Physical Activity Counselling for Young Adult Cancer Survivors
Condition: Survivorship; Cancer
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Survival rates for cancer are increasing, resulting in more young adult cancer survivors
      living with lingering side effects. Physical activity has been shown to improve the quality
      and length of life in young adult cancer survivors; yet, few are active enough, and little is
      currently being done to promote physical activity in this population. The investigators
      developed a novel behaviour support intervention to promote physical activity in young adult
      cancer survivors. In this two-arm pilot randomized controlled trial, the investigators aim
      to: (1) assess trial and intervention feasibility, (2) assess trial and intervention
      acceptability, and (3) generate data on physical activity behaviour. Young adult cancer
      survivors will be randomized to receive either a 12-week behaviour support intervention
      delivered via videoconferencing or will be allocated to usual care.
    

Detailed description: 
      Background: Young adults commonly experience persistent side effects following cancer
      treatment that impair quality of life. Physical activity (PA) holds promise as an
      intervention to mitigate persistent side effects and improve quality of life. Yet, few young
      adults are active enough to incur these benefits and efforts to promote PA following cancer
      treatment are lacking. Therefore, the investigators developed a novel behaviour support
      intervention to promote PA in young adults following cancer treatment, and have undertaken a
      pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) to determine whether the intervention delivered via
      videoconferencing is both feasible and acceptable. Specifically, the aims of this ongoing
      parallel group two-arm pilot RCT are to: (1) assess trial and intervention feasibility and
      acceptability, and (2) generate data on PA behaviour.

      Methods: Young adults who have completed cancer treatment are recruited from across Canada.
      Recruits are randomized to the intervention group (IG; i.e., a 12-week behaviour support
      intervention delivered via videoconferencing) or usual care (UC; no intervention). Drawing on
      the CONSORT 2010 statement and flow diagram, several feasibility outcomes pertaining to
      enrolment, allocation, follow-up, and analysis are tracked by study staff. Acceptability is
      assessed through interviews exploring IG and UC participants' experiences, thoughts, and
      perspectives of the trial, IG participants' views of the intervention and its mode of
      delivery, and PA counsellors' experiences delivering the intervention. PA is measured using
      accelerometers. Assessments take place at baseline (pre-randomization), post-intervention
      period, and at follow-up (24 weeks post-baseline).

      Discussion: Feasibility and acceptability data will help determine if/what
      changes/modifications are needed to improve the trial protocol and/or intervention, and will
      inform the timeline for a definitive RCT. The PA behaviour data collected will inform sample
      size calculation for a future RCT that aims to test the effects of this intervention in young
      adults following cancer treatment.
    

Intervention name(s): 12-week videoconferencing behavioural support intervention to promote physical activity behaviour
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Participants in Group A will receive six real-time, 1-on-1 60-minute sessions led by a physical activity counsellor over a 12-week period. Sessions will be delivered via videoconferencing and will aim to provide young adult cancer survivors with support as well as the knowledge, skills, and confidence to identify and overcome challenges to engaging in physical activity in order to increase physical activity behaviour and enhance patient-reported outcomes.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Physical activity; Behavioural support; Oncology; Telehealth; Self-determination theory; Behaviour change techniques; Young adult cancer survivors