SafeFit Trial: Virtual Clinics to Deliver Universal Interventions in People With Cancer

November 24, 2025 updated by: University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

SafeFit Trial: Virtual Clinics to Deliver Universal Interventions to Maintain and Improve Mental and Physical Health in People With Cancer Who Are Following Social Distancing Guidance: A COVID-19 Targeted Trial

Trial Phase: Phase III: Interventional Trial: Virtual clinics to deliver universal interventions to maintain and improve physical health, nutritional state and psychological wellbeing in people with cancer who are following social distancing guidance: A COVID-19 targeted trial.

Indication: Male or female participants, aged over 18 years old with suspicion or confirmed diagnosis of cancer (does not require histological confirmation)

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of remote multimodal universal interventions delivered via virtual clinics to improve physical function as measured by the EORTC-QLQ-C30.

Secondary Objective:

To investigate the efficacy of remote multimodal universal interventions delivered via virtual clinics to improve emotional function, quality of life, participant activation (PAM), behaviour change and the effect it has on health economics (EQ-5D-5L).

Exploratory Objective:

Overall Survival and adherence to the intervention/advice using validated tools or development of a web-based toolkit.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Rationale: A recent statement by Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer, NHS England, emphasised the significant benefits of exercise for all people. He said, "this may be challenging for people self-isolating and even more so for those highly vulnerable people that are having to shield against the virus in their own homes" The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has led to many changes to everyday life including the introduction of social distancing as well as restriction of travel. Treatment plans for patients with cancer are being revised or modified due to risks and benefits of certain treatments in light of the COVID-19 risk. The number of deaths due to the disruption in cancer services is likely to outweigh the number of deaths from coronavirus itself over the next five years.

The effects of this pandemic has reportedly led to increased anxiety and distress and risks deconditioning due to reduced physical activity. The interventions we are proposing aim to enable people with cancer to optimise their physical health, nutritional state and psychological wellbeing and prepare for their treatment pathway (current or modified) and recovery during this uncertain time through exercise, nutrition and psychological support.

The aim is to investigate whether the promotion of these interventions delivered via virtual clinics, in socially distanced people with cancer, can improve physical and psychological function and self-efficacy to self-manage. We are also aiming to evaluate health economics whilst following the COVID-19 government guidelines.

Trial Design: Phase III: Non randomised Interventional Trial

Sample Size: 1100

Intervention: Provision of dietary, exercise and psychological advice as well as behaviour change support (universal interventions) as aligned to the universal interventions (with the caveats of COVID-19) in the Macmillan 'Principles and guidance for prehabilitation within the management and support of people with cancer' guideline. This complex intervention will be prescribed and delivered through virtual clinics where CanRehab professionals will support the individual. Level 3 Personal Trainers may also deliver the interventions in some cases with a GP referral qualification and who are competent in delivering the interventions to participants with cancer post-treatment.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
1100

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United Kingdom
      • Southampton, United Kingdom, SO16 6YD
        • University Hospital Southampton NHS FT

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male or female participants, aged over 18 years old
  • Suspicion or confirmed diagnosis of cancer (does not require histological confirmation)

Exclusion Criteria:

- Participants unable to give informed consent

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Universal Interventions

The delivery of nutrition, exercise and psychological interventions delivered in the following structure:

  • Month 1: Up to three times per week
  • Months 2-3: Once per week
  • Months 4 - 6: One session per month for the last 3 months
Other: Exercise

At least one and up to three supervised sessions per week including:

