Peer support for the maintenance of physical activity and health in cancer survivors: the PEER trial - a study protocol of a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Background Despite an overwhelming body of evidence showing the benefits of physical activity (PA) and exercise for cancer survivors, few survivors meet the exercise oncology guidelines. Moreover, initiating, let alone maintaining exercise programs with cancer survivors continues to have limited success. The aim of this trial is to evaluate the influence of peer support on moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and various markers of health 12 months following a brief supervised exercise intervention in cancer survivors. Methods Men and women previously diagnosed with histologically-confirmed breast, colorectal or prostate cancer ( n = 226), who are >1-month post-treatment, will be invited to participate in this trial. Once enrolled, participants will complete 4 weeks (12 sessions) of supervised high intensity interval training (HIIT). On completion of the supervised phase, both groups will be provided with written recommendations and verbally encouraged to achieve three HIIT sessions per week, or equivalent exercise that meets the exercise oncology guidelines. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive 12 months of peer support, or no peer support (control). Primary and secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline, after the 4-week supervised HIIT phase and at 3-, 6- and 12-months. Primary outcomes will include accelerometry-derived MVPA and prescribed HIIT session adherence; whilst secondary outcomes will include cardiorespiratory fitness ( ), body composition, quality of life and select cytokines, myokines and inflammatory markers. Random effects mixed modelling will be used to compare mean changes in outcomes between groups at each time point. A group x time interaction will be used to formally test for differences between groups (alpha =0.05); utilising intention-to-treat analyses. Discussion If successful, peer support may be proposed, adopted and implemented as a strategy to encourage cancer survivors to maintain exercise beyond the duration of a short-term, supervised intervention. A peer support-exercise model has the long-term potential to reduce comorbidities, improve physical and mental wellbeing, and significantly reduce the burden of disease in cancer survivors. Ethics Human Research Ethics Committee of Bellberry Ltd. (#2015–12-840). Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry 12618001855213 . Retrospectively registered 14 November 2018. Trial registration includes all components of the WHO Trial Registration Data Set, as recommended by the ICMJE.

Peer Group : A New Approach Of Nursing Intervention

“…This happens because social support from peer groups can increase understanding of self-care management for lupus (1). The development of a peer group exercise model can also improve mental and physical health in cancer patients (14). The application of peer groups to mothers was also able to improve behavior to reduce obesity in their children (15).…”

Peer Group: A New Approach of Nursing Intervention

“…This happens because social support from peer groups can increase understanding of self-care management for lupus (Williams et al, 2019). The development of a peer group exercise model can also improve mental and physical health in cancer patients (Adlard et al, 2019). The application of peer groups to mothers was also able to improve behavior to reduce obesity in their children (Cameron et al, 2019).…”

Feasibility of a theoretically grounded, multicomponent, physiotherapy intervention aiming to promote autonomous motivation to adopt and maintain physical activity in patients with lower-limb osteoarthritis: Protocol for a single-arm trial

“…The accelerometer will be tted securely over the right anterior superior iliac spine. [45][46][47] Following a standardised and widely used protocol, 48 participants will be asked to wear accelerometers for 7 consecutive days [49][50][51][52] with removal only for sleep or when in water (e.g. swimming or shower).…”