Trimodal Prehabilitation for Cystectomy Patients to Enhance Post-operative Care: A Randomized Control Trial
Phase: NA
Conditions: Bladder Cancer, Nutrition Aspect of Cancer
Sponsor: Jason Martyn

 
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CLINICAL RESEARCH PROTOCOL 
Trimodal prehabilitation for cystectomy patients to enhance post-operative care:  
A randomized control trial 
 
Protocol Number: 
2017CRIF-JMARTYN 
Version Date: 
Nov 11, 2017 
Principal Investigator: 
Jason Martyn, PT MScPT 
Rockyview General Hospital 
Department of Allied Health 
7007 14 St SW 
Calgary, AB  T2V 1P9 
 
Phone:  403-943-3575   Fax: 403-943-3332 
E-mail:  jason.martyn@ahs.ca 
Co-Investigators: 
Chelsia Gillis, RD MSc, PhD Student 
Community Health Sciences 
University of Calgary 
2500 University Drive NW 
Calgary, AB  T2N 1N4 
 
Dr. Eric Hyndman, MD PhD 
Rockyview General Hospital 
#6638 7007 14 St SW 
Calgary, AB  T2V 1P9 
Funding Organization: Clinical Research Innovation Fund 
Physiotherapy Alberta,  
University of Alberta, Department of Physical Therapy 
Registered: 
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:  
 
 

 
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Protocol Signature Sheet 
 Ethics # and Study Title: 
 
Signature of Principal Investigator (Lead and Participating Site) 
I agree to the terms of this protocol and all amendments.  I will conduct the study according to the 
procedures specified herein, and according to the principles of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and local 
regulations. 
Printed Name of  Lead Site PI: 
 
Site: 
 
Signature: 
 
 
Date: 
Printed Name of Participating Site PI: 
 
Site: 
 
Signature: 
 
 
Date: 
 
Signatures of Co-Investigators 
The undersigned co-investigator(s) acknowledge that he/she is aware of being listed as a co-investigator 
to the above named study, he/she has read the protocol and he/she agrees to participate in the above 
named study as outlined in the protocol, and according to the principles of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) 
and local regulations. 
1. Name (print): 
 
Signature: 
Date: 
 
2. Name (print): 
Signature: 
Date: 
 
3. Name (print): 
Signature: 
Date: 

 
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Table of Contents 
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ....................................................................................................................... 5 
PROTOCOL SYNOPSIS .............................................................................................................................. 6 
1 
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 8 
1.1 
Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... 8 
1.2 
Background ................................................................................................................................... 8 
2 
STUDY RATIONALE ...................................................................................................................... 9 
2.1 
Risk / Benefit Analysis ............................................................................................................... 10 
3 
STUDY OBJECTIVES ................................................................................................................... 11 
3.1 
Research Question ...................................................................................................................... 11 
3.2 
Primary Objective ....................................................................................................................... 11 
3.3 
Secondary Objectives .................................................................................................................. 12 
4 
STUDY DESIGN ............................................................................................................................ 12 
4.1 
Study Overview .......................................................................................................................... 12 
4.2 
Population ................................................................................................................................... 13 
4.3 
Inclusion Criteria ........................................................................................................................ 13 
4.4 
Exclusion Criteria ....................................................................................................................... 13 
4.5 
Total Number of Participants and Sample Size Justification ...................................................... 13 
4.6 
Recruitment & Informed Consent ............................................................................................... 13 
5 
RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES ........................................................................... 14 
5.1 
Treatment Groups ....................................................................................................................... 14 
5.2 
Components of Trimodal Prehabilitation .................................................................................... 15 
5.3 
Method of Assigning Subjects to Treatment Groups .................................................................. 17 
5.4 
Blinding ....................................................................................................................................... 17 
5.5 
Supply of Protein Supplements ................................................................................................... 17 
5.6 
Measures of Treatment Compliance ........................................................................................... 17 
5.7 
Adverse Events Reporting .......................................................................................................... 18 
6 
CLINICAL ASSESSMENT & OUTCOME MEASURES ............................................................ 18 
6.1 
Demographics ............................................................................................................................. 18 
6.2 
Medical History .......................................................................................................................... 18 
6.3 
Physical Examination .................................................................................................................. 18 
6.4 
Vital Signs & Spirometry ............................................................................................................ 18 

 
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6.5 
Hematology & Blood Chemistry Profile..................................................................................... 18 
6.6 
Nutrition ...................................................................................................................................... 19 
6.7 
Functional Outcomes .................................................................................................................. 19 
6.8 
Subjective Outcomes................................................................................................................... 19 
6.9 
Traditional/Clinical Outcomes .................................................................................................... 20 
6.10 
Interviews .................................................................................................................................... 20 
7 
EVALUATIONS BY VISIT ........................................................................................................... 20 
7.1 
Visit 1 (Baseline / Surgical consent) ........................................................................................... 20 
7.2 
Visit 2 (Pre-admission Clinic appointment) ................................................................................ 20 
7.3 
Visit 3 (Pre-operative, day of surgery) ........................................................................................ 21 
7.4 
Visit 4 (Post-operative follow-up appointment at 4 weeks) ........................................................ 21 
7.5 
Visit 5 (Post-operative follow-up appointment at 8 weeks) ........................................................ 21 
7.6 
Visit 6 (Interviews) ..................................................................................................................... 21 
8 
DISCONTINUATION/WITHDRAWAL OF SUBJECTS ............................................................. 21 
8.1 
Early discontinuation and/or withdrawal of subjects from trimodal prehabilitation ................... 21 
9 
STATISTICAL METHODS AND CONSIDERATIONS .............................................................. 22 
9.1 
Quantitative Analysis .................................................................................................................. 22 
9.2 
Power & Sample Size ................................................................................................................. 22 
10 
DATA COLLECTION, RETENTION AND MONITORING ....................................................... 23 
10.1 
Data Collection ........................................................................................................................... 23 
10.2 
Data Identifiers ............................................................................................................................ 23 
10.3 
Confidentiality and Privacy ........................................................................................................ 24 
10.4 
Storage, Retention and Disposal ................................................................................................. 25 
11 
ADMINISTRATIVE, ETHICAL, REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS ................................... 25 
11.1 
Health Research Ethics Board of Alberta: Cancer Committee ................................................... 25 
11.2 
Standard Operating Procedures ................................................................................................... 25 
11.3 
Protocol Amendments ................................................................................................................. 25 
11.4 
Informed Consent Form .............................................................................................................. 25 
11.5 
Publications ................................................................................................................................. 26 
REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................... 27 
 

