Survivors Uniting for Remote Guided Exercise (SURGE)

March 27, 2026 updated by: Heather Leach, Colorado State University

Efficacy of a Group-based Videoconference Intervention to Increase Physical Activity in Cancer Survivors

The goal of this research study is to look at how live, online group exercise compares to recorded videos for helping increase physical activity levels, improve physical fitness and quality of life, and reduce loneliness among those living with and beyond cancer. The following aims have been established for this study:

  • Aim 1: Examine the effect of a group-based videoconference physical activity (PA) intervention on moderate to vigorous physical activity [MVPA] (i.e., aerobic and resistance exercise).
  • Aim 2: Examine the effect of the intervention on additional health-related outcomes including physical fitness (i.e., aerobic endurance, muscular strength), and quality of life at both timepoints.
  • Aim 3: Explore potential mediators and moderators of intervention effects. We will examine mediators (e.g., self-efficacy, outcome expectations, group cohesion) and moderators (e.g., age, cancer stage, neighborhood walkability) of the intervention on MVPA.
  • Exploratory Aim: Determine whether a group-based videoconference PA intervention reduces loneliness among cancer survivors.

Researchers will randomize participants into one of two guided exercise groups that are 12-weeks long in duration. Participants will be asked to complete online fitness assessments and surveys as well as wear a physical activity monitor device and watch a few times throughout the study. The whole study is 9-months long in duration with a 6-month free-living period where no study activities will take place.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

For cancer survivors, moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) is associated with up to 50% reductions in cancer-specific and all-cause mortality. Previous studies also consistently demonstrate that MVPA improves cancer survivor's' physical function and quality of life. However, recent estimates suggest that only 14.2% of cancer survivors engage in the amount of MVPA considered necessary to achieve these health benefits, indicating a need for effective and wide-reaching interventions to increase MVPA.

Supervised interventions that utilize behavior change techniques like goal setting, social support, self-monitoring, action planning, and instruction on how to perform behavior, are most successful in increasing PA among cancer survivors. However, delivering these interventions face-to-face can be resource intensive, and present a barrier to cancer survivors in terms of access (e.g., no programs available nearby, and recently, due to social distancing requirements of the COVID-19 pandemic).

Web, text messaging, and other remote or distance-based PA interventions for cancer survivors demonstrate promise however they exhibit a smaller magnitude of effect on MVPA and physical and psychosocial outcomes than those that are delivered face-to-face. Key factors for this diminished effect size may be lower adherence/compliance due to lack of supervision, and fewer opportunities available for social interaction and support. Cancer survivors acknowledge the importance of peer support for PA, report that one of the quintessential facilitators for engaging in PA is the social benefit and describe camaraderie and the opportunity to be surrounded by others with a shared experience as motivating for being physically active.

The majority of remote or distance-based PA interventions for cancer survivors have been delivered asynchronously (i.e., occurs through online channels without real-time interaction), which eliminates direct supervision from a qualified exercise professional, and presents a challenge for tangible social connections. Conversely, virtually supervised PA interventions (i.e., using videoconferencing) are delivered synchronously, offering the opportunity for real-time supervision and social interaction, while retaining the scalability and reach advantages of remote delivery modalities. However, to date, there have been no large-scale, randomized controlled trials testing the efficacy of a group-based videoconference intervention to increase MVPA in cancer survivors. Videoconferencing can expand the reach of supervised, group-based interventions while potentially enhancing the effects of asynchronous distance-delivered modalities on MVPA, physical, and psychosocial outcomes. Thus, with the substantial, beneficial effects of PA for cancer survivors and the scalability potential of videoconference delivery, findings from this study stand to have high impact not only on the field of PA/exercise for cancer survivorship but can also inform similar interventions and programs for other chronic disease populations.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

300

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 Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Colorado
      • Fort Collins, Colorado, United States, 80523
        • Recruiting
        • Human Performance Clinical Research Lab
        • Contact:

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

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Able to speak/read English,
  • Diagnosed with any type of cancer within the last 5 years
  • Completed primary or adjuvant treatment (i.e., chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery) with no planned treatment within the next nine months. This does not include long-term or chronic therapies such as anti-hormone or targeted therapies (e.g., aromatase inhibitor, androgen deprivation therapy, immunotherapies)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Existing participation in ≥150 minutes per week of at least moderate intensity aerobic exercise
  • Known contraindications for non-medically supervised moderate or greater intensity exercise (e.g., uncontrolled hypertension, inability to walk without an assistive device)
  • Current or planned participation in another structured program or intervention intended to encourage participation in exercise or physical activity.

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: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention (Virtually Supervised Exercise Class)
Live, group-based exercise classes will be delivered 2x per week on Zoom for 12-weeks along with a total of 5 behavior change discussion sessions.
Behavioral: Virtually Supervised Exercise Sessions
The 12-week intervention will consist of supervised exercise sessions twice per week, and PA behavior change discussion sessions twice per month (bi-weekly) throughout the study for a total of five sessions (Week 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10). Exercise and PA behavior change discussion sessions will be informed by social cognitive theory, operationalize several BCT's, and include group dynamics-based strategies to enhance group cohesion. Exercise sessions will take place twice per week, lasting approximately one hour.
Other Names:
  • Live, Group-Based Zoom Class
Active Comparator: Comparator (Asynchronous Exercise Sessions)
Participants will watch pre-recorded exercise and discussion videos for 12-weeks.
Behavioral: Asynchronous Group
The comparator will be an "unsupported intervention",128 which will use the same technology and provide the same content as the intervention but subtract the human components. Participants in the control group will receive access to pre-recorded (i.e., asynchronous) videos of the exercise and discussion sessions. The exercise videos will follow the same format as those in the intervention (i.e., instructor led, circuit-style aerobic and resistance exercises). Discussion sessions will operationalize the same BCT's using PowerPoint slides. Comparator arm participants will receive instructions on how to access these videos via a unique participant login to a secure website, Canvas, the same recommendations to achieve PA guidelines, and the same home-based exercise equipment (along with instructions for use).
Other Names:
  • Pre-recorded exercise videos

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in accelerometer measured moderate to vigorous physical activity from baseline to 3- and 6-month follow-up
Time Frame: Assessed at baseline, 3-and 6-month follow-up
MVPA will be compared between the intervention and comparator arm from baseline to post-intervention (primary endpoint) and six-month follow-up.
Assessed at baseline, 3-and 6-month follow-up
Change in self-reported moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity from baseline to 3 and 6 month follow-up
Time Frame: Assessed at baseline, 3 and 6-month follow-up
Assessed by Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ)
Assessed at baseline, 3 and 6-month follow-up

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Quality of life will be assessed by a quantitative self-report questionnaire
Time Frame: Assessed at baseline and 3 and 6 month follow-up
A quality of life survey will be sent at three time points throughout the study: Enrollment, 3-month follow-up, & 6-month follow-up. QOL is assessed on a scale of (1-5) and has different subscales wherein some subscales have a reverse scoring system.
Assessed at baseline and 3 and 6 month follow-up
Physical fitness assessed by sit-to-stand and 2-minute step test
Time Frame: Assessed at baseline and 3 and 6 month follow-up
Participants will complete a total of three study assessments at the following timepoints: Enrollment, 3 -month follow-up, & 6-month follow-up from program completion
Assessed at baseline and 3 and 6 month follow-up

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Colorado State University

Collaborators

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Heather J Leach, PhD, Colorado State University

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.

Helpful Links

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)

February 6, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2029

Study Completion (Estimated)

March 1, 2030

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 15, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 15, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

December 18, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 31, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 27, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 6002
  • 1R01CA296965-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

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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