None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This study is investigating if cancer rehabilitation delivered via telehealth is effective and cost-effective as compared to usual care without rehabilitation. Who is it for? You may be eligible for this trial if you are aged 18 years or over, receiving or recently completed cancer treatment whilst living independently in the community. Study details Participants will be randomly allocated to one of two groups: 1) Telerehabilitation comprising online group exercise; or 2) usual care without rehabilitation. After completion of an 8-week exercise program, data regarding quality of life, physical capacity and health service utilisation will be collected. It is hoped this study will determine the feasibility and effectiveness of cancer rehabilitation delivered through telehealth.
Interventions
Brief Name: Cancer Telerehabilitation
Why: Telehealth is now more common in health service settings
What: Materials
• 2x weekly online group exercise (approximately 6 participants)
• Participants to receive an online (Physitrack, London, UK), individualised home exercise program and exercise band
• Participants to receive access to an online information portal (iLearn) with webinars, online information handouts and resources available from the health service e.g. Cancer Council booklets
• Parti
Brief Name: Cancer Telerehabilitation Why: Telehealth is now more common in health service settings What: Materials • 2x weekly online group exercise (approximately 6 participants) • Participants to receive an online (Physitrack, London, UK), individualised home exercise program and exercise band • Participants to receive access to an online information portal (iLearn) with webinars, online information handouts and resources available from the health service e.g. Cancer Council booklets • Participants will wear a physical activity device (Fitbit Inspire) continuously during waking hours for 8 weeks. • Written handout of exercise options provided at 8 weeks What Procedures: Provider • One physiotherapist with oncology experience • One allied health assistant How • Supervised sessions via video-conference (Zoom) • Physical activity device (Fitbit Inspire) for remote exercise and physical activity monitoring • Home exercise program provided by Physitrack app • Education material provided by Eastern Health iLearn platform Where • Clinicians hospital-based, patients home-based When/How much: Intensity Aerobic: Moderate (BORG 3-5, 60-85% HRmax); supervised aerobics Resistance: 2-3 sets 10-12 RM; free weights, resistance bands, body weight and functional exercise Participants progressed when completing 3x10-12 repetitions Frequency 2x weekly supervised training 60-minute online exercise group Duration 8 weeks Tailoring • Individualised exercise program based on a 60-minute initial in-person consultation with a physiotherapist including exercise assessment and goal setting Trial fidelity • Physiotherapy staff who are employed by the hospital to provide the intervention will be provided training and mentoring by a senior research physiotherapist with oncology experience • Electronic exercise log via Physitrack app and Fitbit Inspire • Records of the number and duration of completed sessions. • Clinical supervision as per standard hospital policy • Record of any exercise interventions patients have participated in outside the trial
Sponsors
Eastern Health
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
• Are aged 18 years and over. • Have a cancer diagnosis. • Living independently in the community (i.e. not a current inpatient or residential aged care resident) • Are receiving cancer treatment (palliative or curative intent) or are within 12 months of completing adjuvant therapy (except for long term oral hormonal therapies). • Have an Australian Karnofsky Performance Status score of equal to or greater than 60. • Can speak conversational English. • Have access to and are willing to use internet. • Are able to give written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
• They are deemed unsafe to exercise. A physiotherapist will screen for absolute exercise contra-indications in the medical record: unstable angina/hypertension/heart failure, arrhythmia, acute embolus/infarct, acute systemic infection with fever, dissecting aneurysm, acute myocarditis or pericarditis. The physiotherapist will obtain physician clearance to exercise if patient’s bloods and vital signs fall outside acceptable values. If patients have a medical condition that contraindicates participation in an exercise-based rehabilitation program as assessed by a physiotherapist or medical practitioner, they will be excluded. • They have an Australian-modified Karnofsky Performance status of <60. • They are an inpatient or residing in aged care. • They have a cognitive impairment that precludes their ability to provide written, informed consent as assessed by their treating clinician. • They are a high falls risk as determined by their treating clinician and/or FROP-COM screening score >4 Change made prior to enrolment commencement
Outcome results
None listed