 
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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS 
 
6MWT 
six minute walk test 
10mWT 
10-meter walk test 
30s STS 
30-second sit-to-stand 
AE 
adverse event 
AHS 
Alberta Health Services 
ASA 
American Society of Anesthesiologists  
BMI 
body-mass index 
CRP 
C-reactive protein 
DAD 
Discharge Abstract Database 
EC 
Ethics Committee 
ERP 
enhanced recovery protocol 
ERAS 
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery 
FACT-BL 
Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Bladder 
GCP 
Good Clinical Practice 
HEP 
home exercise programme 
HIA 
Health Information Act 
HREBA-CC 
Health Research Ethics Board of Alberta – Cancer Committee 
ICF 
informed consent form 
IRISS 
Institutional Research Information Services Solution 
IS 
incentive spirometer 
NSQIP 
National Surgical Quality Improvement Program 
PaCER 
Patient and Community Engagement Research 
PG-SGA 
Patient Generated Subjective Global Assessment 
PORC 
Post-operative Radical Cystectomy 
RC 
radical cystectomy 
RCT 
randomized control trial 
RGH 
Rockyview General Hospital 
RIOT 
return to intended oncological treatment 
TC 
Total Cardiology 
 
 

 
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PROTOCOL SYNOPSIS 
 
TITLE 
Trimodal prehabilitation for cystectomy patients to enhance post-
operative care: A randomized control trial 
VERSION 
1.0 
STUDY DESIGN 
Pragmatic RCT with assessor blinding 
STUDY 
52 weeks 
STUDY CENTRES 
Single Centre Trial (Rockyview General Hospital, Calgary, AB) 
PRIMARY 
OBJECTIVE 
To investigate the effects of a trimodal 8-week prehabilitation program 
on the return to function of patients undergoing RC as measured by 
six-minute walk test (6MWT) and walking speed, as well as on 
traditional clinical outcome measures including length of hospital stay, 
rates of morbidity, and return to oncological treatment. 
SECONDARY 
OBJECTIVES 
To investigate the impact and patient acceptability of a trimodal 8-
week prehabilitation program on patient satisfaction and quality of life, 
as determined through questionnaires, and patient interviews 
To investigate the effects of a trimodal 8-week program on traditional 
outcomes including length of hospital stay, rates of morbidity, and 
return to oncological treatment  
To establish appropriate criteria that effectively identifies and triages 
those patients who would benefit most from prehabilitation 
To evaluate which functional outcome measures represent a valid 
index of recovery and are sensitive to change. 
NUMBER OF 
PARTICIPANTS 
50 
DIAGNOSIS AND 
MAIN INCLUSION 
CRITERIA 
Inclusion Criteria: 
1. Male or female ≥ 18 years of age at time of consent for surgery. 
2. Documentation of bladder cancer diagnosis as evidenced by 
diagnostic imaging and biopsy. 
3. May or may not receive adjuvant therapy.  
4. Written informed consent obtained from subject 
Exclusion Criteria: 
1. Presence of a condition or abnormality that in the opinion of the 

 
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investigator would compromise the safety of the patient or 
adherence to the program. This includes: 
a. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) health 
class status 4-5; 
b. Co-morbid medical, physical, and/or mental conditions 
including 
dementia, 
disabling 
orthopedic 
and 
neuromuscular disease, psychosis; 
c. Severe cardiac abnormalities, end-stage organ disease, 
sepsis, or morbid obesity (BMI greater than 35); 
2. Undergoing radical cystectomy for a reason other than bladder 
cancer. 
3. Poor comprehension of English or French 
4. Screened by Total Cardiology staff and determined to be 
inappropriate for prehabilitation at their facility.  
INTERVENTION / 
CONTROL GROUP 
Control: Radical cystectomy. Enhanced Recovery Protocol will be 
followed. Home exercise program & nutritional information provided. 
Intervention: Trimodal prehabilitation received prior to radical 
cystectomy. Enhanced Recovery Protocol will be followed. 
DURATION OF 
PARTICIPATION 
16 weeks 
EVALUATIONS 
5 evaluation visits and 8 individual interviews conducted by a PaCER 
trained researcher.  
STATISTICS 
Primary Analysis 
Plan 
An available case analysis without imputation of missing values will 
be conducted. All analyses will be performed using Stata 14.1 (2015, 
StataCorp). All continuous variables will be reported as mean, 95% 
confidence interval. Categorical variables will be presented as 
frequency (%) and compared using Pearson's χ2 test. A mixed effects 
model will be used to analyze repeated measures, including our 
primary outcome the 6MWT. A P-value <0.05 will be considered 
statistically significant. 
Rationale for 
Number of Subjects 
Funding is limited to $15,000. This allows for a study of ~25 
prehabilitation participants and 25 participants undergoing standard-of-
care treatment. 

