercise, dietary guides, etc.), a MOVE-LEAP handout booklet, calories counting book, a pedometer, exercise digital versatile disc (DVD), and a flip-booklet with exercises ("Exercise Guide for Persons with Limb Loss"). A bathroom scale will be provided for participants who do not already own one.

Participants in the coached arm will receive a home visit by an exercise specialist. This visit will occur 1-3 weeks after randomization. The exercise specialist will assess the participant's capabilities and interest regarding physical activity as well as his/her home environment for physical activity. Since each participant may have different physical capabilities and limitations, the type and intensity of physical activity will be tailored to each participant's preferences and their home and neighborhood/community environment and resources. If the participant is interested in performing physical activity outside their home, study staff will provide them with information about community resources for physical activities.

Participants in the coached arm will receive 11 calls by a study health coach. During the phone calls (weekly initially and then every other week), the health coach will review progress and help the participant to set "SMART" goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-limited) and will use motivational interviewing techniques to help the participant achieve those goals. Motivational interviewing is a style of counseling meant to increase participant engagement through strategic use of open-ended questions, reflective listening and positive affirmations. The study staff will review the participant's progress on his or her goals and help him or her problem solve to resolve challenges and modify goals as needed. During each session, the coach will discuss an educational topic relating to weight loss. Written materials on each topic are included the booklet.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 15
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Washington
    • Seattle, Washington, United States, 98108
      • VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Division, Seattle, WA

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 69 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Lower extremity amputation (including toes) for at least 1 year
• overweight or obese
• <60 minutes drive-time to VA Puget Sound Health Care System - Seattle campus, willing to be randomized
• provides written, informed consent
• able to perform some form of aerobic exercise (e.g., walking, bicycling, swimming)
• has telephone
• able to complete study assessments

Exclusion Criteria:

• Co-morbidities which may be contraindicated or indicate no potential benefit from weight loss or increasing physical activity
• unlikely to be able to adhere to study protocol and complete questionnaires and measurements reliably
• recent or current (last 6 months) participation in a weight loss program, including taking weight loss medications
• only uses motorized (non-manual) wheelchair

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Coached; Participants randomized to the coached arm will receive the same educational and self-monitoring materials as the self-directed group. In addition, participants in the coached arm will receive 11 calls from a health coach and a single visit to their home by an exercise specialist.	Behavioral: Coached group; Participants randomized to the coached arm will receive 1) education and self-monitoring materials [e.g., a booklet, calorie count book, pedometer, and scale (if they do not have one)], 2) a home visit by an exercise specialist, and 3) 11 telephone calls (over a 20-week period) by a health coach who will utilize motivational interviewing techniques to help the participant set eating and activity goals and trouble shoot problems when they occur
Active Comparator: Self-directed; Participants randomized to the self-directed arm will receive the same educational and self-monitoring materials as the coached group, but no home visit and no coaching calls. They will be encouraged to make behavior changes on their own.	Behavioral: Self-directed control group; Participants randomized to the self-directed control arm will receive the same educational and self-monitoring materials as the coached group [e.g., a booklet, calorie count book, pedometer, and scale (if they do not have one)], but no home visit and no coaching calls. They will be encouraged to make behavior changes on their own.
Other: Screened; Individuals who were contacted to inform them about the study or who contacted study personnel to express an interest in participating. This group is presented in order to present statistics on feasibility regarding recruitment	Other: Screened only; Screened only - No intervention -- individuals who are contacted and/or screened for eligibility

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of Individuals That Were Randomized of Those Contacted (Feasibility)	Specific components include yield by method, recruitment rate, refusal rates and reasons	During recruitment (expected duration of 12-15 months)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Feasibility - Retention	Number of randomized individuals who complete baseline and study exit visit	Follow-up assessments (all participants) and during intervention (intervention group only) (weekly, for 20 weeks)
Acceptability	Acceptability of intervention will be assessed via a brief satisfaction survey - % who would recommend the program to a friend	At follow-up assessment (20-weeks follow-up)
Change in Weight	Changes between baseline and 20-weeks later (end of intervention)	Baseline and follow-up assessment (20-weeks after randomization)
Change in 6-minute Walk Distance	Change in 6-minute walk distance (ft) from baseline to follow-up	Baseline and at follow-up assessment (20-weeks after randomization)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Littman AJ, Haselkorn JK, Arterburn DE, Boyko EJ. Pilot randomized trial of a telephone-delivered physical activity and weight management intervention for individuals with lower extremity amputation. Disabil Health J. 2019 Jan;12(1):43-50. doi: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2018.08.002. Epub 2018 Aug 10.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 20, 2014
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 16, 2015
• Study Completion (Actual): May 1, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 17, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 10, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): March 13, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 29, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 2, 2018
• Last Verified: May 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: exercise; pilot study; weight loss; home-based; lower extremity amputation
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Body Weight; Body Weight Changes; Weight Loss
• Other Study ID Numbers: F6982-Wa

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No