Protocol for the Implementation and Referral of the Ecofit Physical Activity Intervention Within Diabetes Alliance Program Plus among Regional, Rural and Remote People with Type 2 Diabetes in a Primary Care Setting

Background This paper outlines the protocol for the ecofit implementation-effectiveness trial, a multi-component mobile Health (mHealth) intervention that aims to increase resistance and aerobic physical activity in primary care-based adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study will be conducted as part of the Diabetes Alliance Program Plus (DAP+), a large-scale integrated health service intervention in a large health district in Australia. The ecofit program has previously demonstrated efficacy and effectiveness in insufficiently active people with (or at risk of) T2D and community dwelling-adults, respectively. The aim of this study is to assess the reach (primary outcome), adoption, appropriateness, feasibility and fidelity of the implementation of ecofit and the overall effectiveness of the intervention. Research design and methods Prospective participants are adults diagnosed with T2D, who attend primary care settings enrolled in DAP+, and are identified and referred to ecofit by a primary care clinician. To support the implementation of ecofit a host of strategies will be utilised, which includes the education and upskilling of primary care clinicians enrolled in DAP+ using brief training sessions, the supply of an information package and access to professional development. The co-primary outcomes of reach will be defined as the number of participant registrations on the ecofit platform and the number of primary care clinicians who have been introduced to ecofit. Conclusion This study will evaluate the implementation of ecofit among adults with T2D within the primary care setting. The results may help improve T2D lifestyle interventions in primary care settings across Australia.