Evaluating a volunteer ‘Health Champions’ intervention supporting people with severe mental illness to manage their physical health: feasibility hybrid randomised controlled trial
Centre for Implementation Science, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
Ray McGrath
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; and King's Health Partners, London, UK
Karen Ang
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; and King's Health Partners, London, UK
Centre for Implementation Science, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
Centre for Implementation Science, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
Care in Long Term Conditions Research Division, King's College London, UK; CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Madrid, Spain; and Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), Universidad de León, Spain
Isabel Mdudu
Volunteer Service, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
National Psychosis Unit, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; and Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
Euan Sadler
Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, UK
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; and King's College London, UK
Errol Green
Quality Centre, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
Natalia Stepan
Mind and Body Programme, King's Health Partners, London, UK
Gracie Tredget
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; and King's Health Partners, London, UK
Zarnie Khadjesari
Behavioural and Implementation Science (BIS) Research Group, School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, UK
Sean Cross
Centre for Implementation Science, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK; and Mind and Body Programme, King's Health Partners, London, UK
Nick Sevdalis
Centre for Behavioural and Implementation Science Interventions, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
Background People with severe mental illness (SMI) have worse physical health than the general population. There is evidence that support from volunteers can help the mental health of people with SMI, but little evidence regarding the support they can give for physical health. Aims To evaluate the feasibility of an intervention where volunteer ‘Health Champions’ support people with SMI in managing their physical health. Method A feasibility hybrid randomised controlled trial conducted in mental health teams with people with SMI. Volunteers delivered the Health Champions intervention. We collected data on the feasibility of delivering the intervention, and clinical and cost-effectiveness. Participants were randomised by a statistician independent of the research team, to either having a Health Champion or treatment as usual. Blinding was not done. Results We recruited 48 participants: 27 to the intervention group and 21 to the control group. Data were analysed for 34 participants. No changes were found in clinical effectiveness for either group. Implementation outcomes measures showed high acceptability, feasibility and appropriateness, but with low response rates. No adverse events were identified in either group. Interviews with participants found they identified changes they had made to their physical health. The cost of implementing the intervention was £312 per participant. Conclusions The Health Champion intervention was feasible to implement, but the implementation of the study measures was problematic. Participants found the intervention acceptable, feasible and appropriate, and it led them to make changes in their physical health. A larger trial is recommended, with tailored implementation outcome measures.
