NCT05631587

A Technology-based Intervention for Promoting Physical Activity Among Post-treatment Cancer Survivors

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 98 (actual)
• Sponsor: The University of Hong Kong · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Cancer survivors generally have low physical activity (PA) levels. While literature shows some evidence of improvement in PA following technology-based PA promotion interventions among cancer survivors, high-quality randomised control trials (RCTs), with objective measures of PA and longer-term follow-up, are lacking. Using a theoretical framework that addresses action control in addition to intention formation may enhance intervention effect. The Multi-process action control (M-PAC) framework is an extension of the traditional intention-formation theories, incorporating constructs that address the translation of intention into behaviour and continual action control. After comprehensively searching, no previous or ongoing RCTs have investigated the efficacy of a technology-based PA promotion intervention in cancer survivors that is designed based on the M-PAC framework. Investigators therefore propose a RCT to evaluate a technology-based intervention (WExercise) to support the promotion of PA in cancer survivors.

Detailed description

Objective: To develop a technology-based physical activity promotion intervention (WExercise) for cancer survivors based on the Multi-process Action Control (M-PAC) Framework and examine its usability and efficacy. Main hypothesis: The WExercise group will have a significantly greater increase in aerobic exercise than the self-directed exercise group at post-intervention. Design: Phase 1- Application development; Phase 2- Usability testing (n=10); Phase 3- Assessor-blind two-arm randomized controlled trial (n=98; WExercise or self-directed exercise group). Subjects: Physically inactive cancer survivors who have completed curative treatment. Study instruments: Accelerometry, Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire, 6-minute walk test, EORTC QLQ-C30, M-PAC questionniare; administered at baseline, post-intervention, and 3 months post-intervention. Interventions: Both groups will receive written physical activity guidelines with a goal to engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise per week. The WExercise group will additionally receive 10 weekly automated online classes delivered on a mobile application which aim at developing participants' reflective, regulatory, and reflexive processes based on the M-PAC to achieve recommended physical activity levels (1st-3rd week: intention formation; 4th-8th weeks: behavioral regulations; 9th-10th weeks: action control maintenance). Main outcomes: Time spent in moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise (primary), exercise capacity, and quality of life. Data analysis: Intention-to-treat analysis will be performed. Application usage in the WExercise group will be presented in descriptive statistics. Generalized linear mixed-effect models will be used to assess between-group and within-group differences in the outcomes. Expected results: The findings will inform the design of future eHealth interventions to encourage and sustain health behavior change in cancer survivors.

Conditions

• Cancer
• Survivorship

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	WExercise	A 10-weekly technology-based intervention delivered in a mobile application using the M-PAC framework to promote PA in post-treatment cancer survivors. Participants will be given individualised access to the app. Participants will be sent reminders (3 days apart) by WhatsApp/WeChat each time they have a class due.
BEHAVIORAL	Control	A control group receiving an information sheet for self-directed exercise.

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-12-01
• Primary completion: 2024-05-31
• Completion: 2024-05-31
• First posted: 2022-11-30
• Last updated: 2025-05-28

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Hong Kong