Telehealth coaching for rural-living young adult cancer survivors: A protocol

Abstract

Objective: Young adult cancer survivors living in rural areas have reported barriers to participating in health behaviours due to their geographical location and the developmental milestones associated with their age. Existing health behaviour change interventions have generally been delivered face-to-face and have not been tailored to the preferences of young adults living in rural areas, thus not adequately addressing the needs of this population. To address these limitations, this trial aims to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a 12-week telehealth intervention drawing on self-determination theory to promote physical activity participation and fruit and vegetable consumption. Design: The intervention will be tested with young adults who are between the ages of 20 and 39 years, have completed primary treatment, live in an area with fewer than 35,000 inhabitants, are not currently meeting physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption guidelines, have access to the Internet and audio-visual devices, are ambulatory and are able and willing to provide informed consent. The target sample size is 15. Method: Feasibility data will be collected by recording recommended outcomes throughout the trial. Additional feasibility data as well as acceptability data will be collected using an online questionnaire administered pre- and post-intervention and a semi-structured interview. Results: Results may inform the design and implementation of supportive care services for young adults, and potentially other adults living in rural areas who experience similar barriers to participating in health-promoting behaviours. Conclusion: This trial is one of the first to explore the feasibility and acceptability of a theory-based telehealth behaviour change intervention targeting young adult cancer survivors living in rural areas in order to mitigate the disease burden.

Delivery of telehealth nutrition and physical activity interventions to adults living in rural areas: a scoping review

“…Of the 58 included studies, Randomised Control Trial (RCT) was the most common study design ( n = 27, 46.6%), [ 35 , 37 – 39 , 43 – 45 , 52 , 54 – 56 , 58 , 59 , 61 , 65 , 69 – 73 , 79 – 81 , 95 – 97 ] followed by pre-post ( n = 11, 19.0%) [ 50 , 60 , 63 , 64 , 66 , 77 , 78 , 86 , 98 – 101 ]. Study design of remaining studies included cohort (retrospective and prospective) ( n = 7, 12.1%), [ 34 , 36 , 47 , 48 , 83 – 85 , 88 ] single arm trial ( n = 6, 10.3%), [ 40 , 41 , 46 , 67 , 82 , 89 , 92 , 102 , 103 ] case study ( n = 3, 5.2%), [ 57 , 104 , 105 ] pseudo-RCT ( n = 2, 3.4%), [ 42 , 51 ] non-inferiority trial ( n = 1, 1.7%) and qualitative ( n = 1, 1.7%) [ 49 , 76 ]. Study designs were categorised according to the NHMRC Evidence Hierarchy as level II ( n = 27, 46.6%), level III study ( n = 28, 50.9%), level IV ( n = 14, 24.2%) or not at all ( n = 1, 1.7%) see Additional files 3 and 5 ) [ 35 , 37 – 39 , 43 –…”

Understanding rural-living young adult cancer survivors’ motivation during a telehealth behavior change intervention within a single-arm feasibility trial

“…25 The trial was registered in the ClinicalTrials.gov database (NCT03691545) and a detailed description of the protocol has been published. 26 The Template for Intervention Description and Replication 27 and the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research 28 checklists were followed in the preparation of this manuscript to ensure complete reporting and transparency. A brief overview of the study design, intervention, and measures pertaining to this study are presented below.…”

Rehabilitation interventions for young adult cancer survivors: A scoping review

“…logs) and tailored training programme, (c) social support and (d) strategies for energy conservation. 40,44,45 Four studies also showed improvement in fatigue, and two studies demonstrated improvement in health-related quality of life. Improved health-related quality of life was described in one study as being related to new insights and knowledge, increased control of life, decreased fatigue and a high degree of goal achievement.…”

“…Thus, a total of 20 studies were included for data extraction. [34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53] Figure 1 presents the study flow chart and reasons for exclusion at the full-text stage. The reasons for the exclusion of each study are listed in online Supplemental File 3.…”