Submitted by James Cantwell on Tue, 30/09/2025 - 09:35
Researchers from the Long-Term Conditions Research Group at the University of Cambridge, Primary Care Unit, tested three different interventions (delivered remotely over 8-12 weeks) aimed at improving quality of life in patients with lupus:
- Listening support: provided by The Wren Project
- Online Pilates classes: provided by a qualified instructor from Flexifit
- Text message and video support programme: designed by the multidisciplinary team of patients, clinicians and researchers
A new paper published in Rheumatology International shows all three interventions were deemed acceptable to patients and showed signs of effectiveness in improving resilience and reducing depression and fatigue, compared to the control group. This effect was seen at 8 weeks but not always maintained longer term at the 6-month follow-up.
Patient feedback was especially positive about the Wren project volunteers and the Pilates instructor, demonstrating that the providers’ personality is key when designing interventions.
“I hold in my heart the kindness I was shown by the Wren people, and I know how much my feelings are improved by having someone who understands lupus and believes in me” (Ppt 56, 60's)
“The online Pilates instructor was absolutely lovely and very good at what she does. She made us all feel very welcome” (Ppt 013, 40's).
Patients were also asked to rank which of their lupus symptoms they would most like to see improvements in, with fatigue coming out as their number one priority (72%) followed by depression (61%) and cognitive dysfunction (51%), indicating future research priorities. The research team has since been awarded funding from an NIHR RfPB grant to explore this further and will conduct a randomised controlled trial testing the effectiveness of online Pilates and Tai Chi classes in reducing fatigue in people with rheumatological diseases. Participant recruitment for this trial opens shortly – watch this space.
Dr Melanie Sloan, lead researcher of the ADAPT feasibility study and head of the Long- Term Conditions Research Group says:
"The impact of these diseases on lives is huge, and people need much more support than they are currently getting. We hope to co-design and trial more interventions in order to help people adapt to these life-changing diseases"
The research team are very grateful to all the people with lupus who participated in this study and would also like to thank all the collaborators involved in the ADAPT feasibility study.
The ADAPT feasibility study was funded by LUPUS UK and the Lupus Trust.
The full open access paper, A randomised controlled trial to assess the feasibility and acceptability of remote psychosocial and exercise interventions for people with lupus: The ADAPT feasibility trial, is available here.