 
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1 
INTRODUCTION 
1.1 
Abstract 
A trimodal preoperative intervention known as prehabilitation (involving exercise, nutrition and 
psychological care) has been found to successfully improve functional recovery, an important 
patient-centered outcome, in colorectal surgery patients following the Enhanced Recovery After 
Surgery (ERAS) pathway. It is unknown whether the same program will be effective in patients 
undergoing surgery for bladder cancer (cystectomy). It is an opportune time to study 
prehabilitation at the Rockyview General Hospital given the recent roll-out of the Enhanced 
Recovery Protocol (ERP) for cystectomy patients and ongoing implementation of an integrated 
prehabilitation program. 
Objective: To evaluate the appropriateness of a standardized prehabilitation program for 
implementation into an ERP for cystectomy patients and determine whether prehabilitation 
facilitates earlier recovery of functional capacity, as measured by six-minute walk test (6MWT)   
Hypothesis: Prehabilitation will ultimately improve recovery of functional capacity, clinical and 
patient-centered outcomes in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. 
Design: A pragmatic randomized control trial of radical cystectomy patients following ERP and 
an 8-week trimodal prehabilitation program consisting of exercise therapy combined with 
nutritional counselling, protein supplementation, and psychological care will be compared to a 
cohort of patients following ERP care alone. 
Main Outcome Measures: Return to preoperative functional walking capacity, as assessed 
using the validated six-minute walk test at the 8th postoperative week. All measures will be 
recorded at baseline, the day of surgery, and four and eight weeks after surgery. Traditional 
clinical outcome measures (e.g., length of hospital stay) will also be evaluated. Finally, patient 
interviews will be conducted to evaluate the appropriateness of prehabilitation. 
Conclusion: The proposal will provide insight into the feasibility and effectiveness of trimodal 
prehabilitation for radical cystectomy patients and ultimately lead to improved clinical outcomes 
and reduced morbidity. 
1.2 
Background 
In 2017 an estimated 8,900 Canadians will be diagnosed with bladder cancer1. The mainstay of 
surgical treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer is radical cystectomy (RC) with lymph 
node dissection. Large prospective cohort studies suggest that at least 64% of patients 
undergoing RC experience at least one complication within 3 months2,3. In an attempt to reduce 

 
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these complications and shorten length of hospital stay postoperatively, Rockyview General 
Hospital (RGH) is implementing a new enhanced recovery protocol (ERP) that will employ 
multidisciplinary, evidence-based clinical interventions, drawing upon the Enhanced Recovery 
After Surgery (ERAS) protocols4 for its development. ERAS protocols have been shown to 
reduce length of hospital stay and morbidity post-colorectal surgery, and provide an evidence-
based, multidisciplinary approach to surgical care. It is unclear whether available evidence 
suggests ERPs facilitate earlier recovery of strength and function, and previous efforts to 
improve recovery have traditionally focused on the postoperative period, during which cancer 
patients may be fatigued, concerned about disturbing the healing process, or anxious as they 
await additional treatments for their underlying condition.5 Given this, the preoperative period 
may in fact be a more salient time to intervene. Optimizing an individual’s functional capacity 
can begin during the waiting period before surgery as it capitalizes on the better physical health 
compared with the acute postoperative period6,7. Moreover, interventions prior to surgery can 
potentially improve complication rates perioperatively. This process of enhancing an individual’s 
functional capacity to withstand the stress of surgery is called prehabilitation8.  
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have demonstrated that a comprehensive trimodal 
prehabilitation program, a program consisting of exercise therapy, nutritional counseling with 
protein supplementation, and psychological care before surgery, improved the functional 
exercise status of colorectal surgery patients9.  In fact, twice as many prehabilitated patients10 
had returned to their pre-surgery walking capacity by the eighth postoperative week compared to 
traditional care5. A case study of a frail, elderly cystectomy patient reveals similar 
improvements11 and a recently published RCT concludes that a dedicated 2-week exercise 
program for patients undergoing RC can improve muscle power and allow for earlier return to 
preoperative function12. These results suggest that establishing a prehabilitation program for 
patients undergoing RC may also provide benefits. Indeed, RC patients may attain a greater 
benefit from prehabilitation since the rate of complications post-cystectomy is more than double 
that reported for colectomy13.  
2 
STUDY RATIONALE 
Recent research6-13 demonstrates that many side effects associated with surgical stress can be 
attenuated utilizing well designed interventions. In view of the impact of cancer on physical, 
nutritional and psychological status, it is necessary to optimize body reserves preoperatively to 
prepare the patient for the stress of surgery. This study will provide guidance to clinicians for 
optimizing RC patients preoperatively and will contribute to our understanding of which 
outcome measures represent a valid index of recovery and are sensitive to changes. Additionally, 
RGH has recently implemented an ERP for patients undergoing RC which includes the option 
for an 8-week prehabilitation program hosted in the community through Total Cardiology (TC). 
Total Cardiology is a private cardiology practice in Calgary with a dedicated multi-disciplinary 

 
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team of health care practitioners including cardiologists, kinesiologists, and registered dietitians. 
Their scope-of-practice includes guided exercise programs specifically for patients undergoing 
cardiac rehabilitation and they are well versed with exercise stress testing. Given this 
opportunity, it is an optimal time to study the effects of such a program, the results for which can 
be directly applied to the improvement and refinement of the current prehabilitation program.  
The results of this pilot randomized study will form the basis for potential multi-site studies and 
will assist with obtaining additional funding. In addition, the organizational and logistical details 
established here in, provide a framework for which future surgical prehabilitation programs can 
be based, with an aim of optimizing the preoperative period and minimizing morbidity. 
2.1 
Risk / Benefit Analysis 
2.1.1 Risk Assessment 
Risks associated with an exercise program include minor aches and pains, potential for 
mechanical injuries, such as strains & sprains, and cardiovascular problems, such as heart 
arrhythmias, heart attack, or sudden cardiac arrest14. Participants undergo a medical evaluation 
by the Total Cardiology team to ensure participants are sufficiently healthy and medically stable 
to participate in a program. By tailoring the exercise programs to the individual needs of each 
participant, risks for mechanical injuries and exercise-associated complications are sought to be 
minimized. Participants are encouraged to take rests and keep physical activity within a moderate 
range to ensure safe participation in the program. 
Typical risks associated with the use of oral nutrition supplements are rare, but include 
constipation, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Participants will undergo evaluation by a Registered 
Dietitian and will be monitored for adverse effects throughout the program. Pre-existing medical 
conditions such as diabetes may impact the ability to use nutritional supplements. These 
conditions will be reviewed by the Registered Dietitian and an appropriate personalized nutrition 
care plan will be developed in conjunction with the participant. 
With respect to interviews, sharing personal experiences of surgery might make some patients 
uncomfortable. Participants will be advised to share only what they are comfortable with sharing. 
Participants will be informed that if at any time they experience feelings of anxiousness, sadness, 
or discomfort, they have the right to take a break during the interview, postpone the interview, or 
withdraw their consent to participate. 
2.1.2 Benefit Assessment 
Generally speaking, the benefits associated with exercise and good nutritional intake, far 
outweigh the risks. Exercise has been linked to improving the status of many physical and mental 
conditions including cardiovascular disease, mental health, obesity, diabetes, and chronic pain 
and has been shown to improve cardiovascular function by optimizing the ventilation/perfusion 

