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Santa Mina D, Sellers D, Au D, Alibhai SMH, Clarke H, Cuthbertson BH, Darling G, El Danab A, Govindarajan A, Ladha K, Matthew AG, McCluskey S, Ng KA, Quereshy F, Karkouti K, Randall IM. A Pragmatic Non-Randomized Trial of Prehabilitation Prior to Cancer Surgery: Study Protocol and COVID-19-Related Adaptations. Front Oncol 2021; 11:629207. [PMID: 33777780 PMCID: PMC7987917 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.629207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Experimental data highlight the potential benefits and health system cost savings related to surgical prehabilitation; however, adequately powered randomized controlled trial (RCT) data remain nascent. Emerging prehabilitation services may be informed by early RCT data but can be limited in informing real-world program development. Pragmatic trials emphasize external validity and generalizability to understand and advise intervention development and implementation in clinical settings. This paper presents the methodology of a pragmatic prehabilitation trial to complement emerging phase III clinical trials and inform implementation strategies. Methods This is a pilot pragmatic clinical trial conducted in a large academic hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada to assess feasibility of clinical implementation and derive estimates of effectiveness. Feasibility data include program referral rates, enrolment and attrition, intervention adherence and safety, participant satisfaction, and barriers and facilitators to programming. The study aims to receive 150 eligible referrals for adult, English-speaking, preoperative oncology patients with an identified indication for prehabilitation (e.g., frailty, deconditioning, malnutrition, psychological distress). Study participants undergo a baseline assessment and shared-decision making regarding the intervention setting: either facility-based prehabilitation or home-based prehabilitation. In both scenarios, participants receive an individualized exercise prescription, stress-reduction psychological support, nutrition counseling, and protein supplementation, and if appropriate, smoking cessation program referrals. Secondary objectives include estimating intervention effects at the week prior to surgery and 30 and 90 days postoperatively. Outcomes include surgical complications, postoperative length of stay, mortality, hospital readmissions, physical fitness, psychological well-being, and quality of life. Data from participants who decline the intervention but consent for research-related access to health records will serve as comparators. The COVID-19 pandemic required the introduction of a 'virtual program' using only telephone or internet-based communication for screening, assessments, or intervention was introduced. Conclusion This pragmatic trial will provide evidence on the feasibility and viability of prehabilitation services delivered under usual clinical conditions. Study amendments due to the COVID-19 pandemic are presented as strategies to maintain prehabilitation research and services to potentially mitigate the consequences of extended surgery wait times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Santa Mina
- Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Daniel Sellers
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Darren Au
- Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Shabbir M H Alibhai
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hance Clarke
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Brian H Cuthbertson
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Critical Care Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Gail Darling
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Surgical Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alaa El Danab
- Clinical Nutrition, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Anand Govindarajan
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Surgery, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Karim Ladha
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Anesthesia, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Andrew G Matthew
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Surgical Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stuart McCluskey
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Karen A Ng
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Geriatrics, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Fayez Quereshy
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Surgical Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Keyvan Karkouti
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ian M Randall
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
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