Walk for Rheumatoid Arthritis (WARA Study)

All patients attending the rheumatology clinics at Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Stobhill Hospital who have received a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, according to the American College of Rheumatology revised Criteria (ACR) 1987/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2010 (Amett et al, 1988; Aletaha et al, 2010) within the first five years of disease will be eligible to take part. Patients will be informed of the study at their routine clinical appointments and will be given study information sheets, in order to inform and help them decide whether they would like to enroll in the study. If the patient is willing to take part in the study, they will contact the researcher by phone and a suitable date/time for assessment will be arranged and confirmed by letter. For further enquiries, patients can telephone the researcher via contact details on the study information sheet. All participants will be informed that they are free to withdraw from the study at any time. On the initial assessment day, the participant will have the opportunity to ask further questions before being asked to sign a consent form for the study. All participants who agree to take part will be required to consent to being randomized to either the physical activity (Walking) group; Group (1) or Comparison group; Group (2).

A pedometer will be given to each person in the intervention group at the first education session.Participants will be encouraged to use the pedometer for a 6 month period, and will be instructed to wear it on the waist band above the hip during all waking hours and daily physical activity. The only exceptions would be when they are immersed in water (bathing or swimming) or in bed at night. They will also be instructed to reset the pedometer to zero at the beginning of each day and remove it at the end of the day. They will be given physical activity diary in which they will be asked to record: the time the pedometer was attached, removed and total number of steps displayed on the pedometer at the end of each day.During the fourth education session, i.e. one month after beginning the programme, participants will be asked to add strength exercises to their programme. The strength exercises will be performed at home and will be encouraged to keep a record in the physical activity diary: time, duration and any barriers to performing the exercise and how these were overcome. According to the United Kingdom physical activity guidelines and Start Active, Stay Active 2011, strength exercises for the major muscles of the lower limb, trunk and upper limb will be performed at home twice a week 8-12 repetitions of each exercise.

At the end of the study participants within the intervention group will keep the pedometer, as thanks for enrolling in this study.

Participants will attend six weekly sessions in small groups of up to six people; the content of the sessions will be based on educational cognitive behavioural programme development, which will allow participants to challenge their way of thinking, and change negative coping skills, cognition and emotions. Each session will last approximately one hour, will be interactive, and will take place in the hospital. During the one hour education session,topics will be discussed as interactive session, with the physiotherapist and participants. Visit 1 will be a measurement session, the education sessions will start at visit 2, and all participants in the intervention group will receive a pedometer and information regarding how the pedometer should be used and physical activity diary which they will start to use.

In addition, participants will receive education material in the first education session visit 2, which will consist of written information describing the importance of both walking and a healthy diet for health benefits and the reduction of cardiovascular risk and other co- morbidities of RA. Education sessions and the written material will be in large text and be suitable for any reading age.

The intervention group will receive two booster sessions, after 3 and 6 months to provide support to the participants First session interactive discussion on cardiovascular disease (CVD), Rheumatoid arthritis, Risk of CVD in Rheumatoid Arthritis, the importance of physical activity, Goal setting, instruction and practice on how to use pedometer.

second session Group discussion regarding exercise and physical activity and self-monitoring of behaviour, barriers to physical activity (Problem solving), advice, discussion on the importance of social support.

session 3 Relapse prevention, Control over CVD via lifestyle behaviour. session 4 Relevance and importance of strength training and opportunity to practice exercises.

session 5 Interactive discussion regarding healthy diet, strategies to enhance perceived control.

session 6 Motivation, Social facilitation, Action planning for the next 6 weeks.

First booster session Discuss any barriers, encouragement and motivation of the participants to continue in this programme.

Second Booster session Discuss any barriers, encouragement and motivation of the participants to continue in this programme.

Comparison Group The comparison group will be assessed at baseline (visit1), , after they have agreed to enroll in this study. The assessment will take approximately one hour; participants randomly allocated to the comparison group will receive one education session (visit 2) regarding the importance of exercise and healthy diet and will be given education material similar to intervention group and encouraged to read it. The comparison group will also be assessed at 3, 6 and 12 months (end of the study). On completion of the study all participants in the comparison group will be given a pedometer, activity diaries and advice on how to use them.