Pilot SMART of a Remotely Delivered, Physical Activity Intervention for Breast Cancer Survivors

ConditionBreast Cancer
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorDartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

About this trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the feasibility of randomizing participants to a "step-up" intervention pathway when they perform \<150 minutes of MVPA at the 6-week data collection burst. Participants who performed \<150 minutes of MVPA at the 6-week data collection burst will be randomized to either continue with the standard intervention or advance to the step-up intervention. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. What percentage of participants who are eligible for the intervention phase enroll in the intervention phase? 2. Will participants assigned to the "step-up" intervention pathway demonstrate equal or greater rates of study retention and intervention engagement relative to those assigned to the standard intervention arm? 3. What percentage of the sample is performing \>150 minutes accelerometer measured MVPA/week at the intervention mid-point (week 6-data collection burst) and end-of-study (week 12-data collection burst)? 4. Do at least 50% of participants assigned to the "step-up" intervention pathway achieve a clinically meaningful volume of weekly MVPA by 12-weeks follow-up?

All participants will:

* Be assigned to either the Affect-based exercise prescription or the Effort-based exercise prescription. * Participate in three meetings with the interventionist (an exercise specialist) meant to help them get started increasing weekly exercise. These meetings are the same for all participants. * Be asked to wear an activity monitor and respond to brief surveys for 10 consecutive days at 4 points in time: Baseline, 2weeks, 6weeks, and 12weeks.

Some participants (those performing \<150 minutes of MVPA at the 6-week data collection burst) will be assigned to the step-up intervention pathway. Participants assigned to the step-up intervention pathway will complete 3 additional follow-up meetings with the interventionist. During these meetings, the interventionist will help participants identify opportunities to be more active, set goals, and problem solve barriers to action.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Within 5 years of completing primary cancer treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation) for Stage 0-III breast cancer

<60 mins/week moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) with no major changes for the past 6- months

Own an Android or iPhone smartphone (or tablet) and willing to use it to complete app-based surveys during assessment periods

Willing to wear the ActiGraph monitor during assessment periods

Disqualifiers

Non-English speaking/not able to read English

Evidence of major contraindications for exercise (informed by the 2020 Physical Activity Readiness-Questionnaire (PAR-Q)+)

Currently pregnant

History of severe mental illness or currently taking mood stabilizing medications (antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, or lithium)

Trial design

Design model

Sequential

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Affect-based Exercise Prescription

    Behavioral

    Participants assigned to Affect-Rx will receive instructions to "select a pace of exercise that makes you feel as good as possible." The exercise intensity prescription section of their exercise plan will include the Feeling Scale as an attachment and participants will be given the instruction to "stay in the green zone" on the Feeling Scale.

  • Effort-based exercise prescription

    Behavioral

    Participants assigned to RPE-Rx will receive instructions to "select a pace that would make it challenging for you to carry on more than a short conversation." The exercise intensity prescription section of their exercise plan will include the Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale as an attachment and participants will be given the instruction to "stay in the green zone" on the RPE Scale.

  • Standard Exercise Promotion Program

    Behavioral

    Core intervention content will be delivered during the Visit 1, 1-month, and 2-month-check-in meetings. Definitions of exercise will be provided, participants will be asked to discuss their past experiences with exercise, guidelines for being safe during exercise will be reviewed, and strategies for overcoming potential barriers to exercise will be discussed. All participants will be given an exercise plan organized according to the FIIT Principle (Frequency, Intensity, Time, and Type). The intensity component of the exercise plan will differ by study arm, all other elements will be delivered the same for all participants. All participants will be given the goal of increasing weekly time spent exercising to ≥150 minutes, consistent with recommended guidelines. All participants will be given a smartwatch to support self-monitoring of exercise and activity levels throughout the 12-week study period.

  • Step-up Exercise Promotion Program

    Behavioral

    Core intervention content will be delivered during check-in meetings scheduled during study weeks 7, 8, 9, and 10. During these visits, the interventionist will work with the participant to set weekly goals and problem-solving barriers to action. All participants will continue to receive instructions to follow their assigned exercise prescription (Affect-based Exercise Prescription or Effort-based exercise prescription). The step-up intervention calls are delivered the same regardless to which exercise prescription format the participant is assigned.

