Cancer, Physical Inactivity
Conditions
Keywords
Cancer, Physical Activity, Cardiovascular Disease, Referrals
Brief summary
Background: Cancer survivors have a greater risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and have low physical activity levels. Physical inactivity is one modifiable risk factor for CVD, and increased physical activity has shown a cardioprotective effect on lowering CVD risk. The objective of ActivityLink is to use an electronic referral (e-referral) implementation program for clinic staff to refer survivors to an in-person and a virtual physical activity program. Methods: Participants in this study will include clinic staff and patients. Investigators will first conduct interviews with clinic staff and patients, followed by usability testing of a referral system with staff. The study team will then beta-test two rounds of testing using Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) Cycles for clinic staff to refer patients in the clinic. Quantitative data and qualitative interviews will be collected following each PDSA cycle, with refinements made based on feedback. Outcomes: The proposed study addresses a critical need to implement physical activity referrals into routine cancer survivorship visits.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALActivityLink
ActivityLink is an implementation program using: 1. Didactic and experiential training sessions for clinic staff to conduct referrals 2. Secure electronic referral webform to refer patients using their email address and phone number 3. Messaging sent to the patient and provider that they have been referred to a program 4. Clinic visual cues (flyers and paper prescription pad) to reinforce referrals 5. Motivational messaging and booster sessions from study staff to encourage referrals and troubleshoot
Sponsors
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
University of Massachusetts, Worcester
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 100 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
for Aim 1a: * Medical providers who are 1) Are a current UMass Cancer Clinic patient navigator, oncologist, radiologist, or cardiologist 2) Consent to participate in the study. * Program leaders who are 1) In charge of implementing evidence-based physical activity program for cancer patients/survivors (LIVESTRONG at the Y); 2) Consent to participate in the study. * Patients who receive treatments at the UMass Cancer Clinics who are 1) Are at least 18 years of age; and 2) Consent to participate in the study.
Exclusion criteria
for Aim 1a: * Medical providers who are 1) Not currently employed at UMass Memorial Health (UMH), 2) Not involved in direct treatment of care coordination of cancer patients * Program leaders who are 1) not involved in the implementation of an evidence-based physical activity program for cancer survivors * Patients who are 1) Unable or unwilling to provide informed consent; 2) \<18 years of age. Inclusion Criteria for Aim 1b: * Participants for Aim 1b are eligible if they are: 1) Are a UMass Cancer Clinic patient navigator; and 2) Consent to participate in the study. Inclusion criteria for Aim 2: * Clinic staff who 1) Are a current UMass Cancer Clinic staff delivering care to patients 2) Consent to participate in the study. * Program leaders who are 1) In charge of implementing evidence-based physical activity program that clinic staff refer cancer patients/survivors to (LIVESTRONG at the Y and FitCancer); 2) Consent to participate in the study. * Patients who receive a physical activity program referral during their survivorship care planning from UMass Cancer Clinics who are 1) Are at least 18 years of age; and 2) Consent to participate in the study.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The Number of Patients Referred Using the Secure Webform | 12 weeks from launch of referrals (baseline) | The number of patients clinicians referred using the secure webform |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Proportion of Eligible Clinic Staff Who Enroll | 12 weeks from launch of referrals (baseline) | Proportion of eligible clinic staff who enrolled in the study to deliver referrals |
| Proportion of Referred Patients Who Enroll in Programs | At study completion, within 3 months of referral completion | Proportion of referred patients who enroll in programs |
Countries
United States
Participant flow
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| ActivityLink ActivityLink will be a clinic implementation program delivered to clinic staff.
ActivityLink: ActivityLink is an implementation program using:
1. Didactic and experiential training sessions for clinic staff to conduct referrals
2. Secure electronic referral webform to refer patients using their email address and phone number
3. Messaging sent to the patient and provider that they have been referred to a program
4. Clinic visual cues (flyers and paper prescription pad) to reinforce referrals
5. Motivational messaging and booster sessions from study staff to encourage referrals and troubleshoot | 54 |
| Total | 54 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | ActivityLink | — |
|---|---|---|
| Age, Customized Age | 60.5 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.8 | — |
| Number of patients referred | 54 Participants | — |
| Race and Ethnicity Not Collected | — | — Participants |
| Sex/Gender, Customized Female | 42 Participants | — |
| Sex/Gender, Customized Male | 12 Participants | — |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk |
|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | 0 / 54 |
| other Total, other adverse events | 0 / 54 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 0 / 54 |
Outcome results
Primary
The Number of Patients Referred Using the Secure Webform
The number of patients clinicians referred using the secure webform
Time frame: 12 weeks from launch of referrals (baseline)
Population: This represents the total number of patients accepting referrals from their provider. There were no data on those patients who did not accept referrals, thus we can only record the number accepted.
| Arm | Measure | Value (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS) |
|---|---|---|
| ActivityLink | The Number of Patients Referred Using the Secure Webform | 54 Participants |
Secondary
Proportion of Eligible Clinic Staff Who Enroll
Proportion of eligible clinic staff who enrolled in the study to deliver referrals
Time frame: 12 weeks from launch of referrals (baseline)
Population: Clinician participants
| Arm | Measure | Value (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS) |
|---|---|---|
| ActivityLink | Proportion of Eligible Clinic Staff Who Enroll | 15 Participants |
Secondary
Proportion of Referred Patients Who Enroll in Programs
Proportion of referred patients who enroll in programs
Time frame: At study completion, within 3 months of referral completion
Population: Patients who enrolled in programs
| Arm | Measure | Value (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS) |
|---|---|---|
| ActivityLink | Proportion of Referred Patients Who Enroll in Programs | 19 Participants |