Evaluating a theory informed interactive animation designed to increase young people with asthma’s engagement in physical activity.

Dr Jennifer Murray and Ms Alexandra Todoran have recently completed a qualitative evaluation of an interactive animation and associated individualised activity plan designed to increase intentions among young people with asthma to engage in physical activity, which was funded by a Research Excellence Grant from Edinburgh Napier University. The project followed on from a CSO funded study (led by the NMAHP Research Unit in Stirling University and in collaboration with colleagues from the Universities of New South Wales, Aberdeen, Dundee, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow Caledonian University, DJCAD, and UCMerced), which developed the animation and activity plan and conducted some pilot evaluations. The data from this earlier study, while promising, still left some questions unanswered in regard to clinician’s perceptions about the feasibility and acceptability of the animation for their practice.

These important issues were the key focus of the follow up evaluation, and data indicate that the acceptability of the animation and activity plan amongst clinicians is good, but that there are still concerns relating to staff and clinic time in implementing the intervention in day to day practice, but that these are not insurmountable. The research team intend to submit a funding application to take the project forward to carry out a full feasibility trial.

To date, the work has resulted in two publications, three conference publications and two invited talks; see details below. The findings from the most recent evaluation will be submitted for publication later this year and a methods paper is currently under review. The research team have high hopes for this innovative work and hope that the intervention as a whole will be clinically useful following rigorous clinical testing.

 

Publications:

Murray, J., Williams, B., Hoskins, G., Skar, S., McGhee, J., Gauld, D., Brown, G., Treweek, S., Sniehotta, F., Cameron, L., Sheikh, A., Hagen, S. (2014). Can a theory-informed interactive animation increase intentions to engage in physical activity in young people with asthma? In M. Kurosu (Ed.), Human-Computer Interaction, Part III, HCII 2014, Lecture Notes in Computing Science, 8512, 289-300. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.

Murray, J., Williams, B., Hoskins, G., McGhee, J., Gauld, D., & Brown, G. (2013). Developing a theory-informed interactive animation to increase physical activity among young people with asthma. Lecture Notes in Computing Science, 8022, 60-65.

 

Conference Presentations:

Hoskins, G., Williams, B., Murray, J. Skar, S., McGhee, J., Gauld, D., Brown, G., Treweek, S., Sniehotta, F., Cameron, L., Sheikh, A., & Hagen, S. (2014).  Can a theory-informed interactive animation increase intentions to engage in physical activity in young people with asthma? British Thoracic Society Winter Meeting, London, 3-5 December.

Murray, J., Williams, B., Hoskins, G., Skar, S., McGhee, J., Gauld, D., Brown, G., Treweek, S., Sniehotta, F., Cameron, L., Sheikh, A., Hagen, S. (2014). Can a theory-informed interactive animation increase intentions to engage in physical activity in young people with asthma? Invited Paper presented at Human Computer Interaction International 2014, Creta Maris, Crete, Greece, June 22-26.

Murray, J., Williams, B., Hoskins, G., McGhee, J., Gauld, D., & Brown, G. (2013). Developing a theory-informed interactive animation to increase physical activity among young people with asthma. Invited Paper presented at Human Computer Interaction International 2013, Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada, July 21-26.

 

Invited Talks:

Murray, J., Todoran, A., Williams, B., & Hoskins, G. (2015). Developing a theory-informed interactive animation to increase physical activity among young people with asthma. Teaching/Research Meetings. Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh, September 7th.

Murray, J. (2014). Can a theory-informed interactive animation increase intentions to engage in physical activity in young people with asthma? Edinburgh Napier University SLSSS Seminar Series. Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, October 15.