The Design and Evaluation of a Digital Physical Activity Intervention to Support Individuals with a Severe Mental Illness
- Digital For Society
- PhD Project, Spotlight Project
A digital physical activity application (Active Ease) co-designed to help individuals with a severe mental illness increase their physical activity levels
Project Summary
Individuals with a severe mental illness (SMI) engage in less physical activity compared to those of the general population due to symptoms of their mental illness and their antipsychotic medications (i.e., high sedentary behaviour, low motivation and weight). Nuance physical activity resources are required to increase the motivation of these individuals and assist them in engaging in regular physical activity, lessening their symptoms. A digital web-based application named ‘Active Ease’ was co-designed with the SMI cohort and their clinicians, gaining their lived experience for the resources design and development. ‘Active Ease’ includes suitable, clear terminology, visuals (pictures and videos) of various physical activities that this cohort can utilise to participate in regular physical activity. The homepage offers individuals with SMI to understand the benefits of regular physical activity and how to be supported in completing physical activity. This resource can also be used by their clinician, who can help them facilitate the physical activity, offering them different physical activities to choose from. Active Ease not only facilitates engagement in regular physical activity among the cohort, but also helps enhance their digital literacy and promotes more confident digital engagement
Research Questions
- What physical activity barriers and facilitators do individuals with SMI encounter within their setting?
- What are the current physical activity levels of individuals with SMI within a mental health residential setting in Ireland?
- How can digital technology and/or a digital physical activity resource sustain and maintain physical activity, long term, for individuals with a SMI in an Irish mental health residential setting?
- What effect does a public and patient involvement and co-design approach have on an intervention?
Our Role
N/A
Collaborators
- Student: Aisling Forde
- Supervisors: Dr. Tara Coppinger, Dr. Susan Rea
Funding Acknowledgements
This publication has emanated from research conducted with the financial support of Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland under Grant number 18/CRT/6222.
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