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Sustainable Implementation of the EXCEL Exercise Oncology Program Across Canada

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Cancer
Prostate Cancers
Breast Cancers
Colon Cancer
Lung Cancers
Registration Number
NCT06960291
Lead Sponsor
University of Calgary
Brief Summary

EXCEL will provide online and, where feasible, in-person exercise programs to individuals living with and beyond cancer (ILWBC). Research has shown that targeted programs that include tailored exercise prescriptions are more successful in helping individuals with chronic disease to incorporate physical activity and exercise into their daily routines. While ILWBC are advised by healthcare professionals (HCPs) to engage in exercise, there is a lack of cancer-specific exercise programs and cancer-trained exercise specialists in Canada, outside of the research setting. Considering the negative impact cancer and its treatments have on fitness and physical activity levels, community-based efforts towards improving access, uptake and maintenance of exercise programming are needed.

This study will evaluate the benefits of a community-based or online EXCEL exercise program for people living with and beyond cancer across Canada, using a streamlined intake process compared to the original EXCEL Study (HREBA.CC-20-0098, NCT04478851). This 8 to 12-week program (intervention) will be delivered in-person or over virtual platform. It includes twice weekly supervised exercise classes.

Detailed Description

Over the past 4.5 years, the EXCEL Study (HREBA.CC-20-0098, NCT04478851) has been implemented across Canada and has recruited over 1500 individuals living with and beyond cancer. This updated study will streamline the program to essential baseline screening and testing (for safe and effective program delivery), simplify outcome assessments (for participants to see changes and for program evaluation), and increase the reach to include more urban centres to encourage more healthcare provider (HCP) buy-in with a simplified referral process (i.e. no patient screening required from HCPs to determine eligibility, based on location). This updated program is based off of the Alberta Cancer Exercise (ACE) Program (HREBA.CC-24-0252). Thus, we are modifying the original EXCEL ethics to will reduce the participant burden with less patient-reported-outcomes and fewer follow-ups, which will allow more focus on program implementation, evaluation, and sustainability. Continued effort and training to establish the clinic-to-community model will be enhanced with stronger relationships and referrals from the cancer care system and the HCPs, which will continue to work towards a 'patient-centered care approach'.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
740
Inclusion Criteria
  • have or had a diagnosis of cancer;
  • be 18 years or older;
  • be able to participate in low-intensity levels of activity, at minimum;
  • be pretreatment, or receiving active cancer treatment (i.e., surgery, systemic therapy and radiation therapy), have received cancer treatment within the past 3 years, or if beyond 3 years since treatment completion, have a referral from their healthcare team indicating they have side effects from cancer treatment or the cancer itself, that could be improved or managed with exercise;
  • be able to provide informed written consent in English or French
Exclusion Criteria
  • does not or did not have a cancer diagnosis
  • is under the age of 18
  • is unable to participate in mild exercise, at minimum
  • is not pretreatment, or receiving active cancer treatment (i.e., surgery, systemic therapy and radiation therapy), has not received cancer treatment within the past 3 years, or if beyond 3 years since treatment completion, doesn't have side effects from cancer treatment or the cancer itself, that could be improved or managed with exercise
  • unable to read/write in English
  • for online programs, does not have internet or computer access

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Physical Activity LevelBaseline to one year

The Modified Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire is used to determine subjective levels of physical activity in each participant.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Body CompositionBaseline to 12-weeks

Change in body mass index (BMI)

Aerobic CapactiyBaseline to 12-weeks

Change in 6-minute walk test (m) or 2 minute step test (steps) results

Lower body strengthBaseline to 12-weeks

Change in sit-to-stand (number of repetitions in 30 seconds)

Upper extremity flexibilityBaseline to 12-weeks

Change in active shoulder flexion range of motion (degrees)

BalanceBaseline to 12-weeks

Change in one legged stance test (seconds)

Exercise adherenceDuration of the intervention (8-12 week exercise program)

Adherence to exercise programming (attendance at sessions)

Cancer related symptomsBaseline to one year

Change in Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale - revised: cancer. Scale is from 0-10, where 0 means the symptom is absent and 10 means the worst possible severity of the symptom is being experienced.

Cost-effectivenessBaseline to one year

Change in EuroQual - 5Dimensions (EQ-5D) tool - first section is a questionnaire; last section uses a scale from 0-100, where 0 means the worst health imaginable and 100 means the best health imaginable.

FatigueBaseline to one year

Change in Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Fatigue subscale - scale is from 0-4, where 0 means "not at all" and 4 means "very much".

Quality of lifeBaseline to one year

Single-item measure on quality of life - scale from 0 to 100, where 100 means the best Quality of Life imaginable and 0 means the worst Quality of Life imaginable.

Trial Locations

Locations (5)

University of Calgary

🇨🇦

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

University of British Columbia

🇨🇦

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Nova Scotia Health Authority

🇨🇦

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

University of Toronto

🇨🇦

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal

🇨🇦

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

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