Treatment groups

55 Participants
are divided into 4 treatment groups
Group A: Effort-based Exercise Prescription (RPE-Rx) StandardActive comparator 1 intervention
Group B: Affect-based Exercise Prescription (Affect-Rx) StandardExperimental treatment 2 interventions
Group C: Effort-based Exercise Prescription (RPE-Rx) Step-UpActive comparator 3 interventions
Group D: Affect-based Exercise Prescription (Affect-Rx) Step-UpExperimental treatment 3 interventions

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Rate of Intervention Enrollment

Number of participants who enroll in the intervention phase out of the number of participants who are eligible for the intervention phase

Time frame
Baseline assessment.
2

Study Retention at 6-weeks Follow-up

Number of participants who complete the 6-week follow-up assessment out of the number of participants who enroll in the study.

Time frame
6-weeks follow-up assessment.
3

Study Retention at 12-weeks Follow-up

Number of participants who complete the 12-week follow-up assessment out of the number of participants who enroll in the study.

Time frame
12-weeks follow-up assessment.
4

Intervention Engagement

Number of intervention sessions completed out of the number of intervention sessions scheduled

Time frame
12-weeks follow-up assessment.

Secondary outcomes

1

Average Minutes of Daily Moderate-vigorous Physical Activity Measured Using the ActiGraph wGT3X-BT Accelerometer at 2 Weeks Follow-up

The research grade ActiGraph wGT3X-BT model is a valid measure of physical activity intensity and duration among multiple populations, including breast cancer survivors. Minutes of moderate-vigorous physical activity will be collected from the ActiGraph wGT3X-BT every day for 10-days. Average minutes of moderate-vigorous physical activity completed per day of valid wear time will be calculated.

Time frame
Time Frame: 2-weeks follow-up assessment.
2

Average Minutes of Daily Moderate-vigorous Physical Activity Measured Using the ActiGraph wGT3X-BT Accelerometer at 6 Weeks Follow-up.

The research grade ActiGraph wGT3X-BT model is a valid measure of physical activity intensity and duration among multiple populations, including breast cancer survivors. Minutes of moderate-vigorous physical activity will be collected from the ActiGraph wGT3X-BT every day for 10-days. Average minutes of moderate-vigorous physical activity completed per day of valid wear time will be calculated.

Time frame
Time Frame: 6-weeks follow-up assessment
3

Average Minutes of Daily Moderate-vigorous Physical Activity Measured Using the ActiGraph wGT3X-BT Accelerometer at 12 Weeks Follow-up

The research grade ActiGraph wGT3X-BT model is a valid measure of physical activity intensity and duration among multiple populations, including breast cancer survivors. Minutes of moderate-vigorous physical activity will be collected from the ActiGraph wGT3X-BT every day for 10-days. Average minutes of moderate-vigorous physical activity completed per day of valid wear time will be calculated.

Time frame
[Time Frame: 12-weeks follow-up assessment.
4

Satisfaction With Study Participation as Measured by the Participant Satisfaction Questionnaire

An 8-item self-report questionnaire used to assess participant satisfaction with study participation using a Likert scale ranging from 1 to 4 . Scores are summed and then averaged; total scores range from 1- 4. Higher scores indicate greater satisfaction.

Time frame
12-weeks follow-up assessment.

Other outcomes

1

Change Overtime in Cancer-related Fatigue Measured Using the PROMIS Fatigue Short Form 8a

An 8-item self-report measure with response options ranging from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much) and fatigue interference ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (always) over the past 7 days. Total scores range from 8 - 40. Higher scores reflect more fatigue.

Time frame
Baseline and 12-weeks follow-up assessments.
2

Change Overtime in Health-related Quality of Life Measured Using the PROMIS Global Health Scale

A 10-item self-report measure with response options ranging from 1 (poor/never/not at all) to 5 (excellent/completely/always) for items 1-9 and 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable) for the item 10. Total scores range from 9 - 45. Higher scores represent better health-related quality of life.

Time frame
Baseline and 12-weeks follow-up assessments.
3

Change Overtime in Physical Functioning Measured Using The PROMIS Physical Function Short Form 8a

An 8-item self-report measure with response options ranging from 1 (unable to do) to 5 (without any difficulty) and the degree to which health limits specific activities on a scale from 1 (cannot do) to 5 (not at all). Total scores range from 8 - 40. Higher scores reflect better physical function.

Time frame
Baseline and 12-weeks follow-up assessments.
4

Change Overtime in Anxiety measured using The PROMIS Anxiety Form

An 8-item self-report measure with response options ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (always). Total scores range from 8 - 40. Higher scores reflect higher levels of anxiety.

Time frame
Baseline and 12-weeks follow-up assessments.

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