Implementation of the 3-steps Assess-Advise-Refer Exercise (FitARise) Protocol as a Standard Practice in Cancer Care

Not Applicable

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Exercise; Cancer (Colon Cancer, Breast Cancer, Lymphoma, Chronic Lymphoma Leukemia, Multiple Myeloma)

• Registration Number: NCT07210905
• Lead Sponsor: The University of Hong Kong

Brief Summary

This study proposes to evaluate the process and outcome of an implementation program designed to implement the American College of Sports Medicine (ACMS)-recommended exercise assessment, advice, and referral instruction as standard practices in routine cancer care.

Detailed Description

This study aims to test whether using implementing strategies (audit, feedback, facilitation, and adaptable workflow) to adopt the systematic FitARise protocol increases the proportion of eligible patients assessed, advised, and referred compared to control with the availability of the protocol, but without implementation strategies. This study hypothesizes that implementing strategies to promote the protocol's adoption will increase the proportion of eligible patients assessed and advised by oncologists and the proportion of patients referred to the JCICC exercise-based weight management program. For process evaluation, we aim to use qualitative methods to assess the experience and response to the implementation program. The primary outcome (the reach measurement) is the percentage of eligible patients assessed, advised, and referred based on predefined BMI scores.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2025-02
• Study Start: 2025-10-01
• Study First Submitted: 2025-10-01
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-10-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-10-01
• Study First Posted: 2025-10-07
• Last Update Posted: 2025-10-07
• Primary Completion: 2027-02-02
• Study Completion: 2028-02-02

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 1800

Inclusion Criteria

• All cancer patients with BMI score>=23 will be eligible to assess. Patients who have completed cancer treatment within the past five years and are at least 18 years old, and who are literate in Chinese or English, are eligible to attend the intervention program. All clinical, medical or surgical oncologists who are working at the study units at the time of the study will be invited to participate. 4-5 clinicians and staff will be involved in each study unit. The oncologists will confirm whether the patient is obese and assess the patient's suitability for the JCICC weight management program. Patients who declined to be referred also will be invited to participate in the in-depth interview

Exclusion Criteria

• Patients who have completed cancer treatments for more than five years. Non-Cantonese, non-Mandarin, non-English speakers. No exclusion criterial for staff

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Percentage of eligible patients	Pre- and post-implementation phase, up to 24 months	The primary outcome (the reach measurement) is the percentage of eligible patients assessed, advised, and referred based on predefined BMI scores.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in referral uptake	Pre- and post-implementation phase, up to 24 months	The secondary outcome is the uptake of the referral, i.e. the proportion of referred patients accepting the enrolment of the JCICC weight management program. We also will examine the attendance rates of those enrolled in the weight management program.

Trial Locations

Locations (8)

KWH Department of Surgery; 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, Hong Kong

PMH Department of Oncology; 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, Hong Kong

PYEH Department of Clinical Oncology; 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, Hong Kong

QMH Department of Clinical Oncology; 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, Hong Kong

QMH Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology; 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, Hong Kong

QMH Department of Surgery; 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, Hong Kong

TMH Department of clinical oncology; 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, Hong Kong

YCH Surgery Department; 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, Hong Kong