A Combined Exercise Training Program for Women Living With Breast Cancer

NCT ID: NCT05704855

Last Updated: 2023-11-28

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

21 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-02-01

Study Completion Date

2023-09-30

Brief Summary

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Women living with and beyond breast cancer are at a heightened risk for experiencing adverse mental health outcomes and declines in cognitive function following chemotherapy treatment. Women living with and beyond breast cancer have reported increased levels of anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic which may have significantly impacted their quality of life (QoL). Physical activity (PA) may be used to manage mental health and improve cognitive function in women living with and beyond breast cancer. Research is needed to assess the feasibility of a supervised, remotely delivered, combined (i.e., aerobic + resistance) exercise program to improve cognitive function and manage adverse mental health in women living with and beyond breast cancer. This study will pilot an 8-week, remotely delivered, combined (i.e., aerobic + resistance) exercise and behavioural counselling intervention on cognitive function and mental health outcomes (i.e.,anxiety, depression, self-efficacy and self esteem) in women living with breast cancer who received chemotherapy treatment within 12-48 months.

Detailed Description

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Women living with and beyond breast cancer who received chemotherapy treatment are at a heightened risk for experiencing adverse mental health outcomes (i.e., anxiety, depression, self-efficacy and self esteem) and declines in cognitive function (i.e., impairments to memory, learning, concentration, reasoning, executive function, attention, processing speed and/or visual-spatial skills deficits) compared to those without a history of cancer. These effects may be worsened among those who received chemotherapy treatment and may persist for up to 5 and 20 years following chemotherapy treatment completion, respectively. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing adversities in the mental health of women living with and beyond breast cancer due to reduced social opportunities, greater sedentary time, fear of susceptibility to the virus and barriers to in-person support services. Physical activity (PA) may be used to manage mental health adversities and improve QoL among women living with and beyond breast cancer. In addition, preliminary evidence has demonstrated the potential mediating effect of PA on cognitive impairments among women living with and beyond breast cancer. Remote-based interventions could be an effective option to increase PA during the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining physical distancing protocols. In addition, the combination of exercise with group-based counselling has been found to be feasible and provide favourable improvements in depression, self-efficacy, social support, and quality of life and long-term PA maintenance among women living with and beyond breast cancer, compared to exercise interventions alone. However, no studies have evaluated the feasibility and impact of a supervised, remotely delivered, combined (i.e., aerobic and resistance) exercise + behaviour counselling program on mental health and cognitive function in women living with and beyond breast cancer following chemotherapy treatment. Using a mixed-method approach, this study will address these gaps by evaluating the feasibility of a supervised, remotely delivered combined (i.e., aerobic and resistance) exercise and behavioural counselling program for mental health and cognitive function in women living with and beyond breast cancer. This project is necessary given the remote-based format of exercise delivery that has been adopted because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for programs to be adapted to an environment that is safe and reliable to deliver to women living with and beyond breast cancer.

Conditions

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Breast Cancer

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Participants will be randomized to one of two conditions: combined exercise (aerobic + resistance training) or stretching/toning (active control). They will receive a home-based program lasting 1 hour on 3 days per week for 12 weeks. Randomization will be performed using a computer-generated program in blocks of four for even distribution between study conditions. BCS will be assigned in a 1:1 ratio to one of two study conditions, stratified by treatment type (anthracycline vs. non-anthracycline chemotherapy; hormonal vs. no hormonal therapy).
Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants
The participants will only be aware that the researchers are comparing two exercise conditions and therefore will be blinded to the study hypotheses.

Study Groups

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Combined Exercise + Behavioural Counselling

The combine exercise intervention will consist of three 30-minute, supervised, remotely-delivered resistance training classes as well as three 30-minute, unsupervised aerobic training (i.e., walking) items each week. Participants will also participate in bi-weekly, 30-40 minute, remotely-delivered behavioural counselling sessions delivered via videoconferencing (i.e., Zoom). The program will be taught by a Registered Kinesiologist via videoconferencing (i.e., Zoom). Participants will be asked to participate in the intervention for 8 weeks.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Combined Exercise + Behavioural Counselling

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The combine exercise intervention will consist of three 30-minute, supervised, remotely-delivered resistance training classes as well as three 30-minute, unsupervised aerobic training (i.e., walking) sessions each week. Participants will also participate in bi-weekly, 45-60 minute, remotely-delivered, group-based behavioural counselling sessions delivered via videoconferencing (i.e., Zoom). Participants will be asked to participate in the intervention for 8 weeks.

Active Control

The active control group will participate in three 30-minute, supervised, remotely-delivered classes targeting balance and flexibility. The program will be delivered at a low-intensity by a Registered Kinesiologist via videoconferencing (i.e., Zoom). Participants will be asked to participate in the program for 8 weeks.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Active Control

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The active control group will participate in three 30-minute, supervised, remotely-delivered classes targeting balance and flexibility. The program will be delivered at a low-intensity by a Registered Kinesiologist via videoconferencing (i.e., Zoom). Participants will be asked to participate in the program for 8 weeks.

Interventions

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Combined Exercise + Behavioural Counselling

The combine exercise intervention will consist of three 30-minute, supervised, remotely-delivered resistance training classes as well as three 30-minute, unsupervised aerobic training (i.e., walking) sessions each week. Participants will also participate in bi-weekly, 45-60 minute, remotely-delivered, group-based behavioural counselling sessions delivered via videoconferencing (i.e., Zoom). Participants will be asked to participate in the intervention for 8 weeks.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Active Control

The active control group will participate in three 30-minute, supervised, remotely-delivered classes targeting balance and flexibility. The program will be delivered at a low-intensity by a Registered Kinesiologist via videoconferencing (i.e., Zoom). Participants will be asked to participate in the program for 8 weeks.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Exclusion Criteria

* previous invasive cancer
* neurological or musculoskeletal co-morbidity inhibiting exercise
Minimum Eligible Age

40 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University of Toronto

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Linda Trinh

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Linda Trinh, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Toronto

Locations

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Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Site Status

Countries

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Canada

References

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Other Identifiers

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BCSPilot01

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id