Abstract PO2-25-12: Production of a bespoke muscle resistance exercise (MRE) programme for use in a future clinical trial, following a detailed patient engagement program (PEP) in patients with advanced breast cancer (ABC)
Authors: Clarke Amanda , Glendenning Jennifer , Davison Glen , Harper-Wynne Catherine 
Published: May 2024

Background: MRE investigations in early breast cancer have been undertaken but there has been little evaluation in ABC. Cancer guidelines suggest the use of physical activity, including MRE, to improve fatigue (National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 2.2020; European Society of Medical Oncology 2020) but improvement in other outcomes in ABC is less clear. In clinical trials, adherence to exercise intervention has been a challenge and has hampered investigation of other outcomes and little data exists evaluating the possible reasons for this poor adherence and compliance. In preparation for an exercise component as part of lifestyle intervention trial in ABC, a PEP was undertaken to evaluate an on-line web-based exercise program. Results would support continued usage of the program or creation of a new program. Methods: A commercially available program was used containing a library of exercises created for multiple disease types. There was no voice over. Using an exercise science professional, 2 sets of muscular resistance exercise programmes were created (A &B), selecting exercises for upper and lower limb major muscle groups. Set A and B differed , with A involving younger leaner demonstrators and B older, less lean. Volunteers were asked to view the sets and complete a survey. The results of the survey, involving 21 volunteers of which 43% were over 60 years and presented previously, indicated that the following main modifications were needed to a program: use of demonstrators similar to patient's habitus and use of a voice-over to guide exercises. A short test video was produced incorporating these and other visual changes and viewed by a focus group of four volunteers. Results: The focus group concluded that the new visual and audio changes would allow them to more easily perform the exercises and increase the likelihood of compliance compared to the on-line program. The group advised involvement of a more diverse demonstrator group and further improvements to the voice-over. A professionally produced video has now been made with all the above changes. Conclusions: This PEP indicates that is necessary to review exercise programmes with patients and not assume they are all suitable for use in clinical trials. We believe a PEP of this kind with the resultant bespoke video is the first produced involving patients with ABC. This video will now be evaluated in a much larger diverse PPE which will help the development of a national UK clinical trial of exercise in ABC.

Citation Format: Amanda Clarke, Jennifer Glendenning, Glen Davison, Catherine Harper-Wynne. Production of a bespoke muscle resistance exercise (MRE) programme for use in a future clinical trial, following a detailed patient engagement program (PEP) in patients with advanced breast cancer (ABC) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO2-25-12.