Physical Activity and Motivation in Colorectal Cancer Patients

May 10, 2024 updated by: David González-Cutre Coll, Universidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche

Development of an Educational and Motivational Program to Promote Adherence to Physical Activity and Its Positive Effects in Colorectal Cancer Patients

The intervention will be a physical exercise program for colorectal cancer patients during the adjuvant chemotherapy. The exercise program aims on reducing the side effects of the treatment and improving patients' quality of life. In addition, the investigators try to improve endurance and resistance training level, in order to achieve greater physical functionality, survival and general well-being. For this, the investigators will carry out an exercise program based mainly on muscular strength and cardiorespiratory condition. It will last 6 months, with a frequency of 3 days per week, including sessions of 60 minutes. Sessions will consist of three parts: warm-up, main part (endurance and resistance training), and cool down. An individualized and supervised progression of training will take place. The intensity levels will always be adjusted to the initial levels of the participants, always considering their preferences and comfort.

Participants' preferences and exercise history will be considered through an initial interview. Motivational strategies based on self-determination theory will be applied, since it is one of the most used theories in the field of physical exercise. This theory proposes that all people need to feel competent, autonomous and socially related. If these three needs are satisfied, participants will develop more positive (autonomous) forms of motivation, which are related to better consequences such as vitality, enjoyment, quality of life and adherence to physical activity. In addition, motivational strategies will be applied for families and healthcare professionals.

Before starting the program and at the end of it, each eligible patient will be evaluated through:

  • Physical activity: strength test of lower and upper limbs, agility test, stress test for cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity levels, physical condition and body composition.
  • Psychological factors: autonomy support, basic psychological need satisfaction, motivation, quality of life, perceived barriers, depression, anxiety, hope, quality of life.
  • Clinical parameters: survival rate, side effects, biological factors, treatment delays and planned treatment completion.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

Objectives and justification of the project In Spain, cancer is the second cause of death after cardiovascular diseases. However, if it is divided by sex, cancer is the leading cause of death for men and the second cause for women. In recent years there has been an increase in new cases of cancer due to population growth and aging, since 2/3 of cancer patients are older than 65 years. In addition to the impact of this disease on people's quality of life, a high economic cost has been estimated for the health system. For example, the total cost of cancer in 2015 in Spain was 7,168 million euros. This situation represents an important public health problem and therefore implies that research on the factors that can prevent or alleviate this disease should be considered as a priority.

In this regard, there is increasing scientific evidence of the physical and psychosocial benefits of exercise both during and after the treatment of this disease. Nevertheless, only 30-40% of cancer survivors perform the necessary physical activity (PA) recommended by the main medical institutions. In fact, a significant number of patients are obese (33%) and have a low cardiorespiratory condition (45%). Despite this, PA continues to decrease after diagnosis and only 5-10% of patients are physically active during treatment and 20-30% after treatment. Therefore, the development of intervention programs aimed at promoting PA should be a fundamental objective in the fight against cancer and its physical and psychosocial consequences. In this line, our general objective will be to develop a motivation PA program for colorectal cancer patients. Specifically, and considering the gaps existing in the current literature, our general objective is subdivided into the following specific objectives:

  • To evaluate the physical, psychosocial and behavioural effects, in the short and medium term, of a physical exercise program in which motivational strategies based on self-determination theory are applied.
  • To explore qualitatively the benefits of the physical exercise program, as well as the troubles encountered in its implementation.
  • To develop an educational guide and an intervention protocol to encourage motivation and adherence to PA of colorectal cancer patients.

Methodology This study will require a sample size of 34 patients. This calculation was made through the G*power software, by means of an analysis of variance (ANOVA), adjusting the values to p <.05, with a statistical power of 80% and an effect size of 0.5. The patients will be recently diagnosed with colorectal cancer in phases II-III by the oncology service of the Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro de Majadahonda. Inclusion criteria include to be between 18 and 75 years old, to be undergoing chemotherapy treatment, and to not have any type of associated pathology that prevents them from performing PA. A intervention with an experimental group and a control group will be conducted, where 17 patients will be assigned to a control group, and 17 patients will perform a supervised motivational exercise program.

Measures Cardiorespiratory fitness. Stress tests adapted to the characteristics of the patients will be performed, both in the type of ergometer and in the protocol. We will use electrocardiographic recording and gas exchange analysis. Aerobic and anaerobic exercise thresholds will be established.

Quality of life. The validated Spanish version of the EORTC-QLQ-CR30 will be used for patients with colorectal cancer.

Body composition. Anthropometries will be carried out to estimate body composition parameters.

Biological parameters. The usual analytics carried out in the hospital during the treatment will be used to check the patient's health status and the side effects of the chemotherapy treatment.

Anxiety. The validated version in Spanish of the Hamilton Anxiety Scale will be used.

Depression. The Spanish version of the Hamilton Depression Scale will be used. Autonomy support. The Spanish version of the Perceived Autonomy Support for Exercise Settings will be used.

Perceived barriers to do PA. This scale will be translated and validated to the Spanish context.

Basic psychological needs in exercise. We will use the Basic Psychological Needs in Exercise Scale.

Basic psychological needs in life. The Spanish version of the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale will be used.

Types of motivation. To measure motivation towards PA, the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire will be for PA levels. The Spanish version of the IPAQ questionnaire will be used. On the other hand, PA will be measured in a direct and objective way through portable GT3X accelerometers.

Design, procedure and data analysis The intervention program will be carried out at the Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro of Majadahonda. The program will last 6 months, with three weekly one-hour sessions, and will comply with the recommendations established by the American Cancer Society and the American College of Sports Medicine. The safety precautions and contraindications identified by these institutions for colorectal cancer patients will be especially considered. The program will include aerobic sessions at moderate and vigorous intensities, as well as strength work. Patients will be monitored to model exercise loads individually.

The measurements will be made just before starting the PA program (T1) in the case of the experimental group, at an initial time of the equivalent treatment in the case of the control group. The same measures will be carried out 6 months later (T2). For PA levels, instead of measuring them just after the end of the program, we will wait another month so that patients have been able to recover their usual PA levels after the shock that can mean for them to face the end of our program. In the control group, PA levels will also be evaluated one month after T2. To test the effects of the program, all measurements will be performed 6 months after T2 in both groups (T3).

Additionally, qualitative methodology will be used, so that the 17 patients of the experimental group will be interviewed to know the factors related to their adherence to the PA program and the benefits perceived by them with their participation. Qualitative data collection will be reinforced with field notes compiled in research diaries by observers who will be present during the development of the program. Relatives and health professionals will also be interviewed to learn their perspective regarding the benefits of the program and adherence to it in these patients.

In order to promote adherence to the program and to educate in autonomous PA habits when it ends, motivational strategies based on the self-determination theory will be used. Specific strategies will be developed for this group, based on previous works and educational guides for colorectal cancer patients. The instructor in charge of directing the program will be trained in several sessions to use motivational strategies based on this theory. Once the program is finished, an educational guide of motivational strategies for the promotion of PA in patients with colorectal cancer will be developed and published from the perspective of self-determination theory.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

32

Phase

  • 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 Locations

    • Elche/Alicante
      • Elche, Elche/Alicante, Spain, 03202
        • Universidad Miguel Hernández
    • Majadahonda/Madrid
      • Madrid, Majadahonda/Madrid, Spain, 28222
        • Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro

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

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion criteria:

  • Being more than 18 years
  • Colorectal cancer stage II and III
  • Be receiving adjuvant chemotherapy treatment after surgery
  • Ecog > 1
  • No medical contraindications

Exclusion criteria:

  • Have a disability
  • Colorectal cancer stage IV
  • Presence of metastasis
  • Ecog < 1

