Muva physical activity intervention improves social functioning in people with a severe mental illness: A pragmatic stepped wedge cluster controlled trial

Mental health and physical activity, vol. 26, pp. 100601

Abstract

Severe mental illness (SMI) imposes a significant burden on individuals, resulting in long-lasting symptoms, lower social functioning and impaired physical health. Physical activity (PA) interventions can improve both mental and physical health and care workers can serve as healthy role models. Yet individuals with SMI face barriers to PA participation. This study evaluated the effects of Muva, and assessed if mental health worker’s (MHW) characteristics were associated with clients’ change in social functioning. Muva, an intervention package primarily created to increase PA of people with SMI, places a special focus on MHWs as they might play a key role in overcoming barriers. Other PA barrier-decreasing elements of Muva were a serious game app, lifestyle education, and optimization of the medication regime. This study is a pragmatic stepped wedge cluster controlled trial. Controls received care as usual. Mixed-effects linear regressions were performed to assess changes in the primary outcome social functioning, and secondary outcomes quality of life, psychiatric symptoms, PA, body mass index, waist circumference, and blood pressure. 84 people with SMI were included in three intervention clusters, and 38 people with SMI in the control cluster. Compared to the control condition, there was significant clinical improvement of social functioning in interpersonal communication (p=<0.01) and independent competence (p=<0.01) in people receiving Muva. These outcomes were not associated with MHW’s characteristics. There were no changes in the other outcome measures. Muva improved social functioning in people with SMI compared to care as usual.

Authors 12

1. Lisanne Elisabeth Maria Koomen corresponding

   University Medical Center Utrecht

   Affiliation as printed

   Lister, Furkaplateau 15, 3524 ZH, The Netherlands

   Lister, Furkaplateau 15, 3524 ZH, the Netherlands

   UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584CX Utrecht, The Netherlands

   UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands

2. Ilona Hendrika Theodora van de Meent

   Utrecht University · University Medical Center Utrecht

   Affiliation as printed

   UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584CX Utrecht, The Netherlands

   UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands

   Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 8, 3584CS Utrecht, The Netherlands

   Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 8, 3584CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands

3. Jeroen Deenik

   University Medical Center Utrecht · Maastricht University · GGz centraal

   Affiliation as printed

   GGz Centraal, Utrechtseweg 266, 3818EW, Amersfoort, The Netherlands

   GGz Centraal, Utrechtseweg 266, 3818EW, Amersfoort, the Netherlands

   Maastricht University, Minderbroedersberg 4-6, 6211LK, Maastricht, The Netherlands

   Maastricht University, Minderbroedersberg 4-6, 6211LK, Maastricht, the Netherlands

   UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584CX Utrecht, The Netherlands

   UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands

4. Edwin van Dellen

   University Medical Center Utrecht

   Affiliation as printed

   UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584CX Utrecht, The Netherlands

   UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands

5. Hugo Gerard Schnack

   Utrecht University · University Medical Center Utrecht

   Affiliation as printed

   UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584CX Utrecht, The Netherlands

   UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands

   Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 8, 3584CS Utrecht, The Netherlands

   Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 8, 3584CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands

6. Cornelis Hendrikus van Werkhoven

   Utrecht University · University Medical Center Utrecht

   Affiliation as printed

   Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care

   Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, the Netherlands

   UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584CX Utrecht, The Netherlands

   UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands

   Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 8, 3584CS Utrecht, The Netherlands

   Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 8, 3584CS, Utrecht, the Netherlands

7. Wilma Elisabeth Swildens

   Altrecht GGZ · Inholland University of Applied Sciences

   Affiliation as printed

   Altrecht Mental Health Institute, Lange Nieuwstraat 119, 3512PG, Utrecht, The Netherlands

   Altrecht Mental Health Institute, Lange Nieuwstraat 119, 3512PG, Utrecht, the Netherlands

   Inholland University of Applied Sciences, De Boelelaan 1109, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands

   Inholland University of Applied Sciences, De Boelelaan 1109, 1081HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

8. Berno van Meijel

   Parnassia Groep · Amsterdam Public Health · Amsterdam University Medical Centers · Inholland University of Applied Sciences

   Affiliation as printed

   Amsterdam UMC (VUmc), Amsterdam Public Health research institute, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands

   Amsterdam UMC (VUmc), Amsterdam Public Health research institute, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

   Inholland University of Applied Sciences, De Boelelaan 1109, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands

   Inholland University of Applied Sciences, De Boelelaan 1109, 1081HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

   Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, Kiwistraat 43, 2552 DH The Hague, The Netherlands

   Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, Kiwistraat 43, 2552 DH, The Hague, the Netherlands

9. Wouter Staal Aachen

   Leiden University · Radboud University Nijmegen · Radboud University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   RadboudUMC, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands

   RadboudUMC, Nijmegen, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525GA, Nijmegen, the Netherlands

   University Leiden, Rapenburg 70, 2311EZ, Leiden, The Netherlands

   University Leiden, Rapenburg 70, 2311EZ, Leiden, the Netherlands

10. Frederike Jörg

    University Medical Center Groningen · University of Groningen

    Affiliation as printed

    University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713GZ Groningen, The Netherlands

    University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713GZ, Groningen, the Netherlands

11. Floortje E. Scheepers

    University Medical Center Utrecht

    Affiliation as printed

    UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584CX Utrecht, The Netherlands

    UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands

12. Wiepke Cahn

    University Medical Center Utrecht · Altrecht GGZ

    Affiliation as printed

    Altrecht Mental Health Institute, Lange Nieuwstraat 119, 3512PG, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Altrecht Mental Health Institute, Lange Nieuwstraat 119, 3512PG, Utrecht, the Netherlands

    UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584CX Utrecht, The Netherlands

    UMC Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands