A partially supervised physical activity program for adult and adolescent survivors of childhood cancer (SURfit): study design of a randomized controlled trial [NCT02730767].

Rueegg, Corina S; Kriemler, Susi; Zuercher, Simeon J; Schindera, Christina; Renner, Andrea; Hebestreit, Helge; Meier, Christian; Eser, Prisca; von der Weid, Nicolas X (2017). A partially supervised physical activity program for adult and adolescent survivors of childhood cancer (SURfit): study design of a randomized controlled trial [NCT02730767]. BMC cancer, 17(1), p. 822. BioMed Central 10.1186/s12885-017-3801-8

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BACKGROUND

Beyond survival of nowadays >80%, modern childhood cancer treatment strives to preserve long-term health and quality of life. However, the majority of today's survivors suffer from short- and long-term adverse effects such as cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, obesity, osteoporosis, fatigue, depression, and reduced physical fitness and quality of life. Regular exercise can play a major role to mitigate or prevent such late-effects. Despite this, there are no data on the effects of regular exercise in childhood cancer survivors from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Primary outcome of the current RCT is therefore the effect of a 12-months exercise program on a composite cardiovascular disease risk score in childhood cancer survivors. Secondary outcomes are single cardiovascular disease risk factors, glycaemic control, bone health, body composition, physical fitness, physical activity, quality of life, mental health, fatigue and adverse events (safety).

METHODS

A total of 150 childhood cancer survivors aged ≥16 years and diagnosed ≥5 years prior to the study are recruited from Swiss paediatric oncology clinics. Following the baseline assessments patients are randomized 1:1 into an intervention and control group. Thereafter, they are seen at month 3, 6 and 12 for follow-up assessments. The intervention group is asked to add ≥2.5 h of intense physical activity/week, including 30 min of strength building and 2 h of aerobic exercises. In addition, they are told to reduce screen time by 25%. Regular consulting by physiotherapists, individual web-based activity diaries, and pedometer devices are used as motivational tools for the intervention group. The control group is asked to keep their physical activity levels constant.

DISCUSSION

The results of this study will show whether a partially supervised exercise intervention can improve cardiovascular disease risk factors, bone health, body composition, physical activity and fitness, fatigue, mental health and quality of life in childhood cancer survivors. If the program will be effective, all relevant information of the SURfit physical activity intervention will be made available to interested clinics that treat and follow-up childhood cancer patients to promote exercise in their patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Prospectively registered in clinicaltrials.gov [ NCT02730767 ], registration date: 10.12.2015.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Cardiovascular Disorders (DHGE) > Clinic of Cardiology
04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM)

Graduate School:

Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences (GCB)

UniBE Contributor:

Schindera, Christina, Eser, Prisca Christina

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health
300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 360 Social problems & social services

ISSN:

1471-2407

Publisher:

BioMed Central

Language:

English

Submitter:

Tanya Karrer

Date Deposited:

09 Jan 2018 17:18

Last Modified:

28 Mar 2024 07:12

Publisher DOI:

10.1186/s12885-017-3801-8

PubMed ID:

29207962

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Body composition Bone health Cardiovascular disease Childhood cancer survivors Exercise intervention Late-effects Physical activity Physical fitness Quality of life Randomized controlled trial

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.108664

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/108664

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