Table 7. RCT results based on the initial supervision provided before self-care and on strategies employed to promote adherence during self-managed activities.
Counts are presented both as raw data and percentages computed over the total (n = 44).
| Study results | Number of interventions in RCTs, n = 44 (% of the RCTs over the total) |
|---|---|
| Initial supervision (n = 44) | |
| Single initial consultation (n = 14) | |
| Effective treatment *,† | 8 (18%) |
| Effective treatment † | 1 (2%) |
| Ineffective treatment | 5 (11%) |
| Frequent contacts during the initial period a (n = 1) | |
| Effective treatment *,† | 1 (2%) |
| Intensive training during the initial period b (n = 16) | |
| Effective treatment *,† | 6 (14%) |
| Effective treatment † | 6 (14%) |
| Ineffective treatment | 4 (9%) |
| Not delivered (n = 13) | |
| Effective treatment *,† | 6 (14%) |
| Effective treatment † | 4 (9%) |
| Ineffective treatment | 3 (7%) |
| Strategy to increase adherence (n = 44) | |
| Periodic calls (n = 16) | |
| Effective treatment *,† | 8 (19%) |
| Effective treatment † | 3 (7%) |
| Ineffective treatment | 5 (11%) |
| Regular meetings (n = 6) | |
| Effective treatment *,† | 3 (7%) |
| Effective treatment † | 2 (5%) |
| Ineffective treatment | 1 (2%) |
| Sporadic supervised sessions (n = 3) | |
| Effective treatment *,† | 1 (2%) |
| Effective treatment † | 1 (2%) |
| Ineffective treatment | 1 (2%) |
| None (n = 19) | |
| Effective treatment *,† | 9 (21%) |
| Effective treatment † | 5 (11%) |
| Ineffective treatment | 5 (11%) |
* Statistically significant between-groups difference (compared to the control group): the effect of smPA is greater than that of the control treatment;
† statistically significant within-group difference in the intervention group (compared to baseline values): the effect of smPA is equal to that of the control treatment.
a Frequent contact during the initial period included studies where authors repeatedly checked for patients’ adherence and comfort after the prescribed exercises via weekly in-person meetings, phone calls and emails.
b Intensive training during the initial period involved studies in which authors provided a supervised period at the beginning of the program in order to educate patients and improve their long-term adherence.