is teaching people to be self-compassionate feasible and acceptable for people who are pre-diabetic

Conditions: PreDiabetes

Summary: the investigators plan to examine the feasibility and acceptability of an online, two arm intervention (\[self-compassion intervention + ideal care\] versus \[health information + ideal care\]) designed to increase physical activity among individuals at risk of type two diabetes. the aim of the self-compassion intervention is to teach people at risk of type two diabetes how to use self-compassion (orientation to care for oneself during difficult situations) in order to help them self-manage and increase their physical activity. in a group, online format people at risk for type 2 diabetes will learn about their type 2 diabetes risk and strategies to increase their physical activity, which represents the recommended information that people at risk for type two diabetes should receive (i.e. ideal care). in addition to this, some participants, but not all, will be taught to be self-compassionate in relation to their type two diabetes risk and their efforts to increase their physical activity (i.e. intervention group). the other participants (i.e. control group) will instead receive general health information in addition to ideal care. feasibility outcomes will be assessed using thabane and colleagues (2010) model including the study's process, resources, management and scientific outcomes. in addition, qualitative exit-interviews with participants and research personnel will be conducted to assess the acceptability and feasibility of the intervention. lastly, investigators will explore whether the intervention leads to changes from pre- to post-intervention in the secondary outcomes. this study is important as it will help inform and ensure the larger efficacy trial is of high quality.

the primary research objective of this study is to test the feasibility and acceptability of an online, two arm (\[self-compassion intervention + ideal care\] versus \[health information + ideal care\]) intervention designed to increase physical activity among individuals at risk for type 2 diabetes. primary research question: is an online, two-arm intervention (\[self-compassion intervention + ideal care\] versus \[health information + ideal care\]) focused on increasing physical activity levels among individuals at risk of type two diabetes feasible using thabane and colleagues model of feasibility (2010)? secondary research question: is an online, two-arm intervention (\[self-compassion intervention + ideal care\] versus \[health information + ideal care\]) focused on increasing physical activity levels among individuals at risk of type two diabetes acceptable to both participants and research personnel? the secondary research objective is to explore whether an online, two-arm intervention (\[self-compassion intervention + ideal care\] versus \[health information + ideal care\]) focused on increasing physical activity levels among individuals at risk of type two diabetes leads to changes from pre- to post-intervention in self-compassion, physical activity levels, nutrition, self-regulatory skill use, experience of exercise barriers, personal growth initiative, negative affect, and engagement in other health behaviours (e.g. stress management). this pilot and feasibility study is a single centre, randomized, active controlled, six week intervention with baseline and follow-up assessment at intervention-end, 6- and 12-weeks post-intervention. it follows a quantitative-dominant, mixed-methods design. they will supplement this trial with interviews after follow-up testing with participants and study personnel. these interviews will provide feasibility and acceptability information.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * medium to high type 2 diabetes risk (assessed with the canrisk tool) * age 40 - 74 * no current medical treatment for type 2 diabetes * safe to engage in physical activity * no non-study self-reported current type 2 diabetes/behaviour change education that may interfere with the intervention * available for all sessions and testing * insufficient physical activity relative to guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week. * below the mean on the self-compassion scale exclusion criteria: * be under 40 years old, or over the age of 74 * have a medical condition which would not allow them to participate safely in physical activity * already are part of a different behavioural change/ type 2 diabetes education group * already engage in over 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week * already have high levels of self-compassion (over the mean) * could not commit to the intervention/control sessions

Keywords: self-compassion physical activity self-regulation randomized controlled trial emotions feasibility acceptability