Combined Technology Enhanced Home Exercise Program and Other Non-pharmacological Intervention for Cancer Survivors
- Conditions
- AcupressureExerciseCancer-related Problem/Condition
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Technology Enhanced Home Exercise (TEHE)Behavioral: Mindfulness body scan (MBI)Behavioral: Auricular Point Acupressure (APA)
- Registration Number
- NCT03576274
- Brief Summary
A 12 weeks technology enhanced home exercise (TEHE) program using mobile technologies that provide immediate feedback and send reminder messages to improve exercise motivation is developed. Investigators combine this TEHE program with techniques including auricular point pressure (APA) and brief mindfulness body scan (MBI). This study will examine the feasibility of the TEHE program and combined programs, and ascertain the effect of TEHE program alone, the combined programs on fatigue and biological markers among cancer survivors.
Main Research Variable(s): The independent variables are the 12-week program of TEHE alone, APA alone, combined APA and TEHE (TEHEplus) and combined MBI and TEHE (TEHE-MBI). Outcome variables are fatigue, physical activity, contributing factors of fatigue and biomarkers.
Design: Repeated measures randomized controlled trial. Setting: Participants will be recruited through the Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University.
Sample: Participants diagnosed with non-metastatic solid tumor cancer; who had completed all primary cancer treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy )within at least 3 months OR non-metastatic prostate cancer completed all primary cancer treatment and have hormone therapy for at least 6 month, OR participants diagnosed with solid tumor cancer; who are receiving immunotherapy for at least 3 months before enrollment, aged 21 years or older, experiencing fatigue in the past 7 days on average of ≥ 3/10, able to participate in a moderate-intensity exercise training program, self-report ability to complete the 6 min walk test with a perceived exertion of 3 or below, and can communicate in English.
Methods: Participants who meet the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned to the TEHE only, APA only or TEHEplus or TEHE-MBI or control group. All exercise groups (TEHE) will be offered a 12-week exercise program through an online communication. In additional to the TEHE, the TEHEplus group will receive an instruction on how to apply the pressure on the ear points through online meeting/communication. The TEHE-MBI group will perform 5 min mindfulness body scan daily. The control (usual care) group will report participant's fatigue level daily. At the end of week 12, participants will answer open-ended questions about participant's opinions on the programs. Fatigue will be assessed and blood will be drawn before and after the program.
- Detailed Description
Home-based exercise interventions have a significant effect on fatigue; however, motivation and intervention compliance are the main challenges. The use of personalized exercise and immediate feedback though smartphome communication has been found to increase motivation. We developed a 12 weeks technology enhanced home exercise (TEHE) program using mobile technologies that provide immediate feedback and sends reminder messages to improve exercise motivation. Moreover, to enhance the effectiveness of exercise, we combine this TEHE program with techniques--auricular point pressure and brief mindfulness body scan--, which have been found to affect fatigue and physical activities. The Auricular Point Acupressure (APA) and Mindfulness Based Intervention (MBI) may enhance the effect of exercise on fatigue; however, the feasibility and effectiveness of this combination have not been tested. This study will examine the feasibility of the TEHEplus program and ascertain the effect of TEHE program alone, APA alone, the TEHEplus program and the TEHE-MBI program on fatigue among cancer survivors and cancer patients receiving immunotherapy. In addition we will explore peripheral and central markers (e.g., Phosphorous levels) of cancer-related fatigue using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). This study will also investigate whether specific types of fatigue (e.g., physical fatigue, cognitive fatigue) will have different levels of these peripheral and central energy markers).
Conceptual Framework: The biopsychosocial model will be used. Main Research Variable(s): The independent variables are the 12-week program of TEHE alone, APA alone, combined APA and TEHE (TEHEplus) and combined MBI and TEHE (TEHE-MBI). Outcome variables are fatigue, physical activity, contributing factors of fatigue (depressive symptom, anxiety, sleep, relationship with others), and biomarkers.
Design: Repeated measures randomized controlled trial design. Setting: Participants will be recruited through the Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University.
Sample: Participants diagnosed with non-metastatic solid tumor cancer; who had completed all primary cancer treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy )within at least 3 months OR non-metastatic prostate cancer completed all primary cancer treatment and have hormone therapy for at least 6 month, OR participants diagnosed with solid tumor cancer; who are receiving immunotherapy for at least 3 months before enrollment, aged 21 years or older, experiencing fatigue in the past 7 days on average of ≥ 3/10, able to participate in a moderate-intensity exercise training program, self-report ability to complete the 6 min walk test with a perceived exertion of 3 or below, and can communicate in English.
Methods: Participants who meet the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned to the TEHE only, APA only, TEHEplus or TEHE-MBI or control (usual care) group. All exercise groups will be offered a 12-week exercise program. The program will based on personal exercise preference and physical activity goals to reach moderate intensity based on readings from a heart rate monitor and exertion level. Activity/steps will be monitored daily using the FitBit Charge. Reminders to exercise will be sent to the patient through a mobile phone application based on the participants' personal schedule and frequency. In additional to the TEHE, the APA only, and the TEHEplus group will receive an instruction on how to apply the pressure on the ear points through the online meeting and mobile application. The TEHE-MBI group will perform 5 min of mindfulness body daily. The control (usual care) group will report their fatigue level daily and attend weekly meetings with the researcher to discuss fatigue. At the end of week 12, in addition to the questionnaires, participants will answer open-ended questions about their opinions on the program. Fatigue will be assessed and blood will be drawn before and after the program. Participants who enrolled in the sub-study will be scheduled for a visit for an MRS before the exercise intervention.
