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A process evaluation of engagement and outcomes in internet support physical rehabilitation for chronic dizziness

A process evaluation of engagement and outcomes in internet support physical rehabilitation for chronic dizziness
A process evaluation of engagement and outcomes in internet support physical rehabilitation for chronic dizziness
Vestibular-related dizziness is a highly debilitating condition, especially common amongst older adults. It can often be successfully managed with physical therapy exercises known as Vestibular Rehabilitation (VR) but access to VR is very limited. The ‘Balance Retraining’ digital intervention was developed to meet the need for increased availability of this therapy, and a primary-care based Randomised Controlled Trial demonstrated it to be effective. In order to maximise the potential efficacy, reach and acceptability of such interventions, it is important to investigate causal mechanisms and contextual factors. This provides insight how and why outcomes occur under given circumstances, and the underlying psychological mechanisms. This thesis employed quantitative and qualitative methodologies to investigate the processes involved in individuals’ engagement with, and outcomes of, the Balance Retraining intervention.

A systematic review of 30 studies investigating predictors of adherence to self-managed physical therapies revealed that self-efficacy, self-motivation, intention, previous adherence behaviour and social support were most consistently associated with adherence. Following this, a qualitative study explored older adults’ experiences of engaging with Balance Retraining over a 6-week period. Participants experienced internet-delivered VR very positively; many were motivated by improvements in their symptoms, but some also found that practical issues, or doubts about the exercises caused difficulties. A quantitative investigation of predictors of change in dizziness severity revealed that adherence-problems, particularly those relating to symptom exacerbation, were especially detrimental for dizziness outcomes and that those who were more anxious or less confident about their ability to complete VR were more susceptible to these. A final mixed methods analysis found that the intervention appeared to operate primarily through addressing adherence problems and that greater overall use, and use of specific features, was beneficial for outcomes. The findings of this thesis provide promising evidence that digitally-delivered VR is acceptable and accessible amongst older adults, and highlight key intervention features and the
underlying BCTs that appear instrumental in Balance Retraining’s effectiveness.
University of Southampton
Essery, Rosie
6bf53e81-577f-4a95-ba45-11aa64d1ee53
Essery, Rosie
6bf53e81-577f-4a95-ba45-11aa64d1ee53
Yardley, Lucy
64be42c4-511d-484d-abaa-f8813452a22e
Kirby, Sarah
9be57c1b-5ab7-4444-829e-d8e5dbe2370b
Geraghty, Adam
2c6549fe-9868-4806-b65a-21881c1930af

Essery, Rosie (2017) A process evaluation of engagement and outcomes in internet support physical rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis, 330pp.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)

Abstract

Vestibular-related dizziness is a highly debilitating condition, especially common amongst older adults. It can often be successfully managed with physical therapy exercises known as Vestibular Rehabilitation (VR) but access to VR is very limited. The ‘Balance Retraining’ digital intervention was developed to meet the need for increased availability of this therapy, and a primary-care based Randomised Controlled Trial demonstrated it to be effective. In order to maximise the potential efficacy, reach and acceptability of such interventions, it is important to investigate causal mechanisms and contextual factors. This provides insight how and why outcomes occur under given circumstances, and the underlying psychological mechanisms. This thesis employed quantitative and qualitative methodologies to investigate the processes involved in individuals’ engagement with, and outcomes of, the Balance Retraining intervention.

A systematic review of 30 studies investigating predictors of adherence to self-managed physical therapies revealed that self-efficacy, self-motivation, intention, previous adherence behaviour and social support were most consistently associated with adherence. Following this, a qualitative study explored older adults’ experiences of engaging with Balance Retraining over a 6-week period. Participants experienced internet-delivered VR very positively; many were motivated by improvements in their symptoms, but some also found that practical issues, or doubts about the exercises caused difficulties. A quantitative investigation of predictors of change in dizziness severity revealed that adherence-problems, particularly those relating to symptom exacerbation, were especially detrimental for dizziness outcomes and that those who were more anxious or less confident about their ability to complete VR were more susceptible to these. A final mixed methods analysis found that the intervention appeared to operate primarily through addressing adherence problems and that greater overall use, and use of specific features, was beneficial for outcomes. The findings of this thesis provide promising evidence that digitally-delivered VR is acceptable and accessible amongst older adults, and highlight key intervention features and the
underlying BCTs that appear instrumental in Balance Retraining’s effectiveness.

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Published date: 2017

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 412631
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/412631
PURE UUID: ce13a122-79d4-40f5-a3d4-2b71fe4ce5cf
ORCID for Lucy Yardley: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-3853-883X
ORCID for Sarah Kirby: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-1759-1356
ORCID for Adam Geraghty: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-7984-8351

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 24 Jul 2017 16:32
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 05:31

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Contributors

Author: Rosie Essery
Thesis advisor: Lucy Yardley ORCID iD
Thesis advisor: Sarah Kirby ORCID iD
Thesis advisor: Adam Geraghty ORCID iD

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