Speaker
Description
Purpose
Exercise provides important benefits for cancer survivors, yet participation remains low due to barriers such as time demands, travel distance, and limited access to appropriate services. Supervised live-remote delivery may help address these barriers while retaining professional support. This trial evaluated the effects of a 12-week live-remote supervised exercise intervention on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and other patient-reported and physiological outcomes in survivors of breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer.
Methods
Between January 2022 and December 2023, 200 participants (mean age 58.5 ± 10.4 years; 62% women) were randomised to a live-remote exercise intervention or usual care. Half had been treated for breast cancer, 23% for prostate cancer, and 26% for colorectal cancer. The intervention comprised twice-weekly, 60-minute virtual group sessions (≤8 participants) delivered for 12 weeks by upskilled personal trainers. Assessments occurred at baseline, post-intervention (3 months), and 6 months. The primary outcome was overall HRQoL (EORTC QLQ-C30). Secondary outcomes included self-reported physical functioning, cardiorespiratory fitness (VO₂max), strength, and physical activity. Exploratory analyses examined potential moderating factors and descriptive patterns of absolute change by baseline health status.
Results
Median attendance was 75%, with no serious adverse events. No between-group difference was observed for overall HRQoL. At 3 months, compared with usual care, the intervention group showed greater improvements in self-reported physical functioning (ES 0.31, p≤0.001), sit-to-stand performance (ES=0.22, p=0.003), VO₂max (ES=0.12, p=0.045), upper-body strength (ES=0.17, p=0.010), and physical activity (aerobic ES=0.57; resistance ES=1.03; both p<0.001). Most effects were not sustained at 6 months. Exploratory findings suggest that women, participants receiving endocrine therapy, and those with lower baseline HRQoL or fitness appeared to show greater improvements.
Conclusions
Supervised live-remote exercise improved physical function, fitness, strength, and physical activity, with no significant change in overall HRQoL. Exploratory findings indicate that some subgroups may derive greater benefit.
Keywords
Live-remote exercise, virtual exercise, health-related quality of life, physical functioning
| Abstract submitters declaration | yes |
|---|---|
| Conflict of Interest & Ethical Approval | yes |
