Lifestyle Intervention for Veterans With Blood Cancer: Tele-Intervention
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
Summary
Background. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a telehealth-mediated lifestyle intervention program tailored for veterans with blood cancer, focusing on improving health-related quality of life, mental health, and pain outcomes. The hypothesis posits that the telehealth-delivered program will lead to significant improvements in these areas, specifically targeting veterans undergoing treatment or in post-treatment phases. Objective. Recognizing the unique experiences of veterans, especially those in rural or underserved regions, this study seeks to provide insights into the feasibility and impact of telehealth-based lifestyle interventions for this distinct population. Methods. The pilot trial will enroll 30 veterans from the H. John Heinz III VA. Participants will complete baseline web-based surveys assessing demographics, occupational performance, and telehealth preparedness. The intervention comprises progressive resistance and aerobic exercises delivered via telehealth by a health coach, starting with a live supervised session followed by regular remote sessions. Each participant will engage in exercise sessions coordinated through the Veteran's Video Connect (VVC) application, with ongoing communication facilitated via email. This setup allows the health coach to adjust exercise intensity based on real-time symptom feedback. To address potential technology literacy biases, the VVCMatch assessment will categorize veterans as "technology prepared" or in need of additional education. Those requiring support will receive guidance on using the VVC app before starting the intervention. Additionally, participants will receive dietary consultations from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, independent of the research team. Outcome measures include assessments of symptoms, fatigue, function, mental health, and pain, along with evaluations of the intervention's usability through surveys on perceived usefulness and ease of use. These assessments aim to detect meaningful changes and ensure the intervention's effectiveness and acceptability among veterans.
Description
Background. Since the changes in care delivery brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, around 12% of outpatient cancer care visits are now conducted via telehealth. This approach, known as tele-oncology, offers cancer patients more efficient, convenient, and crucially, accessible care options. For VA populations, tele-oncology provides opportunities for follow-up post-diagnosis visits, visits while undergoing therapy (replacing in-person visits on chemotherapy days), and ongoing health surveillance. Variations in digital literacy among veterans can introduce bias in essential research on teleh…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Living with blood cancer * Physically willing and able to perform 30-90 minutes of exercise a minimum of 2 times per week Exclusion Criteria: * Veterans who are unable to perform 30-90 minutes of exercise twice a week * Veterans with significant disabilities related to balance or motion that would cause a safety risk * Veterans without a smart personal device (smart phone, tablet, or computer) and internet connection (for example, cellular or WIFI connection) * Veterans who are pregnant
Interventions
- OtherEXERCISE TRAINING WITH OR WITHOUT MEDICATION
Participating Veterans will engage in bi-weekly, telehealth mediated resistance exercise session. Aerobic exercise will be monitored passively through FitBit data collection. Telehealth exercise sessions will last approximately 45-90 minutes pending the individual Veteran's progress. Participants will also undergo a one-time dietary consultation and recommendations by a Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) member.
Location
- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare SystemPittsburgh, Pennsylvania