  • aerobic exercise at a rating of perceived exertion of 11-14 (6-20 scale) accumulating 20 minutes per session
  • resistance exercise of 8-10 exercises for 2x 8-15 repetitions performed in a controlled manner and covering the whole body
  • Range of motion exercise performed through pain free range of motion covering the whole body to be maintained in good alignment for 10-30 seconds, with some movements held for a second set of 10-30 seconds if stiff
Behavioral: Psychological and Behaviour Change Support
Instructors will be trained in Healthy Conversation Skills (HCS), Making Every Contact Count (MECC) or equivalent. This will enable them to deliver brief participant centred empowering interventions informed by social cognitive theory. This skill set will be used to support participants in adopting and maintaining the prescribed exercise and diet programme as well as adopting and practicing strategies to self-manage psychological well-being. Participants will be given the option to be provided with a SMARTER goal setting sheet to assist with goal planning. Applicable standardised psychological support resources will be made available to the participants though the Macmillan resource repository that they can access online or in alternative format as necessary, for example relaxation and mindfulness exercises
Other: Nutrition
Instructors will receive training in generic nutritional principles in line with recommendations from World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and British Dietetic Association, and will work with participant to review own diet and eating habits against WCRF recommendations to enable goal setting and identify links to existing resources reputable websites, outputs and on-line forums. These would include: principles of healthy eating ('eat well' advice), weight management, symptom management, prehab advice before treatment starts, rehab advice during and after treatment. The participant will be asked if they are eating and drinking well or have any concerns at the beginning of each exercise session. Further support will be provided to instructors to address participant concerns or requests for additional information.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Physical Function
Time Frame: Baseline up to 1 year post enrolment
Physical function will be measured using the EORTC-QLQ-C30. Participants will choose from the choices 1 = Not at all; 2 = A little, 3 = Quite a bit, 4 = Very much
Baseline up to 1 year post enrolment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Emotional Function
Time Frame: Baseline up to 1 year post enrolment
Emotional function will be measured using the EORTC-QLQ-C30. Participants will choose from the choices 1 = Not at all; 2 = A little, 3 = Quite a bit, 4 = Very much
Baseline up to 1 year post enrolment
Health related quality of life
Time Frame: Baseline up to 1 year post enrolment
EQ-5D-5L is a standardised measure of health status developed by the EuroQol Group. Applicable to a wide range of health conditions and treatments, it provides a simple descriptive profile and a single index value for health status that can be used in the clinical evaluation of health care
Baseline up to 1 year post enrolment
Health economics analysis
Time Frame: Baseline up to 1 year post enrolment
EQ-5D-5L is a standardised measure of health status developed by the EuroQol Group. Applicable to a wide range of health conditions and treatments, it provides a simple descriptive profile and a single index value for health status that can be used in the economic evaluation of health care
Baseline up to 1 year post enrolment
Patient activation
Time Frame: Baseline up to 1 year post enrolment

Patients knowledge skills and confidence to manage their own health and care will be measured using the Patient Activation Measure (PAM)

Agreement or disagreement with statements. Choice between disagree strongly, disagree, agree, agree strongly and not applicable
Baseline up to 1 year post enrolment
Self-reported physical activity
Time Frame: Baseline up to 1 year post enrolment
Measured using the Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire, a 7-day physical activity recall
Baseline up to 1 year post enrolment
Nutrition assessment
Time Frame: Baseline up to 1 year post enrolment
In the oncology population where malnutrition prevalence is high, the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment Short Form (PG-SGA SF) is a descriptive screening tool that can provide further information to assist triaging and capture acute change in nutritional state
Baseline up to 1 year post enrolment
Self-efficacy for self-management of chronic disease
Time Frame: Baseline up to 1 year post enrolment

Self-efficacy (confidence) to self-manage chronic disease (SEMCD), measured using the Lorig SEMCD scale

A confidence scale that represents the patients confidence that a regular task can be achieved. 1 = Not confident at all and 10= totally confident.
Baseline up to 1 year post enrolment
Distress levels
Time Frame: Baseline up to 1 year post enrolment
Levels of distress as measured by the Emotions Thermometers. Participants will score on a scale where 0 = None and 10 = Extreme
Baseline up to 1 year post enrolment
Functional capacity
Time Frame: Baseline up to 1 year post enrolment
The Dukes Activity Status Index is a 12 item self-report measure of functional capacity that can be used to estimate peak oxygen uptake
Baseline up to 1 year post enrolment
The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on psychological functioning
Time Frame: Baseline up to 1 year post enrolment
As measured by the Impact of Event Scale - a 22-item self-report measure of the imapact of a specific traumatic event against the DSM criteria for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. 0 = Not at all and 4 = Extremely.
Baseline up to 1 year post enrolment
Process Evaluation
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 12 months
Semi-structured interviews with participants and professionals to explore acceptability, usefulness and barriers to delivery/engagement
Through study completion, an average of 12 months

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Exploratory: Overall survival
Time Frame: 1 year post enrolment
Overall survival at 1 year following date of enrolment
1 year post enrolment
Exploratory: Adherence to the interventions/advice
Time Frame: Baseline up to 1 year post enrolment
Adherence to intervention advice is defined as number of sessions the participants attends divided by the total number of sessions.
Baseline up to 1 year post enrolment

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Macmillan Cancer Support
CanRehab Trust
Wessex Cancer Alliance

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 4, 2020

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
October 13, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 31, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
June 3, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 5, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 11, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
December 2, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 24, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
November 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • RHM CRI 0403

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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