Grant: Project Grant

Physical activity has numerous benefits for health- and cancer-related outcomes, but most cancer survivors are not active enough for these benefits. Cancer and its treatment together with the threat of COVID-19, has contributed to additional stress levels experienced by cancer survivors. Therefore, supportive care interventions adapted to the pandemic among cancer survivors are needed. Building on our successful pilot study, we will evaluate the effects of delivering a 6-month supervised physical activity program plus standard exercise counselling (PA+EC) versus a supervised physical activity plus motivationally-enhanced behavioural counselling (PA+BC) on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in cancer survivors. We now propose an efficacy trial with some modifications to address the maintenance of behaviour change we observed in the initial pilot. Maintenance of physical activity is a key focus in this trial. As such, all components of the previous intervention including the behavioural counselling will be retained and we will provide additional support through an extended program of physical activity and behavioural support through synchronous videoconferencing to maintain behaviour change. Cancer survivors will receive an individualized aerobic prescription at moderate-to-vigorous intensity. The PA+BC group will receive twelve behavioural counselling sessions with a physical activity specialist, and the corresponding counselling session will be delivered bi-weekly after each supervised physical activity session. In addition to the supervised physical activity sessions, the PA+EC (i.e., control group) will receive twelve standard physical activity counselling sessions based on exercise training principles. Support for this study will create a physical activity maintenance program that can be used by clinical and community-based organization as a supportive care tool to improve health outcomes for cancer survivors across Canada.