Impact of a Physical Activity Program on the Health-Related Quality of Life in Pediatric Cancer Patients

NCT ID: NCT06813950

Last Updated: 2025-02-11

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

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

80 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-02-20

Study Completion Date

2025-12-31

Brief Summary

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Physical activity is essential for the health and well-being of children and adolescents. However, those living with cancer often experience reduced physical activity levels, which negatively impact their functional capacity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). In Ecuador, data from the National Institute of Statistics and Census (2021) reveal that 20% of children engage in less than one hour of physical activity per week, highlighting the need for targeted interventions. While previous studies demonstrate that supervised exercise programs can improve physical and psychosocial health outcomes in pediatric oncology patients, no evidence exists from Ecuador to assess the effects of such programs.

This study will examine the impact of a structured physical activity program on the HRQoLof pediatric cancer patients in Quito, Ecuador. Using a case-control design, 90 participants will be randomized into two groups: an intervention group receiving a 10-week, supervised physical activity program and a control group with no exercise intervention and the programmed usual care as follow up if needed by the social worker. HRQoL surveys using a standardized instrument will be administered to all participants (those in the intervention group and those in the control group) at weeks 1, 12, and 24 to assess changes over time.

This research will address a critical public health gap by exploring how physical activity can mitigate the adverse effects of cancer treatment, improve physical and emotional health, and enhance the HRQoL in pediatric oncology patients. Findings will contribute valuable insights for integrating physical activity into pediatric oncology care in low- and middle-income countries.

Detailed Description

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This study is designed as a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to investigate the impact of a structured exercise program on the HRQoL of pediatric cancer patients. A total of 90 participants will be recruited and randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group.

The intervention group will participate in a 10-week structured physical activity program consisting of 120 minutes of supervised exercise per week, led by a team of physiotherapists and physical activity professionals. Meanwhile, the control group will not participate in any organized physical activity program but will continue with their usual activities.

Both groups will complete the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) surveys at baseline (week 1), midpoint (week 12), and endpoint (week 24). These surveys are designed to assess changes in participants' HRQoL over time, providing comparative insights between the two groups.

Conditions

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Cancer Pediatric Cancer

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

OTHER

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Physical activity

Performs supervised physical activity

Group Type OTHER

Physical activity

Intervention Type OTHER

The intervention group will participate in a 10-week structured physical activity program consisting of 120 minutes of supervised exercise per week, led by a team of physiotherapists and physical activity professionals. Meanwhile, the control group will not participate in any organized physical activity program but will continue with their usual activities.

Interventions

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Physical activity

The intervention group will participate in a 10-week structured physical activity program consisting of 120 minutes of supervised exercise per week, led by a team of physiotherapists and physical activity professionals. Meanwhile, the control group will not participate in any organized physical activity program but will continue with their usual activities.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* 1\. Age range: Participants must be between 8 and 18 years old at the start of the study.

2\. Residency: Patients residing within the city limits of Quito, Ecuador. 3. Treatment status:

• Patients are being evaluated or treated at Hospitals SOLCA and Baca Ortiz.
* Patients are either currently undergoing active treatment for pediatric malignancies, or
* Patients are in the post-treatment phase after a pediatric cancer diagnosis.
* The volunteer or a family member that lives with the possible participant has a cellphone so the survey can be administered and answered.

Exclusion Criteria

* 1\. The presence of a malignant solid tumor which has not yet been surgically addressed.

2\. A psychiatric diagnosis of cognitive impairment. 3. A diagnosis of osteosarcoma. 4. A history of cardiac pathology. 5. The patient is in the pediatric inpatient ward or was one month prior to the enrollment phase.

6\. The patient is stationed at the pediatric intensive care unit. 7. The patient received high-dose chemotherapy with methotrexate greater than 1000 mg/m2/dose or cytarabine greater than 1 g/m2/dose in the last month.
Minimum Eligible Age

8 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Sociedad de Lucha Contra el Cáncer

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Gustavo Galarraga

Analyst Investigation Department

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Gustavo Galárraga, MPH

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Sociedad de Lucha Contra el Cáncer

Locations

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SociedadLuchaContraCáncer

Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador

Site Status

Countries

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Ecuador

Central Contacts

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Gustavo Galárraga, MPH

Role: CONTACT

0991946128

Yunqi Yu, MPH

Role: CONTACT

+19142073580

Facility Contacts

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Gustavo Galarraga, MPH

Role: primary

096 333 3000

Yunqi Yu, MPH

Role: backup

References

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Varni JW, Burwinkle TM, Katz ER, Meeske K, Dickinson P. The PedsQL in pediatric cancer: reliability and validity of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Generic Core Scales, Multidimensional Fatigue Scale, and Cancer Module. Cancer. 2002 Apr 1;94(7):2090-106. doi: 10.1002/cncr.10428.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11932914 (View on PubMed)