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: Health Services Research
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Training group
Participants will participate in a program of physical exercise during the adjuvant chemotherapy treatment
Patients will participate in a program of physical exercise. Resistance training, endurance training, balance and flexibility will be trained with the objective to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and, in order to improve their quality of life
No Intervention: Not training group
Participants will not do any intervention, they only will be perform the pre and post-tests.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Cardiorespiratory fitness
Time Frame: Pre intervention
Rockport 1-mile walking test
Pre intervention
Cardiorespiratory fitness
Time Frame: In the middle of the intervention (at 3 months)
Rockport 1-mile walking test
In the middle of the intervention (at 3 months)
Cardiorespiratory fitness
Time Frame: At 6 months after the start of the intervention
Rockport 1-mile walking test
At 6 months after the start of the intervention
Cardiorespiratory fitness
Time Frame: One year after the start of the intervention
Rockport 1-mile walking test
One year after the start of the intervention
Strength
Time Frame: Pre intervention
Handgrip strength is a measure of the maximum static force that a hand can squeeze using a dynamometer
Pre intervention
Strength
Time Frame: In the middle of the intervention (at 3 months)
Handgrip strength is a measure of the maximum static force that a hand can squeeze using a dynamometer
In the middle of the intervention (at 3 months)
Strength
Time Frame: At 6 months after the start of the intervention
Handgrip strength is a measure of the maximum static force that a hand can squeeze using a dynamometer
At 6 months after the start of the intervention
Strength
Time Frame: One year after the start of the intervention
Handgrip strength is a measure of the maximum static force that a hand can squeeze using a dynamometer
One year after the start of the intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Quality of life (physical function, emotional role, social function, cognitive function and symptoms such a fatigue, anorexia, dyspnea, etc)
Time Frame: Pre intervention
Questionnaire of EORT-QLQ-29 values are assigned between 1 and 4 (1: not at all, 2: a little, 3: quite a bit, 4: a lot) according to the patient's responses to the item, only items 29 and 30 are evaluated with a score of 1 to 7 (1: lousy, 7: excellent). The scores obtained are standardized and a score between 0 and 100 is obtained, which determines the level of impact of the cancer on the patient on each of the scales
Pre intervention
Quality of life (physical function, emotional role, social function, cognitive function and symptoms such a fatigue, anorexia, dyspnea, etc)
Time Frame: In the middle of the intervention (at 3 months)
Questionnaire of EORT-QLQ-29 values are assigned between 1 and 4 (1: not at all, 2: a little, 3: quite a bit, 4: a lot) according to the patient's responses to the item, only items 29 and 30 are evaluated with a score of 1 to 7 (1: lousy, 7: excellent). The scores obtained are standardized and a score between 0 and 100 is obtained, which determines the level of impact of the cancer on the patient on each of the scales
In the middle of the intervention (at 3 months)
Quality of life (physical function, emotional role, social function, cognitive function and symptoms such a fatigue, anorexia, dyspnea, etc)
Time Frame: At 6 months after the start of the intervention
Questionnaire of EORT-QLQ-29 values are assigned between 1 and 4 (1: not at all, 2: a little, 3: quite a bit, 4: a lot) according to the patient's responses to the item, only items 29 and 30 are evaluated with a score of 1 to 7 (1: lousy, 7: excellent). The scores obtained are standardized and a score between 0 and 100 is obtained, which determines the level of impact of the cancer on the patient on each of the scales
At 6 months after the start of the intervention
Quality of life (physical function, emotional role, social function, cognitive function and symptoms such a fatigue, anorexia, dyspnea, etc)
Time Frame: One year after the start of the intervention
Questionnaire of EORT-QLQ-29 values are assigned between 1 and 4 (1: not at all, 2: a little, 3: quite a bit, 4: a lot) according to the patient's responses to the item, only items 29 and 30 are evaluated with a score of 1 to 7 (1: lousy, 7: excellent). The scores obtained are standardized and a score between 0 and 100 is obtained, which determines the level of impact of the cancer on the patient on each of the scales
One year after the start of the intervention
Motivation in exercise context
Time Frame: Pre intervention
Questionnaire BREQ-3 (from 1 to 4 points, being from less autonomous types of motivation to more autonomous types of motivation, based on Self-Determination Theory)
Pre intervention
Motivation in exercise context
Time Frame: In the middle of the intervention (at 3 months)
Questionnaire BREQ-3 (from 1 to 4 points, being from less autonomous types of motivation to more autonomous types of motivation, based on Self-Determination Theory)
In the middle of the intervention (at 3 months)
Motivation in exercise context