 
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of the lungs and improving the cardiac output of the heart15. As the purpose of this study is to 
observe how side effects associated with surgical stress may be attenuated, the benefits of these 
interventions will become clearer. Given the large number of positive effects of exercise and 
good nutrition, it is hoped these initiatives will facilitate the recovery process and reduce impact 
to a person’s functional status, thereby improving quality of life.  
In view of the impact of cancer on physical, nutritional and psychological status, it is necessary 
to optimize body reserves preoperatively to prepare the patient for the stress of surgery. This 
study could provide some direction to guide clinicians in optimizing the perioperative period in 
patients undergoing bladder surgery as well as contributing to our understanding of which 
outcome measures represent a valid index of recovery and are sensitive to changes.  
Finally, by conducting individual interviews, participants will have a direct impact on how 
prehabilitation is carried out in the future. They will have the opportunity to shape the program 
and ensure it is in accordance with their capabilities and beliefs. It should also be mentioned that 
this study has the potential to affect organizational change within Alberta Health Services by 
providing the groundwork research for which future health care management decisions can be 
made in an evidence-based manner. 
This said, it is not immediately clear that prehabilitation will lead to the proposed functional 
benefits and our team is acutely aware of additional costs associated with such a program (i.e. 
facility & protein supplement costs). Benefits for participants are best contrasted with a control 
group following the standard of care and a basic home exercise program and can allow for better 
decision making from an organizational level.  
3 
STUDY OBJECTIVES 
3.1 
Research Question 
Does an 8-week trimodal prehabilitation program consisting of exercise therapy combined with 
nutritional counseling, protein supplementation, and psychological care of patients undergoing 
radical cystectomy improve postoperative functional and quality of life (QOL) outcomes 
compared to patients who follow ERP care alone? 
3.2 
Primary Objective 
● To investigate the effects of a trimodal 8-week prehabilitation program on the return to 
function of patients undergoing RC as evaluated by functional outcome measures 
including the six-minute walk test (6MWT) and walking speed (10m walk test). 

 
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3.3 
Secondary Objectives 
● To investigate the impact and patient acceptability of a trimodal 8-week prehabilitation 
program on patient satisfaction and quality of life, as determined through questionnaires 
and patient interviews.  
● To investigate the effects of a trimodal 8-week program on traditional outcomes 
including length of hospital stay, rates of morbidity, and return to oncological treatment 
● To establish appropriate criteria that effectively identifies and triages those patients who 
would benefit most from prehabilitation, so that efficient health care service can be made 
accessible to those who need it most.  
● To evaluate which functional outcome measures represent a valid index of recovery and 
are sensitive to change. 
4 
STUDY DESIGN 
4.1 
Study Overview 
This is a single center, single-blind, pragmatic randomized-control trial. There will be a total of 
50 (fifty) participants in the study.  Each participant will be randomly enrolled into a 
prehabilitation or no-prehabilitation group at time of consent for RC and those in the intervention 
group will undergo 8 weeks of prehabilitation through the Total Cardiology program, hosted 
through the Repsol Centre. Each participant, independent of study group assignment, will receive 
the standard treatment as outlined in the Enhanced Recovery Protocol (ERP) for Radical 
Cystectomies (see Appendix 1). Those enrolled in the prehabilitation group will attend 2 
supervised exercise-based sessions per week and will complete a home-exercise program three 
times per week (total 5 exercise sessions per week). In addition, they will receive 5 protein 
supplement drinks per week to consume after exercise, and will attend classes on nutrition and 
stress/anxiety reduction techniques. Measurements will be taken at baseline, 6 weeks (as a part of 
their regularly scheduled pre-admission clinic appointment), 8 weeks (just prior to surgery), 4 
weeks post-op, and 8 weeks post-op.  
Those patients enrolled in the no-prehabilitation group will receive a general, unsupervised, 
home-exercise program, information regarding good nutrition. They will be followed at their 
regularly scheduled appointments. Again, measurements will be taken at the same time intervals 
as the prehabilitation group. 
Screening data will be reviewed to determine subject eligibility.  Subjects who meet all inclusion 
criteria and none of the exclusion criteria will be entered into the study.  
The following treatment groups will be established: 
● Standard ERP + Trimodal Prehabilitation 
● Standard ERP 

 
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Total duration of subject participation will be approximately sixteen weeks.  Total duration of 
the study is expected to be approximately 1.5 years. 
4.2 
Population 
Subjects with a diagnosis of bladder cancer, scheduled for elective bladder surgery, who meet the 
inclusion and exclusion criteria will be eligible for participation in this study.   
4.3 
Inclusion Criteria 
1. Male or female ≥ 18 years of age at time of consent for surgery. 
2. Documentation of bladder cancer diagnosis as evidenced by diagnostic imaging and biopsy. 
3. May or may not receive adjuvant therapy.  
4. Written informed consent obtained from subject. 
4.4 
Exclusion Criteria 
1. 
Presence of a condition or abnormality that in the opinion of the investigator would 
compromise the safety of the patient or the quality of the data. This includes: 
a. ASA health class status 4-5; 
b. Co-morbid medical, physical, and/or mental conditions including dementia, 
disabling orthopedic and neuromuscular disease, psychosis; 
c. Severe cardiac abnormalities, end-stage organ disease, sepsis, or morbid obesity 
(BMI greater than 35); 
2. 
Undergoing radical cystectomy for a reason other than bladder cancer. 
3. 
Poor comprehension of English or French. 
4. 
Screened* by Total Cardiology staff and determined to be not appropriate for prehabilitation 
at their facility.  
* TC will conduct an exercise stress test on candidates with a moderate or high Framingham 
Index. 
4.5 
Total Number of Participants and Sample Size Justification 
A total of 50 participants who meet the inclusion criteria and are willing to participate in the 
study will be enrolled, with 25 participants randomly allocated  to each study treatment group. 
As this is a pilot study, we have funding for at most 25 participants to undergo prehabilitation.  
4.6 
Recruitment & Informed Consent 
At RGH, patients diagnosed with bladder cancer and consent to surgery are operated on by Dr. 
Eric Hyndman, Dr. Martin Duffy, Dr. Geoffrey Gotto, Dr. Richard Baverstock, Dr. Richard Barr, 
and Dr. Kevin Carlson. A total of approximately 80 radical cystectomies are completed annually. 

