Development, Acceptability, and Usability of a Virtual Intervention for Vertebral Fractures

Matteo Ponzano; Nicholas Tibert; Sheila Brien; Larry Funnell; Jenna C Gibbs; Heather Keller; Judi Laprade; Suzanne N Morin; Alexandra Papaioannou; Zachary J Weston; Timothy H Wideman; Lora M Giangregorio

doi:10.1093/ptj/pzad098

Development, Acceptability, and Usability of a Virtual Intervention for Vertebral Fractures

Phys Ther. 2023 Dec 6;103(12):pzad098. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzad098.

Authors

Matteo Ponzano^{1

2}, Nicholas Tibert³, Sheila Brien⁴, Larry Funnell⁴, Jenna C Gibbs⁵, Heather Keller^{3

6}, Judi Laprade⁷, Suzanne N Morin⁸, Alexandra Papaioannou^{9

10}, Zachary J Weston^{11

12}, Timothy H Wideman¹³, Lora M Giangregorio^{3

6}

Affiliations

¹ School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia, Kelowna BC, Canada.
² International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Blusson Spinal Cord Centre (BSCC), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
³ Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
⁴ Canadian Osteoporosis Patient Network, Osteoporosis, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁵ Department of Kinesiology and Physical Activity, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
⁶ Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
⁷ Division of Anatomy, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁸ Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
⁹ Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
¹⁰ Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
¹¹ Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP), Ottawa Ontario, Canada.
¹² Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
¹³ School of Physical & Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.

PMID: 37555708
DOI: 10.1093/ptj/pzad098

Abstract

Objective: This project aimed to develop a virtual intervention for vertebral fractures (VIVA) to implement the international recommendations for the nonpharmacological management of osteoporotic vertebral fractures and to test its acceptability and usability.

Methods: VIVA was developed in accordance with integrated knowledge translation principles and was informed by the Behavioral Change Wheel, the Theoretical Domains Framework, and the affordability, practicability, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, acceptability, side effects/safety, and equity (APEASE) criteria. The development of the prototype of VIVA involved 3 steps: understanding target behaviors, identifying intervention options, and identifying content and implementation options. The VIVA prototype was delivered to 9 participants to assess its acceptability and usability.

Results: VIVA includes 7 1-on-1 virtual sessions delivered by a physical therapist over 5 weeks. Each session lasts 45 minutes and is divided in 3 parts: education, training, and behavioral support/goal setting. Four main themes emerged from the acceptability evaluation: perceived improvements in pain, increased self-confidence, satisfaction with 1-on-1 sessions and resources, and ease of use. All of the participants believed that VIVA was very useful and were very satisfied with the 1-on-1 sessions. Four participants found the information received very easy to practice, 4 found it easy to practice, and 1 found it somewhat difficult to practice. Five participants were satisfied with the supporting resources, and 4 were very satisfied. Potential for statistically significant improvements was observed in participants' ability to make concrete plans about when, how, where, and how often to exercise.

Conclusion: VIVA was acceptable and usable to the participants, who perceived improvements in pain and self-confidence.

Impact: The virtual implementation of the recommendations for the nonpharmacological management of vertebral fractures showed high acceptability and usability. Future trials will implement the recommendations on a larger scale to evaluate their effectiveness.

Keywords: Education; Fragility Fractures; Osteoporosis; Rehabilitation; Spine.

MeSH terms

Exercise*
Humans
Pain
Personal Satisfaction
Spinal Fractures* / therapy

Abstract

MeSH terms

Grants and funding