Title: “Wii-Hab”: The Use of Modern Technology in Cancer Rehabilitation
Funder: Tenovus Cancer Care

Abstract: The cancer incidence in Wales is over 20% higher than that in England and people living in Wales are up to 5% more likely to die from cancer, than compared to in England. In addition 70% of Welsh adults do not meet the weekly recommended amounts of physical activity in their day to day living. There are well evidenced health benefits associated with physical activity and participation in sports and exercise is often recommended to patients affected by chronic diseases. The role of exercise in the management of cancer can be two-fold, firstly by reducing the risk of occurrence and secondly, by reducing reoccurrence and mortality among patients diagnosed early. The NHS provides a rehabilitation programme to all cancer patients, yet the structure and content is undetermined and left to the therapy nurses to devise. The efficacy of such programme can be ambiguous and the success of the programme is not evaluated. Therefore the aim of this project is to primarily evaluate the current provision, whilst introducing a new and novel method of increasing physical activity through the use of modern technology, which has demonstrated success in promoting physical activity among individuals with other disease states. This exploratory pilot study will adopt a randomised experimental between-groups design. Individuals enrolled onto the rehabilitation programme will be invited to participate. Once informed consent has been obtained, participants (n=60) will complete an 8 week rehabilitation programme. During week 1 and week 8, participants will be asked to complete several questionnaire relating to body image, quality of life, patient satisfaction, physical activity and behaviour regulation in exercise and to undertake physiological measures of fitness including; functional capacity, body composition, balance, flexibility, strength, resting heart rate and blood pressure. During the remaining 6 weeks participants will be assigned to either an educational/physical activity (circuits) rehabilitation programme, an educational and Wii video gaming rehabilitation programme or a time matched waiting list control group. Physical activity levels, exercise adherence and uptake will be monitored 1 month post completion of the programme. The results from these measures will be used to assess the efficacy of the rehabilitation programme in term of improving a person’s well-being; both psychologically and physically and to determine whether the use of Wii video gaming can be a potential resource for improving these health variables. The data will be disseminated to the rehabilitation practitioners and advice will be given regarding the development of the current programme design, to ensure best practice for both health outcomes and adherence. The guidelines/recommendations developed will also be disseminated to other regional health boards to try and develop a more consistent provision of care across Wales. In addition the project aims to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the role that rehabilitation programmes play in recovery and long-term exercise uptake and the subsequent effects on psychological and physiological health and well-being. The use of novel physical activity methods may aid behaviour change among certain populations, which may improve the uptake to the programme and increase the adherence to these beneficial changes to lifestyle. Finally, if positive evaluations of Wii gaming are concluded, then the provision of computer gaming on hospital wards and within rural communities will be explored in order to increase the feasibility of physical activity provision.


Research activity codes: 7.1 INDIVIDUAL CARE NEEDS
Health categories: CANCER AND NEOPLASMS