 
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Patients will be screened by the medical team for health conditions that would prohibit 
participation in the program and those that are selected for prehabilitation will undergo further 
exercise testing at the Total Cardiology program to ensure participants are medically suitable for 
the intervention. The following are the steps taken for recruitment: 
1. Patients who consent to elective bladder surgery that meet the inclusion/exclusion criteria 
will be identified and initial contact will be made by the physician assistant (RC case 
manager) at a scheduled appointment. The physician assistant will introduce the study to 
the patients. 
2. If the patient decides they would like more information about the study and is willing to 
be contacted by the research study coordinator, the physician assistant will inform the 
study coordinator (JM). 
3. The study coordinator (JM) will then contact the patient to explain all details of the study. 
If the patient is interested in participating, the coordinator will schedule a time to 
complete the informed consent (Appendix 5) and preoperative/baseline assessments at 
RGH. At this time, the patient will also be given the written informed consent to further 
read on their own time. 
4. When the patient arrives for their scheduled appointment at RGH, they will be given all 
study details from the coordinator. Any further questions on their behalf will be 
addressed and they will be asked to sign the informed consent. Only participants who 
have capacity to provide fully informed consent themselves will be asked to sign a 
consent form.  
5. Once informed consent is obtained, the patient will undergo their preoperative/baseline 
assessments as outlined later in this document. 
6. Patient will be randomized into one of the two study groups and the study protocol will 
begin. Further physical and nutritional assessments will be conducted by a 
Physiotherapist and Registered Dietitian respectively. 
5 
RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES 
Prior to conducting any study-related activities, written informed consent must be signed and 
dated by the subject. 
5.1 
Treatment Groups 
Currently, RGH utilizes a newly developed, multidisciplinary Enhanced Recovery Protocol for 
all patients undergoing a radical cystectomy. At this time, all patients undergoing a radical 
cystectomy are following the ERP. For the purpose of this study, two treatment groups will be 
established: 
5.1.1 RGH Enhanced Recovery Protocol; No Prehabilitation 

 
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Patients in this group will follow the standard ERP developed at RGH. See Appendix 1 for 
details of the ERP. This group will receive general instructions on post-operative exercises, 
expectations, and discharge planning by a physiotherapist at their pre-admission clinic 
appointment. Post-operatively, the patient will follow a standardized pathway as outlined in 
Appendix 1. 
5.1.2 RGH Enhanced Recovery Protocol and Prehabilitation 
Patients in this group will additionally follow a trimodal prehabilitation program consisting of a 
guided exercise program, nutritional supplementation, and stress reduction/anxiety reduction 
strategies. 
5.2 Components of Trimodal Prehabilitation 
5.2.1 Exercise Program 
The exercise component will consist of approximately two 60 min sessions of supervised 
resistance and aerobic exercises. The sessions will be under the supervision of a kinesiologist 
and will take place in collaboration with the Total Cardiology group out of the Repsol Sport 
Centre. Each participant’s program will be individualized based upon the baseline fitness test and 
will include:  
• 5 min warm-up,  
• 25 min of aerobic exercise (starting at 30-40% of heart rate reserve (HRR) and 
progressing to 50-60% HRR as tolerated by participant),  
• 25 min of resistance training (6 exercises targeting major muscle groups performed at 
moderate intensity), and 
• 5-10 min cool-down and stretching period.  
• Clear explanations & demonstrations of program by the kinesiologist  
 
In addition, patients will be asked to carry out a 60min aerobic-based exercise program at home 
(i.e. walking), unsupervised, 3 days/week, and complete incentive spirometry breathing exercises 
3 times/day for 10 breaths. Incentive spirometry has been shown to have beneficial effects on 
post-operative outcomes19 and will be included for this reason. Participants will record these 
additional activities in a journal that is provided to them at the start of their program. 
Training intensity progression will be advised by the kinesiologist when the participant can 
complete aerobic exercise with mild exertion and/or when the participant can complete 15 
repetitions of a given resistance exercise. 

 
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The kinesiologist will follow all participants to assess program adherence (including 
unsupervised sessions documented in patient’s journal) and to address any barriers that may 
prevent ongoing participation. 
The control group will receive the regular radical cystectomy information and will be asked to 
complete a 60min aerobic-based home exercise program, unsupervised, 5 days/week, along with 
incentive spirometry breathing exercises 3 times/day for 10 breaths. This group will also record 
their activities in a journal and a member of the research team will check in by telephone weekly 
to assess adherence and address any barriers or questions the patient may have. 
5.2.2 Nutritional Supplementation 
The nutritional status of patients affected by bladder cancer is directly influenced by the presence 
of cancer which has an impact on all aspects of intermediary (protein, carbohydrate, lipid, trace 
element, and vitamin) metabolism, and by other factors such as age, adjuvant cancer therapy and 
stage of the disease16,17. In addition, a patient who is undernourished before surgery has greater 
risk of morbidity and mortality18. The primary goal of nutrition therapy during the perioperative 
period is to optimize nutrient stores preoperatively and provide adequate nutrition to compensate 
for the catabolic response of surgery post-operatively. This includes preventing the loss of lean 
body mass, something that is increasingly recognized as a therapeutic target for cancer care. 
At the time of consent, patients will be instructed by a registered dietitian/member of research 
team to complete a self-administered online 24-hr recall for one weekday and one weekend day. 
The Automated Self-Administered 24-hour (ASA24®) dietary assessment tool, a free web-based 
tool that enables multiple, automatically coded, self-administered 24-hour recalls, was created by 
the National Cancer Institute (NCI).  
At baseline, each patient will receive an appointment with a registered dietitian who will conduct 
a nutrition assessment using the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA). 
The PG-SGA is a validated nutrition risk assessment tool that stratifies patients as malnourished, 
at risk of malnutrition, or well nourished17,18 . 
During their nutrition appointment, each patient will be provided with nutrition tips based on 
their food record analysis. Patients will also be supplied with a whey protein supplement (Ensure 
Enlive, Abbot), which provides 20g/day, to optimize post-exercise muscle protein synthesis. 
Patients will be instructed to take the supplement once per day within one hour of completing 
their exercise program to enhance compliance.  
A registered dietitian will be available to patients on the supervised exercise days at Total 
Cardiology. The dietitian will follow patient progress and offer dietary suggestions as necessary 
to meet patient needs.  

