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A Feasibility Study of Unsupervised, Pre-operative Exercise Program for Patients Scheduled for Lung Cancer Surgery

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Lung Cancer
Interventions
Behavioral: Exercise
Registration Number
NCT03162718
Lead Sponsor
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Brief Summary

The paradigm of pre-operative exercise as a neoadjuvant therapy to reduce morbidity is increasingly promoted within general surgery and surgical oncology.

Patients with lung cancer participating in pre-operative exercise have better aerobic capacity and pulmonary function and shorter hospital length-of-stay after surgery. Additionally, pre-operative exercise may increase the likelihood of resuming exercise post-surgery, thereby accelerating the pace of rehabilitation and recovery.

In order to translate the research findings into sustainable clinical practice, clinician-scientists need to develop pragmatic and effective home-based exercise protocols. Wearable fitness devices offer a way to approximate the supervision that occurs in exercise research.

Before the investigators can develop an intervention in which patients receive tailored support similar to what occurs with supervised exercise, they need to pilot test the monitoring aspect of the wearable fitness device in conjunction with the pre-operative exercise program. The investigators propose a mixed methods, 16 single arm feasibility study of an unsupervised, pre-operative exercise prescription (uPEP) augmented by a wearable fitness device. The proposed study of 30 patients scheduled for lung cancer surgery will identify the strengths, weaknesses, and utility of this approach.

Detailed Description

The investigators propose a parallel mixed methods, 16 single arm, pre-post study with 30 participants scheduled for lung cancer surgery. At time of enrollment (at least 3 weeks before their scheduled surgery), participants will complete baseline assessments, receive the uPEP exercise prescription, and be oriented to the wearable fitness device. A research assistant will call the participant to conduct an audiotaped semi-structured interview regarding the acceptability of the electronically-monitored uPEP within 7- 14 days of enrollment. The study team will complete follow-up assessments on the day of surgery, two weeks after surgery, and four months after surgery. Data will also be collected from chart review and the wearable fitness device throughout the study.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
30
Inclusion Criteria
  • This study will recruit English-speaking patients who:

    1. Are over the age of 18 and diagnosed with Stage I-III lung cancer;
    2. Are able to tolerate surgery (i.e., segmentectomy, lobectomy or bilobectomy) as indicated by standard clinical pre-op evaluation, including pulmonary function tests and cardiac evaluation (if indicated);
    3. Access to either Wi-Fi or cellular service and permission/ability to download the wearable fitness device app on an apple device, android, or computer (or willingness to use a study-provided iPod to allow the data to be uploaded to the study team);
    4. Are able to provide voluntary, written consent.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Participants will be excluded based on electronic health record (EHR) review (after obtaining HIPAA waiver) if they:

    1. Have a life expectancy of < 12 months or are receiving hospice services;
    2. Have a psychiatric diagnosis that would require significant study modification to meet their needs such as uncontrolled severe mental illness, substance abuse, or active suicidal ideation;
    3. Exhibit American College of Sports Medicine contraindications to exercise which include a resting heart rate of >120bpm, blood pressure >180/100mmHg or unstable angina;31
    4. Are unable to walk or to complete the 6-minute walk test. According to our current standard of care, those participants will be referred to physical therapy for evaluation and treatment and will be excluded from the study as unsupervised exercise would not be safe.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
single armExerciseexercise
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Adherence to exercise:Time 3, day of surgery

number of completed pre-operative exercise sessions divided by number of prescribed sessions, according to exercise log

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Subjective minutes spent in exerciseTime 3, day of surgery

Number of minutes spent in exercise according to exercise log

Aerobic capacity:Time 3, day of surgery

Six minute walk test

Feasibility of recruitment:Time 5, 16 weeks post-surgery

number of patients enrolled divided by number of patients eligible

Acceptance of technologyTime 3, day of surgery

number of hours the fitness tracker was worn in pre-operative period

Participant perception of exercise programTime 2, 3-5 days before surgery

semi-structured interview regarding perceptions of the exercise program

Participant perception of fitness trackerTime 2, 3-5 days before surgery

semi-structured interview regarding perceptions of the fitness tracker

Objective minutes spent in exercise:Time 3, day of surgery

Number of minutes spent in exercise according to fitness tracker

Pulmonary function:Time 2, 3-5 days before surgery

Diffusion of lungs for carbon monoxide test

Subjective physical function:Time 2, 3-5 days before surgery

PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) physical function scale

Length of stay in hospital:Time 4, 2 weeks post-surgery

Number of days from surgery to discharge home

Objective physical function:Time 3, day of surgery

Grip strength per dynamometer

Feasibility of Retention16 weeks post-surgery

Number of patients completing all study assessments divided by the number enrolled

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

🇺🇸

Lebanon, New Hampshire, United States

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