Feasibility, Usability, and Acceptability of a Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating Teleexercise Interventions for Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury: Interim Analysis of the Spinal Cord Injury Program in Exercise (SCIPE) Study.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the feasibility, usability, and acceptability of the Spinal Cord Injury Program in Exercise intervention.

DESIGN

Three-arm randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

Video-based exercise sessions via an online teleexercise platform.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-six participants (N=36) with spinal cord injury (52.8% women, 47.2% men), aged 18-65 years, were randomized to movement-to-music (M2M, n=12), standard exercise training (SET, n=12), or attention control (AC, n=12).

INTERVENTIONS: M2M and SET participants completed 3 weekly exercise sessions for 8 weeks, while AC participants received weekly educational articles.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes included feasibility (recruitment and retention rates), platform usability (System Usability Scale, Health IT Usability Evaluation, and qualitative interviews), and acceptability (8-item Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale and qualitative interviews). Preliminary outcomes included changes in physical activity (Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire for People with Spinal Cord Injury) and quality of life (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System short forms) at 8 weeks postintervention. Analyses included descriptive statistics, effect size estimation, and qualitative interview analysis.

RESULTS

Follow-up retention at weeks 8, 12, and 16 was 66.7%, 41.7%, and 41.7% for M2M; 83.3%, 66.7%, and 66.7% for SET; and 83.3%, 75.0%, and 66.7% for AC, respectively. The mean ± SD of system usability scale score was 69.8±17.1. SET participants rated the intervention "good," and M2M and AC rated it "fair." The mean Health IT usability evaluation scale score of 3.61±0.54 indicated moderate satisfaction, with "Impact" highest and "Perceived Usefulness" lowest. Preliminary outcomes suggested small to moderate improvements in physical activity and quality of life for SET, with effect sizes (Hedge's g) ranging from 0.13 to 0.71.

CONCLUSIONS

The interim analysis shows high feasibility and moderate usability and acceptability. Preliminary outcomes suggest potential benefits in physical activity and quality of life, particularly for SET. Future research should focus on enhancing platform usability and long-term participant engagement strategies.