 
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The patients will also be asked to complete a journal (Appendix 4) detailing the quantity of 
nutritional supplement consumed each day. 
5.2.3 Anxiety Reduction Strategies 
Patients undergoing bladder surgery for cancer may be anxious and/or depressed. The control 
group will receive general instructions in the preoperative clinic about the perioperative care and 
will receive an education booklet regarding the surgery, while those in the prehabilitation group 
will, in addition, attend an anxiety-reduction class at the Total Cardiology program. This class 
will educate participants on general anxiety reduction strategies that can be implemented in hope 
to relieve some of these issues. 
5.3 Method of Assigning Subjects to Treatment Groups 
Up to 50 eligible patients will be randomly assigned to the two groups in a 1:1 ratio using a 
computer-generated randomization process whereby brown sealed envelopes will be prepared 
and opened after the patient’s consent has been signed. 
5.4 Blinding 
Due to the nature of the study, we are unable to conceal to the research staff or participants from 
the different aspects of trimodal prehabilitation. However, all research data will be coded with 
anonymous unique identifiers so statistical analysis is performed blinded and without bias. The 
assessor-blinded data will not be broken on completion of the clinical study.  
5.5 Supply of Protein Supplements 
Participants will receive forty (40) 8oz bottles of Ensure Enlive (Abbott) Nutrition Shake 
(variety of flavors) to be consumed 5 days per week after exercise sessions.  
5.5.1 Dosage Regimen & Administration 
Patients will receive ~20 grams of whey protein via the Ensure Enlive supplement (Abbot), five 
days/week, and will consume the nutritional supplement within an hour of their prehabilitation 
exercise component. Two days will be supervised at the Total Cardiology program and three 
days will be unsupervised and require patients to be responsible for keeping the product at their 
place of residence. 
5.6 Measures of Treatment Compliance 
Subjects will be asked to keep a patient diary noting the date and time they participate in the 
exercise component of their prehabilitation program (Appendix 4). This will include a section on 
type of exercise completed, if the protein supplement was consumed following exercise, and for 
any further reflections by the patient. They will be asked to bring their patient diary to each study 

 
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visit. Staff at Total Cardiology will record attendance to the guided exercise program and anxiety 
reduction class. 
5.7 Adverse Events Reporting 
AE reporting and documentation will be carried out as outlined in the HREBA-CC SOP 
404.002GR (Guidance for Submitting a Reportable Event) 
6 CLINICAL ASSESSMENT & OUTCOME MEASURES 
6.1 
Demographics 
Demographic information consisting of age, gender, occupation, and educational level will be 
recorded at the first visit. These factors can play a role in surgery experience and recovery. 
6.2 
Medical History 
Aside from the initial medical examination to ensure safe participation in the prehabilitation 
program, a full medical history will not be recorded. Instead, the Charlson Comorbidity Index 
will be used to classify the overall health of the participant. Each participant will be scored on 
the index. 
6.3 
Physical Examination 
Physical examinations are completed as a regular part of their pre-surgical care. During the 
participant’s visit to the preadmission clinic (PAC), 2 weeks prior to surgery, they will undergo 
medical screening by an Internist and Anaesthesiologist as standard practice. Qualified staff 
(physician assistant, nurse, and physiotherapist) may complete an abbreviated physical exam at 
all other visits as part of standard practice.  New abnormal physical exam findings will be 
documented and the participant will be referred to a physician for further examination.  
Prior to the commencement of their prehabilitation program, participants undergo a medical 
screening exam at the Total Cardiology facility to ensure patients are medically stable. 
6.4 
Vital Signs & Spirometry 
Blood pressure, pulse, oximetry, and incentive spirometry will be performed after resting for 5 
minutes. These will be obtained on all pre-surgical visits. 
6.5 
Hematology & Blood Chemistry Profile 
Blood work is collected during their pre-admission clinic (PAC) appointment, as a regular part of 
pre-surgical care. Information used in the study will include the complete blood count, glycated 
hemoglobin HbA1C, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, albumin, and serum C-reactive protein. 

 
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6.6 
Nutrition 
The Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment will be measured at baseline/first 
appointment by a Registered Dietitian. 
6.7 
Functional Outcomes 
A number of functional outcome measures will be utilized to help determine which measures 
represent a valid index of recovery and are sensitive to change in our post-surgical candidates.  
a. 6-minute walk test (6MWT) 
The 6MWT is an exercise test used to assess aerobic capacity and to a secondary extent, 
functional mobility. It is a standardized test that has been validated for a variety of populations 
and can be useful in monitoring a person’s capacity to ambulate20. Briefly, the 6MWT requires 
the participant to ambulate for 6 continuous minutes on a 30m track with a goal of ambulating as 
far as they can manage in the 6 minutes. The total distance ambulated is then recorded. 
b. 10m walk test (10mWT) 
In contrast to the 6MWT, the 10mWT takes place by having the participant ambulate a total of 
10 meters at their preferred walking speed. The time it takes to ambulate the 10m is than 
measured and recorded. Walking speed standards have been well established in literature and are 
predictive of poor health outcomes.21,22 
c. 30s sit-to-stand test (30s STS) 
The 30s STS test is well validated for a number of conditions and age groups and correlates with 
lower extremity strength and function. The test requires the participant to complete as many sit-
to-stand movements as possible in 30 seconds. The number of stands is then recorded.  
d. Hand-grip dynamometer 
A hand-grip dynamometer allows for the measurement of various types of grip strength. Grip 
strength has been shown to be a predictor for upper extremity strength and function, and even as 
a predictor for ability to carry out activities of daily living23.  For this reason, hand-grip 
dynamometry allows for a simple objective measure of upper extremity function. 
6.8 
Subjective Outcomes 
a. FACT-BL Questionnaire: is a reliable and valid questionnaire that comprehensively assesses 
quality of life concerns pertinent to bladder cancer patients.  
 
b. EQ-5D Questionnaire: A short, generic quality of life questionnaire. 
 

