Person-centred online lifestyle coaching in childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors: protocol of the multicentre PanCareFollowUp lifestyle intervention feasibility study
Authors: Bouwman Eline , Hermens Rosella P. M. G. , Brown Morven C. , Araújo-Soares Vera , Blijlevens Nicole M. A. , Kepak Tomas , Kepakova Katerina , Kremer Leontien C. M. , van den Oever Selina R. , van der Pal Helena J. H. , Skinner Roderick , Pluijm Saskia M. F. , Loonen Jacqueline J. ,   on behalf of the PanCareFollowUp Consortium, Mulder Renée L. , van Kalsbeek Rebecca J. , Hjorth Lars , Follin Cecilia , Eriksson Lill , Relander Thomas , Engellau Jacob , Fjordén Karin , Bogefors Karolina , Holmqvist Anna S. , Haupt Riccardo , Muraca Monica , Nicolas Brigitte , Bagnasco Francesca , Benvenuto Marina , Aulicino Anna , Laudisi Luca , Hrstkova Hana , Bajciova Viera , Holikova Marta , Strublova Lucie , Uyttebroeck Anne , Renard Marleen , Jacobs Sandra , Segers Heidi , van Helvoirt Monique , Winther Jeanette F. , Mader Luzius , Frederiksen Line E. , Andersen Elisabeth A. W. , Michel Gisela , Boes Stefan , Roser Katharina , Göttgens Irene , Stollman Iridi , Penson Adriaan , Breij Dionne , Araujo-Soares Vera , Essiaf Samira , Blondeel Anne , Sciberras William , Korevaar Joke , Rijken Mieke , Kienesberger Anita , den Hartogh Jaap , Gsell Hannah , Schneider Carina , den Hartogh Jaap , Bardi Edit , te Dorsthorst Jeroen 
Published: December 2022

Background

Physical inactivity and unhealthy dietary habits are known to be disadvantageous for the development of late adverse effects in survivors of childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer. To make interventions, aimed at improving lifestyle, fit into the daily life of survivors, interventions should be designed and delivered in a person-centred way with a limited time burden. As part of the European PanCareFollowUp project, an eHealth intervention was developed to support sustainable changes to physical activity levels and/or diet of childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors. This feasibility study aims to gain insight into the feasibility and potential effect sizes of the PanCareFollowUp lifestyle intervention.

Methods

The PanCareFollowUp lifestyle intervention consists of person-centred 3–6 screen-to-screen sessions with a certified lifestyle coach. The intervention will be evaluated with a single-arm pre-post feasibility study conducted at two survivorship care clinics in the Netherlands. A total of 60 participants who are (i) diagnosed with cancer <25 years, (ii) ≥ 5 years post-treatment, (iii) aged 16–55 years, and (iv) have a low physical activity level and/or unhealthy dietary intake manifested by overweight will be recruited. Using reports, hospital records, and questionnaires for survivors, coaches, and late effect doctors, feasibility will be based on (i) adherence to intervention, (ii) acceptability, (iii) practicality, (iv) integration/implementation, (v) demand, and (vi) attrition. The potential effect sizes of the intervention will be explored by determining the percentage of survivors that reach the personalized lifestyle goals that were set with the coach. Physical activity level, dietary intake, BMI, general self-efficacy, self-management, and motivation level will be assessed at three time points with questionnaires, reports, and/or an accelerometer.

Discussion

Data of this study will be gathered to assess the feasibility and potential effect sizes. This will allow for further intervention refinement as needed as well as to inform a future large-scale intervention study and a manual for implementation at other centres.

Trial registration

International Clinical Trial Registry Platform (ICTRP) number: NL8932 (ICTRP Search Portal (who.int)). Registered on September 29, 2020.