2. Objectives (include all primary and secondary objectives)
Purpose/Specific Aims:
The study primary aims are to (1) test the feasibility of a 12-week technology-enhanced home exercise (TEHE) program and combined technology-enhanced home exercise and Auricular Point Acupressure (TEHE plus) program among cancer survivors; (2) to determine the effect of the TEHE plus program on fatigue, physical activity and serum biomarkers (Heat Shock Protein 90 and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) compared to the control (usual care) group.
The secondary aims are to (3) compare the effect of the TEHE only, TEHE plus, APA only, combined MBI and TEHE on fatigue and physical activity; and (4) determine the change in serum biomarkers at week 12 compared to baseline in the TEHE only, TEHE plus, APA only, MBI+TEHE, and control (usual care) groups (5) explore the associations of muscle and brain energetic markers using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) with fatigue symptoms of cancer survivors.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 100
- diagnosed with non-metastatic solid tumor cancer; who had completed all primary cancer treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy )within at least 3 months OR non-metastatic prostate cancer completed all primary cancer treatment and have hormone therapy for at least 6 month, OR participants diagnosed with solid tumor cancer; who are receiving immunotherapy for at least 3 months before enrollment
- aged 21 years or older, experiencing fatigue in the past 7 days on average of ≥ 3/10
- able to participate in a moderate-intensity exercise training program (self-report ability to complete the 6 min walk test with a perceived exertion of 3 or below)
- able to communicate in English.
- diagnosed with comorbidities, such as cardiovascular, lung, kidney, liver, or thyroid diseases
- have an active infection (e.g., fever, localized redness, swelling, sinus congestion)
- diagnosed with a psychological disorder (e.g., suicidal or homicidal tendencies, extreme anxiety or depression)
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Technology Enhanced Home Exercise-Mindfulness intervention Technology Enhanced Home Exercise (TEHE) In addition to the TEHE program, the TEHE+MBI group will receive a audio-recording of a mindfulness-based body scan. During the weekly study visit: Participants will be instructed to listen to the recorded mindfulness-based body scan in the morning and before bedtime. At home: Participants will be asked to listen to this audiotape daily in the morning and before bedtime. Technology Enhanced Home Exercise-Mindfulness intervention Mindfulness body scan (MBI) In addition to the TEHE program, the TEHE+MBI group will receive a audio-recording of a mindfulness-based body scan. During the weekly study visit: Participants will be instructed to listen to the recorded mindfulness-based body scan in the morning and before bedtime. At home: Participants will be asked to listen to this audiotape daily in the morning and before bedtime. Technology Enhanced Home Exercise plus Technology Enhanced Home Exercise (TEHE) In additional to the TEHE program, participants will receive auricular point acupressure (APA) training on how to locate the ear points, place the seeds and apply the pressure on the seed. Participants will be instructed to press the tape and seeds covering each ear point for 3 minutes per time with a 2-second pause in between pressing, three times daily (morning, afternoon and evening: 9 minutes total). The tape and seeds will remain on ear points for 5 days. Participants will be instructed to remove both at the end of the 5th day. Technology Enhanced Home Exercise plus Auricular Point Acupressure (APA) In additional to the TEHE program, participants will receive auricular point acupressure (APA) training on how to locate the ear points, place the seeds and apply the pressure on the seed. Participants will be instructed to press the tape and seeds covering each ear point for 3 minutes per time with a 2-second pause in between pressing, three times daily (morning, afternoon and evening: 9 minutes total). The tape and seeds will remain on ear points for 5 days. Participants will be instructed to remove both at the end of the 5th day. Technology Enhanced Home Exercise only Technology Enhanced Home Exercise (TEHE) Participants in TEHE group will receive a combined technology and home exercise program. Participants will schedule an online meeting with the research team for exercise goal setting and preference. Participants will receive a daily symptoms survey. They will receive, reminder, motivation message and physical performance feedback though the mobile phone application. Auricular Point Acupressure only Auricular Point Acupressure (APA) Participants will receive auricular point acupressure (APA) training on how to locate the ear points, place the seeds and apply the pressure on the seed. Participants will be instructed to press the tape and seeds covering each ear point for 3 minutes per time with a 2-second pause in between pressing, three times daily (morning, afternoon and evening: 9 minutes total). The tape and seeds will remain on ear points for 5 days. Participants will be instructed to remove both at the end of the 5th day.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Fatigue At 6 weeks (study completion) Fatigue will be measured by the self-report questionnaire including 1) the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Fatigue subscale (FACT-F), the 3-item fatigue scale with the total score range from 0 to 52 (high score mean low fatigue).
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Skeletal muscle strength Between Baseline and 6 weeks measured by the hand-held dynamometer
Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factors Between baseline and 6 weeks Plasma level of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factors measured in ng/ml
Heat Shock Protein level Between baseline and 6 weeks Plasma level of Heat Shock Protein 90 measured in pg/ml
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
🇺🇸Baltimore, Maryland, United States