Time Frame: At 6 months after the start of the intervention
Questionnaire BREQ-3 (from 1 to 4 points, being from less autonomous types of motivation to more autonomous types of motivation, based on Self-Determination Theory)
At 6 months after the start of the intervention
Motivation in exercise context
Time Frame: One year after the start of the intervention
Questionnaire BREQ-3 (from 1 to 4 points, being from less autonomous types of motivation to more autonomous types of motivation, based on Self-Determination Theory)
One year after the start of the intervention
Body composition
Time Frame: Pre intervention
waist and hip circumference/ waist and hip index
Pre intervention
Body composition
Time Frame: In the middle of the intervention (at 3 months)
waist and hip circumference/ waist and hip index
In the middle of the intervention (at 3 months)
Body composition
Time Frame: At 6 months after the start of the intervention
waist and hip circumference/ waist and hip index
At 6 months after the start of the intervention
Body composition
Time Frame: One year after the start of the intervention
waist and hip circumference/ waist and hip index
One year after the start of the intervention
Autonomy support questionnaire
Time Frame: Pre intervention
Support Scale for Perceived Autonomy in Physical Exercise Contexts (PASSES). From 1 to 7 points, being more score, more perceived support
Pre intervention
Autonomy support questionnaire
Time Frame: In the middle of intervention (at 3 months)
Support Scale for Perceived Autonomy in Physical Exercise Contexts (PASSES)Support Scale for Perceived Autonomy in Physical Exercise Contexts (PASSES). From 1 to 7 points, being more score, more perceived support
In the middle of intervention (at 3 months)
Autonomy support questionnaire
Time Frame: At 6 months after the start of the intervention
Support Scale for Perceived Autonomy in Physical Exercise Contexts (PASSES)Support Scale for Perceived Autonomy in Physical Exercise Contexts (PASSES). From 1 to 7 points, being more score, more perceived support
At 6 months after the start of the intervention
Autonomy support questionnaire
Time Frame: One year after the start of the intervention
Support Scale for Perceived Autonomy in Physical Exercise Contexts (PASSES)Support Scale for Perceived Autonomy in Physical Exercise Contexts (PASSES). From 1 to 7 points, being more score, more perceived support
One year after the start of the intervention
Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (BPNSFS)
Time Frame: Pre intervention
In general life context (from 1 to 5 points)
Pre intervention
Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (BPNSFS)
Time Frame: In the middle of intervention (at 3 months)
In general life context (from 1 to 5 points)
In the middle of intervention (at 3 months)
Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (BPNSFS)
Time Frame: At 6 months after the start of the intervention
In general life context (from 1 to 5 points)
At 6 months after the start of the intervention
Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (BPNSFS)
Time Frame: One year after the start of the intervention
In general life context (from 1 to 5 points)
One year after the start of the intervention
The scale of Basic Psychological Needs in Exercise (BPNES) will be used
Time Frame: Pre intervention
In exercise context (from 1 to 5 points, being more score, more satisfaction of basic psychological needs)
Pre intervention
The scale of Basic Psychological Needs in Exercise (BPNES) will be used
Time Frame: In the middle of intervention (at 3 months)
(from 1 to 5 points, being more score, more satisfaction of basic psychological needs)
In the middle of intervention (at 3 months)
The scale of Basic Psychological Needs in Exercise (BPNES) will be used
Time Frame: At 6 months after the start of the intervention
(from 1 to 5 points, being more score, more satisfaction of basic psychological needs)
At 6 months after the start of the intervention
The scale of Basic Psychological Needs in Exercise (BPNES) will be used
Time Frame: One year after the start of the intervention
(from 1 to 5 points, being more score, more satisfaction of basic psychological needs)
One year after the start of the intervention
Perceived barriers to physical activity participation questionnaire
Time Frame: Pre intervention
On this scale, patients are asked how often different barriers (time, pain, cost, fatigue, etc.) have interfered with their participation in physical exercise during cancer treatment.
Pre intervention
Perceived barriers to physical activity participation questionnaire
Time Frame: In the middle of intervention (at 3 months)
On this scale, patients are asked how often different barriers (time, pain, cost, fatigue, etc.) have interfered with their participation in physical exercise during cancer treatment.
In the middle of intervention (at 3 months)
Perceived barriers to physical activity participation questionnaire
Time Frame: At 6 months after the start of the intervention
On this scale, patients are asked how often different barriers (time, pain, cost, fatigue, etc.) have interfered with their participation in physical exercise during cancer treatment.
At 6 months after the start of the intervention
Perceived barriers to physical activity participation questionnaire