Segura-Diaz JM, Barranco-Ruiz Y, Saucedo-Araujo RG, Aranda-Balboa MJ, Cadenas-Sanchez C, Migueles JH, Saint-Maurice PF, Ortega FB, Welk GJ, Herrador-Colmenero M, Chillon P, Villa-Gonzalez E. Feasibility and reliability of the Spanish version of the Youth Activity Profile questionnaire (YAP-Spain) in children and adolescents. J Sports Sci. 2021 Apr;39(7):801-807. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2020.1847488. Epub 2020 Nov 20.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 33213295 (View on PubMed)

Saint-Maurice PF, Welk GJ. Validity and Calibration of the Youth Activity Profile. PLoS One. 2015 Dec 2;10(12):e0143949. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143949. eCollection 2015.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26630346 (View on PubMed)

de Onis M, Onyango AW, Borghi E, Siyam A, Nishida C, Siekmann J. Development of a WHO growth reference for school-aged children and adolescents. Bull World Health Organ. 2007 Sep;85(9):660-7. doi: 10.2471/blt.07.043497.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18026621 (View on PubMed)

Riedl D, Licht T, Nickels A, Rothmund M, Rumpold G, Holzner B, Grote V, Fischer MJ, Fischmeister G. Large Improvements in Health-Related Quality of Life and Physical Fitness during Multidisciplinary Inpatient Rehabilitation for Pediatric Cancer Survivors. Cancers (Basel). 2022 Oct 4;14(19):4855. doi: 10.3390/cancers14194855.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 36230777 (View on PubMed)

Keats MR, Culos-Reed SN. A community-based physical activity program for adolescents with cancer (project TREK): program feasibility and preliminary findings. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2008 Apr;30(4):272-80. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0b013e318162c476.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18391695 (View on PubMed)

Gotte M, Taraks S, Boos J. Sports in pediatric oncology: the role(s) of physical activity for children with cancer. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2014 Mar;36(2):85-90. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0000000000000101.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24390449 (View on PubMed)

Rapti C, Dinas PC, Chryssanthopoulos C, Mila A, Philippou A. Effects of Exercise and Physical Activity Levels on Childhood Cancer: An Umbrella Review. Healthcare (Basel). 2023 Mar 10;11(6):820. doi: 10.3390/healthcare11060820.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 36981477 (View on PubMed)

Chaput JP, Willumsen J, Bull F, Chou R, Ekelund U, Firth J, Jago R, Ortega FB, Katzmarzyk PT. 2020 WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour for children and adolescents aged 5-17 years: summary of the evidence. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2020 Nov 26;17(1):141. doi: 10.1186/s12966-020-01037-z.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 33239009 (View on PubMed)

Zhang FF, Saltzman E, Must A, Parsons SK. Do Childhood Cancer Survivors Meet the Diet and Physical Activity Guidelines? A Review of Guidelines and Literature. Int J Child Health Nutr. 2012;1(1):44-58. doi: 10.6000/1929-4247.2012.01.01.06. Epub 2012 Sep 25.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26973721 (View on PubMed)

Braam KI, van der Torre P, Takken T, Veening MA, van Dulmen-den Broeder E, Kaspers GJ. Physical exercise training interventions for children and young adults during and after treatment for childhood cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Apr 30;(4):CD008796. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008796.pub2.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23633361 (View on PubMed)

Oficina Regional para las Américas de la Organización Mundial de la Salud. https://www.paho.org/es/temas/cancer-ninez-adolescencia#:~:text=En%20Am%C3%A9rica%20Latina%20y%20el,a%20causa%20de%20esta%20enfermedad. 2014 [cited 2024 Dec 1]. EL CÁNCER INFANTIL EN LAS AMÉRICAS. Available from: https://www.paho.org/es/temas/cancer-ninez-adolescencia#:~:text=En%20Am%C3%A9rica%20Latina%20y%20el,a%20causa%20de%20esta%20enfermedad

Reference Type BACKGROUND

San Juan AF, Chamorro-Vina C, Mate-Munoz JL, Fernandez del Valle M, Cardona C, Hernandez M, Madero L, Perez M, Ramirez M, Lucia A. Functional capacity of children with leukemia. Int J Sports Med. 2008 Feb;29(2):163-7. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-964908. Epub 2007 Sep 18.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17879894 (View on PubMed)

Tillmann V, Darlington AS, Eiser C, Bishop NJ, Davies HA. Male sex and low physical activity are associated with reduced spine bone mineral density in survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. J Bone Miner Res. 2002 Jun;17(6):1073-80. doi: 10.1359/jbmr.2002.17.6.1073.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12054163 (View on PubMed)

3. INEC. Juntos para combatir el sedentarismo mediante el deporte y la actividad física. 2022. Juntos para combatir el sedentarismo mediante el deporte y la actividad física.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Wurz A, McLaughlin E, Lategan C, Chamorro Vina C, Grimshaw SL, Hamari L, Gotte M, Kesting S, Rossi F, van der Torre P, Guilcher GMT, McIntyre K, Culos-Reed SN. The international Pediatric Oncology Exercise Guidelines (iPOEG). Transl Behav Med. 2021 Oct 23;11(10):1915-1922. doi: 10.1093/tbm/ibab028.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 34037786 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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2024-068M

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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