 
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c. Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire: A short questionnaire on self-reported physical 
activity. 
6.9 
Traditional/Clinical Outcomes 
Clinical outcomes to be used in this study will include length of hospital stay, 30d readmission 
rate, return to intended oncological treatment (RIOT), and postoperative complications classified 
according to Clavien-Dindo classification. Data is collected prospectively. 
6.10 Interviews  
An amendment will be provided upon the completion of the RCT which includes details of the 
interview recruitment process and proposed interview questions. 
7 EVALUATIONS BY VISIT 
7.1 Visit 1 (Baseline / Surgical consent) 
1. 
Review the study with the subject and obtain written informed consent (Appendix 5). 
2. 
Assign the subject a unique screening number. 
3. 
Record demographics data. 
4. 
Record Charlson Comorbidity Index. 
5. 
Record chemotherapy history and schedule for ongoing treatments. 
6. 
Record vital signs. 
7. 
Collect functional outcome measures (as listed above). 
8. 
Perform and record incentive spirometry. 
9. 
Randomize subject into treatment or control group. 
10. 
If subject is selected for treatment group, schedule subject for commencement of trimodal 
prehabilitation with the Total Cardiology program. If selected for control group, subject 
will be given a home-exercise program and nutrition information as described above. 
11. 
Explain how to complete the study journal (exercise & nutrition compliance). 
12. 
Explain how to complete the online 24-hr food recall. 
13. 
Complete baseline subjective questionnaires (as listed above). 
7.2 Visit 2 (Pre-admission Clinic appointment) 
1. 
Record any adverse events and review subject diary for adverse events/compliance. 
2. 
Reinforce home based program and review of postoperative pathway. 
3. 
Perform and record incentive spirometry. 

 
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4. 
Blood work (haematology and blood chemistry profile) completed as a part of their pre-
admission screening with internal medicine. No additional blood tests will be requested for 
study purposes.  
*Note: If after review by the medical team the patient is determined to be a poor candidate for 
surgery, participant will be withdrawn from the study at this point. 
7.3 Visit 3 (Pre-operative, day of surgery) 
1. 
Record any adverse events and review subject diary for adverse events/compliance. 
2. 
Perform and record incentive spirometry. 
3. 
Perform and record functional outcome measures as listed above. 
7.4 Visit 4 (Post-operative follow-up appointment at 4 weeks) 
1. 
Perform and record incentive spirometry. 
2. 
Perform and record functional outcome measures as listed above. 
3. 
Record participant’s self-reported exercise post-operatively. 
7.5 Visit 5 (Post-operative follow-up appointment at 8 weeks) 
1. 
Perform and record incentive spirometry. 
2. 
Perform and record functional outcome measures as listed above. 
3. 
Record participant’s self-reported exercises post-operatively. 
4. 
Complete subjective questionnaires as listed above. 
7.6 Visit 6 (Interviews) 
1. 
Interested participants (n=8) will be invited to participate in individual interviews, which 
will last up to 75 min. The interviews will be carried out by a PaCER trained researcher 
(CG). 
2. 
An amendment will be submitted for this ethics proposal which details the nature of the 
interviews.  
8 DISCONTINUATION/WITHDRAWAL OF SUBJECTS 
8.1 Early discontinuation and/or withdrawal of subjects from trimodal prehabilitation  
A subject may be discontinued from study treatment at any time if the subject, the investigator, 
or the primary medical team feels that it is not in the subject’s best interest to continue.  The 
following is a list of possible reasons for study treatment discontinuation: 

 
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● Subject withdrawal of consent 
● Subject is not compliant with study procedures 
● Adverse event that in the opinion of the investigator would be in the best interest of the 
subject to discontinue study treatment 
● Protocol violation requiring discontinuation of study treatment 
● Lost to follow-up 
● Sponsor request for early termination of study 
If a subject is withdrawn from treatment due to an adverse event, the subject will be followed 
and treated by their primary medical team until the abnormal parameters or symptoms have 
resolved or stabilized.   
Subjects are free to withdraw from participation at any time, for any reason, specified or 
unspecified, and without prejudice. A subject may also withdraw their personal study data and in 
this case, all relevant recorded data will be securely erased, along with any paper files shredded, 
and the data will be excluded from analysis. This can be done up to the time when the report on 
study findings is finalized and distributed. 
Reasonable attempts will be made by the investigator to provide a reason for subject 
withdrawals.  The reason for the subject’s withdrawal from the study will be specified in the 
subject’s source documents. 
Subjects who withdraw from the study will not be replaced.   
9 STATISTICAL METHODS AND CONSIDERATIONS 
9.1 Quantitative Analysis 
An available case analysis without imputation of missing values will be conducted. All analyses 
will be performed using Stata 14.1 (2015, StataCorp). All continuous variables will be reported 
as mean, 95% confidence interval. Categorical variables will be presented as frequency (%) and 
compared using Pearson's χ2 test. A mixed effects model will be used to analyze repeated 
measures, including our primary outcome the 6MWT, because this method had advantages in 
dealing with missing data and controlling for baseline variables. A P-value <0.05 will be 
considered statistically significant.  
9.2 
Power & Sample Size 
Power and sample size are limited by the amount of funding available. The grant amount of 
$15,000 allows for a total of ~50 patients with 25 being enrolled in the prehabilitation group. 

