The SMART MOVE Trial: A Novel Approach to Promoting Physical Activity in Primary Care

The SMART MOVE trial, registered at Current Controlled Trials (ISRCTN99944116) since August 1st, 2012, has the potential to amplify the implementation of a novel exercise promotion tool in primary care. Our research team conducted a theoretical analysis of stakeholder-informed barriers and levers to the implementation of this innovative intervention in the Irish primary care setting.

Despite potential obstacles, we believe that the successful implementation of this healthcare intervention is feasible, provided it possesses strong usability attributes for both disseminators and target users, and coheres with the core objectives and culture of the healthcare environment. Introducing a new healthcare intervention necessitates a comprehensive evaluation of both the intervention itself and the environment in which it operates.

Our analysis yielded several themes that emerged from the data: personal and professional exercise strategies, roles, and responsibilities to support active engagement; utilisation challenges; and evaluation, adoption, and adherence. We employed Normalization Process Theory (NPT) to develop our topic guide for interviews and informed our data analysis process.

This qualitative study utilized a combination of focus groups with general practitioners, practice nurses, and non-clinical staff from four primary care centers, as well as individual semi-structured interviews with intervention and control SMART MOVE trial participants. Our purposeful sampling employed the principles of Framework Analysis to ensure maximum variability among our sample.

The SMART MOVE trial was conducted in the West of Ireland, with recruitment taking place within the community through the Clare Primary Care Network. The aim of this evaluation was to conduct a theoretically informed analysis of potential barriers and levers to the implementation of a mobile health (mHealth) intervention promoting physical activity in primary care using NPT.

The SMART MOVE trial offers a promising solution to problematic translational gaps between demonstrating the positive impact of healthcare interventions in research settings and their implementation into routine daily practice. By understanding the implementation potential of this novel exercise promotion tool, we can take a smart move towards improving public health outcomes.

Smart move