Time Frame: One year after the start of the intervention
On this scale, patients are asked how often different barriers (time, pain, cost, fatigue, etc.) have interfered with their participation in physical exercise during cancer treatment.
One year after the start of the intervention
Hope State Questionnaire
Time Frame: Pre intervention
Scale of hope state to face the disease
Pre intervention
Hope State Questionnaire
Time Frame: In the middle of intervention (at 3 months)
Scale of hope state to face the disease
In the middle of intervention (at 3 months)
Hope State Questionnaire
Time Frame: At 6 months after the start of the intervention
Scale of hope state to face the disease
At 6 months after the start of the intervention
Hope State Questionnaire
Time Frame: One year after the start of the intervention
Scale of hope state to face the disease
One year after the start of the intervention
Physical condition questionnaire
Time Frame: Pre intervention
International Fitness Scale (IFI)
Pre intervention
Physical condition questionnaire
Time Frame: In the middle of intervention (at 3 months)
International Fitness Scale (IFI)
In the middle of intervention (at 3 months)
Physical condition questionnaire
Time Frame: At 6 months after the start of the intervention
International Fitness Scale (IFI)
At 6 months after the start of the intervention
Physical condition questionnaire
Time Frame: One year after the start of the intervention
International Fitness Scale (IFI)
One year after the start of the intervention
Side effects of the chemotherapy
Time Frame: Pre intervention
Fatigue questionnaire FACIT
Pre intervention
Side effects of the chemotherapy
Time Frame: In the middle of intervention (at 3 months)
Fatigue questionnaire FACIT
In the middle of intervention (at 3 months)
Side effects of the chemotherapy
Time Frame: At 6 months after the start of the intervention
Fatigue questionnaire FACIT
At 6 months after the start of the intervention
Side effects of the chemotherapy
Time Frame: One year after the start of the intervention
Fatigue questionnaire FACIT
One year after the start of the intervention
Physical activity levels (subjective)
Time Frame: Pre intervention
International physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ)
Pre intervention
Physical activity levels (subjective)
Time Frame: In the middle of intervention (at 3 months)
International physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ)
In the middle of intervention (at 3 months)
Physical activity levels (subjective)
Time Frame: At 6 months after the start of the intervention
International physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ)
At 6 months after the start of the intervention
Physical activity levels (subjective)
Time Frame: One year after the start of the intervention
International physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ)
One year after the start of the intervention
Physical activity levels (objective)
Time Frame: Pre intervention
Accelerometer
Pre intervention
Physical activity levels (objective)
Time Frame: In the middle of intervention (at 3 months)
Accelerometer
In the middle of intervention (at 3 months)
Physical activity levels (objective)
Time Frame: At 6 months after the start of the intervention
Accelerometer
At 6 months after the start of the intervention
Physical activity levels (objective)
Time Frame: One year after the start of the intervention
Accelerometer
One year after the start of the intervention
Depression and anxiety
Time Frame: Pre intervention
The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaire (1-4 scale: never, not very often, sometimes, slmost always, the higher the score worse the result)
Pre intervention
Depression and anxiety
Time Frame: In the middle of intervention (at 3 months)
The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaire (1-4 scale: never, not very often, sometimes, slmost always, the higher the score worse the result)
In the middle of intervention (at 3 months)
Depression and anxiety
Time Frame: At 6 months after the start of the intervention
The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaire (1-4 scale: never, not very often, sometimes, slmost always, the higher the score worse the result)
At 6 months after the start of the intervention
Depression and anxiety
Time Frame: One year after the start of the intervention
The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaire (1-4 scale: never, not very often, sometimes, slmost always, the higher the score worse the result)
One year after the start of the intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: David González-Cutre Coll, PhD, Miguel Hernández University of Elche

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)

January 21, 2020

Primary Completion (Actual)

June 30, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

December 30, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 21, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 6, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

August 10, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 13, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 10, 2024

Last Verified

May 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

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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