 
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10 DATA COLLECTION, RETENTION AND MONITORING 
10.1 
Data Collection 
All data collected will be anonymized with a locked, password-protected file (available only to 
the primary investigator) identifying participants to their anonymized data. The research member 
responsible for statistical analysis will be provided with anonymized data only. Collection will 
be completed at multiple timepoints as outlined in this document and will be obtained from 
direct patient interactions, Alberta Health Service’s Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), 
National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) data, and Sunrise Clinical Manager 
(SCM).  
Aside from the clinical data obtained from these sources, qualitative interviews will be 
completed following the study where participants are invited to talk about their experiences with 
prehabilitation. Their responses will be anonymized and all direct and indirect identifying 
information will be redacted prior to analysis by the research team. 
Participants will be informed regarding the limits of confidentiality and that all efforts will be 
made to ensure their clinical data and interview responses are anonymized and kept confidential.  
10.2 
Data Identifiers 
Personal identifiers that we will be collecting include: 
• Surname, first name, and initials; 
• Address and full postal code; 
• Telephone number and email address; 
• Full date of birth and age at time of collection; 
• Health Care Number; 
• Hospital admission and discharge date; 
 
This information will be collected to allow the research team to contact the research participants 
in order to provide information regarding the study, and to schedule appointments specific to the 
study. Clinical outcomes such as length of stay are necessary to determine the effectiveness of 
our intervention. 
The researcher responsible for collecting this information and assessing the patients will not be 
blinded to the patient’s treatment group. Their responsibility includes anonymizing all collected 
data that is to be analyzed statistically. A password-protected spreadsheet will be created that 
links an anonymous identifier to the above identifying information. A second member of the 
team, blinded to this process, will be responsible for analyzing the anonymized data statistically.  

 
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Once data collection is complete and interviews are completed, all master lists that link 
identifiers with the anonymized data will be securely deleted. 
10.3 
Confidentiality and Privacy 
In order to maintain the confidentiality of all data all study data will be password-protected and 
encrypted. The identity of all participants will be maintained in a password-protected, encrypted, 
spreadsheet. Only the private investigator will have access to this list. Additionally, all staff that 
are involved with the study will sign a confidentiality agreement. This ensures all personnel are 
aware of their responsibilities concerning privacy and confidentiality of participant information. 
Outside of the research team, anonymized data may be provided to the AHS Research 
Facilitation team for assistance with statistical analysis. If this occurs, the anonymized data will 
first be encrypted prior to being provided to the Research Facilitation team. 
10.3.1 ASA24 System 
The ASA24 system consists of a Respondent Website used to collect recall and food record data 
and a Researcher Website used to manage study logistics and obtain data analyses. The ASA24-
2016 Respondent Website is compatible with mobile devices and is available in English and 
Spanish.  
Researchers using the ASA24 system do not provide the National Cancer Institute or the ASA24 
system with any identifying data for participants of their studies. Rather, researchers specify a 
unique numeric identifier for each Respondent and download system-generated usernames and 
encrypted passwords that they provide to Respondents so that they may access the application.  
The ASA24 system also does not collect any identifying data directly from Respondents. 
However, IP address information is accessed for the purpose of routing information between the 
server and the respondent's computer—often the IP address is that of the user's Internet Service 
Provider (ISP). IP addresses are not stored or tracked by the ASA24 system. However, logs of 
connections are kept in the hosting environment for audit trail purposes. This information is not 
mined in any way but would be available if there were a legal obligation to release it. 
Response data are secured at the hosting site using industry standard security controls, including 
firewalls and encryption. All data entered into the ASA24 system at the Respondent’s computer 
is encrypted by the internet browser (e.g., Internet Explorer, Firefox) before they are transmitted 
to our servers using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) Technology. SSL allows for the authentication 
of the sending and receiving computers.  
Only a particular study’s investigator(s) and the ASA24 operations team can access response 
data. Access is gained through usernames and strong passwords. 

 
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10.4 
Storage, Retention and Disposal 
Data will be kept on an encrypted drive on AHS servers. As previously mentioned, any personal 
identifying information will be individually encrypted and password protected. Paper 
documentation will be kept in a locked filing cabinet, in a locked room, in the Rehabilitation 
Department of RGH. At the end of this study, identifying documents and all contact forms will 
be destroyed. 
11 ADMINISTRATIVE, ETHICAL, REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS 
11.1 
Health Research Ethics Board of Alberta: Cancer Committee 
The Health Research Ethics Board of Alberta Cancer Committee (HREBA-CC) provides 
scientific and ethical review of all cancer-related protocols involving human participants in the 
province of Alberta. This research proposal with supporting documentation will be submitted to 
HREBA-CC for review and approval.  
11.2 
Standard Operating Procedures 
HREBA has adopted the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) developed by the Network of 
Networks (N2) and the Canadian Association of Research Ethics Boards (CAREB).  These 
SOPS are compliant with applicable Canadian and US regulatory and ethics guidance criteria.  
They facilitate the distribution, adoption and maintenance of a single set of standards for REBs 
in Canada. 
Use of SOPs also ensures that the ethics board is constituted appropriately and protects the rights 
and safety of study participants. They can be found listed on the HREBA-CC website. 
11.3 
Protocol Amendments 
HREBA uses an electronic platform, IRISS, to receive and process all new submissions for 
ethics review; this program uses the term ‘modification’ to refer to an amendment. Studies that 
were initially submitted using IRISS will have modifications submitted and reviewed through 
this system. Step by step instructions on how to modify a study using IRISS are available on the 
HREBA IRISS resource page. It is important to note that the IRISS application MUST also be 
updated to reflect changes in the protocol and informed consent form (ICF); failure to do so may 
result in delay in the review of the modification. 
11.4 
Informed Consent Form  
In order to facilitate quicker approval of studies, HREBA-CC has prepared a templated consent 
form. The Main Consent Form template should be used unless changes are required by the study 
design. Main informed consent forms which follow the template will go forward for review to 
the board. If amendments to the template are extensive and/or not reasonably warranted by the 

 
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specific study, informed consent forms will be returned at the administrative review stage. Once 
the revised consent forms have been received and are found to satisfy HREBA – CC 
requirements, the study will be assigned to the appropriate HREBA – CC full board meeting, as 
outlined on our meeting dates and deadlines webpage. 
11.5 
Publications  
The preparation and submittal for publication of manuscripts containing the study results shall be 
in accordance with a process determined by mutual written agreement among the study Sponsor 
and participating institutions.  The publication or presentation of any study results shall comply 
with all applicable privacy laws, including, but not limited to, the Health Information Act (HIA). 
 
 

 
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