Pediatric Physical Activity for Children With Cancer
Condition: Pediatric Cancer; Physical Activity
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      The goal of this pilot study is to test the feasibility and participant adherence (pediatric
      patients diagnosed with childhood cancer) to a virtual, 12-week physical activity program.

      The aims of this project are to:

        1. Determine the feasibility of administering the program and patient acceptability.

        2. Report program adherence and completion rates.

        3. Explore trends on the impact of a virtual PA intervention on psychosocial health and
           physical fitness.

      Participants will undergo pre- and post-assessments including measurements of fitness,
      self-reported fatigue and depression symptoms, social support, and current amount of physical
      activity. Patients will then be invited to participate in two consecutive, 12-week virtual
      physical activity interventions with similar-aged peers (2x/week, 60 minutes/session) over 2
      rounds.
    

Detailed description: 
      It is critical for childhood cancer patients to maintain a physical activity (PA) regime as
      they are at an increased risk of developing co-morbidities. PA engagement is associated with
      positive psychosocial outcomes, and it has the potential to improve cardiopulmonary and
      musculoskeletal function. Patients will be enrolled and will undergo baseline assessments of
      fitness and quality of life as part of their standard care, and additional measures that
      include fatigue, depression, social support, and PA volume will be measured. Patients will be
      invited to participate in a 12-week virtual PA intervention with similar-aged peers (2x/week,
      60 minutes/session). Patients will be led through activities that are culturally relevant and
      age-appropriate. At the end of the 12-week intervention, the same tests will be completed.
      The patients will have an opportunity to receive 2 interventions. A mixed method design will
      be used, where quantitative data will include information related to feasibility, PA volume,
      physical fitness, and psychosocial health measures, and qualitative data will be collected
      from the patients during the focus groups.
    

Intervention name(s): Physical Activity
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): The program will consist of 2 consecutive rounds of 12-week programming, 2x/week for 60 minutes on a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant Zoom account. The PA program will be structured to ensure equivalent "PA doses" are provided. This will be done by allocating time to a warm-up (5 min), an introduction and demonstration of the activity (5 min), the PA (30 min), cool down and stretching (5 min). Time will also be devoted for interaction to develop rapport, transition to the next activity, and to handle internet connectivity issues (15 min).
Observational model: Cohort
Time perspective: Prospective
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Patients referred by their physician at a primary care facility.