Active Living After Cancer: Implementation Within Be Well Acres Homes
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Summary
The goal of this research study is to learn more about a physical activity program adapted for cancer survivors.
Description
Primary Objectives: Evaluate the effectiveness of ALAC adapted for delivery in Acres Homes, using a randomized wait- list-control group design. The primary outcome will be physical functioning as measured by the 30- second sit-to-stand test at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes will include physical functioning measured by the six-minute walk, objective and self-reported physical activity, social connectedness, and quality of life. The investigators will also investigate whether program effects are maintained at 6 months. Hypothesis: Cancer survivors in the adapted ALAC program will increase their…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Past diagnosis of invasive cancer, or a caregiver (family or friend) of a participating survivor. 2. No longer receiving treatment for cancer (except hormone therapy or long-term maintenance chemotherapy). 3. Over the age of 18. 4. Screen negative for contraindicating health problems on the adapted Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q),79 or screened positive but have approval from a health care provider to participate. 5. Lives in the Acres Homes neighborhood of Houston, Texas or has a home zip code of 77088 or 77091. 6. Able to provide informed consent. E…
Interventions
- BehavioralPhysical Activity/Physical Functioning
The physical activity portion of the program sessions focuses on teaching cognitive and behavioral skills to increase physical activity, including goalsetting, self-monitoring, overcoming barriers to physical activity, enlisting social support, and how to handle "high risk" situations that may result in relapses to a sedentary lifestyle. The health educator teaches participants about various forms of moderate intensity activity and has them practice brief bouts of activity of various types to ensure that they are doing the activities safely and correctly. Each week participants receive a handout to provide information about the behavioral skill taught that week. The program also provides activity trackers (week 1) and resistance bands (week 5). The pedometer assists participants in self-monitoring their activity, and the resistance bands provide a form of home-based exercise that participants can do even with limited space.
- BehavioralQuality of Life
The survivorship portion of the program features a guided discussion on a different topic each session. The goals of the discussion are to present information about the topic, answer participants' questions about the topic, encourage participants to share solutions and ideas relevant to the topic with each other, and provide information on community resources participants can access if they require additional help. The health educator makes a brief presentation about the topic, answers questions, and then asks a series of 2-3 open-ended questions to facilitate discussion about the topic. At the end of the session, the health educator navigates participants who need additional information or service related to the topic to resources in the community.
Location
- The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer CenterHouston, Texas