Work

Promoting Physical Activity for Older Adults Undergoing HCT: Taking a Proactive Approach

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Topic Significance & Study Purpose/Background/Rationale A high proportion of older adults undergoing HCT are deconditioned. There is consistent evidence showing that physical activity (PA) improves multiple cancer-related outcomes including cognitive and physical function, cancer-related fatigue, and depressive symptoms. The Proactive intervention was adapted from an evidence-based PA program with a goal to improve the fit of the intervention within the existing cancer care system and aligned HCT clinical pathway . Our objective is to describe preliminary feasibility outcomes of the Proactive Study. Methods, Intervention, & Analysis The study is a 2-arm Type I hybrid effectiveness and implementation randomized-controlled trial. The Proactive intervention is a 6-month partially supervised home-based PA program for adults ≥60 years undergoing allogeneic HCT. Participants and care-partners are randomized to immediate-intervention or a wait-list control group. Figure 1 illustrates and describes the format/length and core components of the intervention. We assessed acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility (AAF) of Proactive's core components using a self-administered survey, adapted from Weiner et al. 1 , pre-HCT, following hospitalization, and 3-month post-HCT. Findings & Interpretation To date there were 58 eligible participants, 35 initially agreed, but only 28 proceeded to the RCT due to various reasons (i.e. death, no longer proceeding to transplant). Fourteen participants were randomized to the immediate-intervention and completed at least pre-HCT and Day 30 or Day 100 survey. Participants rated high acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility of the intervention format and length, coaching, and telephone sessions with the mean ratings ranging from 3.6-4.54 (likert scale 0-5) ( Figure 2 ). Discussion & Implications Older adults undergoing allogeneic HCT are willing to participate and engage in a PA promotion program that is integrated into the clinical care pathway . We are currently gathering data on the effectiveness of Proactive to increase PA behavior. Findings from this study have the potential to identify generalizable strategies that can scale-up an evidence-based PA program to prevent and mitigate functional decline and disability in older adults with undergoing HCT.

Source: Transplantation and Cellular Therapy

DOI: 10.1016/j.jtct.2025.01.119

Authors: Kimberly A Miller, Diane Hill-Polerecky, Lauren Benck, Marcia M Free, Thuy T. Koll

Institutions: Nebraska Medical Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Language: English

Topic: Cancer survivorship and care

Subfield: Oncology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,650