Renewing Caregiver Health and Well-being Through Exercise

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The RECHARGE study is evaluating the effect of a 24 week structured exercise and education program on the physical and emotion health, quality of life, physical activity and fitness levels of family caregivers. Very little research has been done examining the impact of a structured exercise program designed for family caregivers of cancer patients. The purpose of this study is to determine if physical activity is effective in improving caregiver health and well-being.

Detailed Description
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The REHCARGE study is a randomized control trial testing a structured exercise program for cancer family caregivers. One half of the participants enrolled will receive no exercise program until after twelve weeks have passed (the delayed start group) and the other half of the participants will start the exercise program right away. In addition to regular attendance at exercise classes, participants will also be asked to complete some measurements throughout the study including an initial assessment and one after 12 weeks and 24 weeks of the exercise programs. If participants are a part of the delayed start group, they will receive a fourth fitness assessment. Assessments include an evaluation of physical activity levels, quality of life, depression, sleep, and social support through survey type questionnaires as well as a fitness assessment to measure overall fitness and body composition. Participants will receive an individualized exercise program appropriate for their fitness level as well as 6 education sessions about healthy behaviors throughout the study.

Official Title
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Renewing Caregiver Health and Well-being Through Exercise: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Conditions
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Family Caregivers

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: A 24 week center-based structured exercise and education program


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Currently providing physical care, instrumental or psychological support to an adult patient who has been diagnosed with any type of cancer. They must not have any physical health conditions that would restrict their participation in an aerobic and resistance exercise program. They must be willing to participate in two exercise classes per week at a gym space at the University of Calgary. They must not be planning on moving for the next 12 months Not currently meeting the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines (150 minutes of aerobic activity per week and 2 sessions of resistance training per week) for the last three months. Be able to speak and read English Exclusion Criteria: Providing care to a child with cancer Participants caring for a child with cancer will be excluded Participants with a health condition that limits their participation in a physical activity program will be excluded Participants who were previously caring for a cancer patient and that patient has now died (i.e. bereaved caregivers) will be excluded Participants meeting the Canadian Physical Activity guidelines for the past three months will be excluded Participants who cannot attend the group exercise classes will be excluded

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Immediate Exercise Group<br>One half of the participants enrolled in the 24 week center-based structured exercise and education program will be randomized to the immediate exercise group. The immediate exercise group will receive a 12 week center based structured exercise program followed by a 12 week maintenance of exercise program. | Behavioral: A 24 week center-based structured exercise and education program<br>* The intervention will consist of a strength and aerobic exercise program. The exercise program will include twice weekly group resistance exercises classes, twice monthly group education classes, and individual activities to achieve 150 weekly minutes of aerobic activity. The resistance exercise and education classes will be run at a gym space at the University of Calgary. The wait-list control participants will be told not to change their activity levels throughout the 12 weeks of the trial. The wait list control participants will be enrolled into the exercise and education intervention once they have completed 12 weeks of wait-list control. A 12 week maintenance exercise program will be offered to all participants who finish the 12 week exercise and education program. The maintenance exercise program will consist of once weekly resistance group based exercise classes and individual activities to achieve 150 weekly minutes of aerobic physical activity.<br>|
| No Intervention: Delayed Exercise Group<br>One half of the participants enrolled in the 24 week center-based structured exercise and education program will be randomized to the delayed exercise group. This will be a wait list control group and the participants will receive no active intervention for 12 weeks. The wait list control group will then be enrolled in the 12 week structured exercise intervention. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Quality of Life | The physical functioning score of the Medical Outcomes Short Form 36 will be the primary outcome | 12 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Physical activity levels | Physical activity levels will be measured through standardized self-report questionnaires. | 12 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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family caregivers, cancer, exercise intervention, center based