Virtual Rehabilitation for Cancer Survivors

Launched by UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK, TORONTO · Jun 9, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a virtual rehabilitation program called CaRE@Home, designed for cancer survivors who may be facing challenges after their treatment. The goal is to see how effective this 8-week program is in helping participants improve their overall disability and enhance their physical and social well-being, anxiety levels, work status, quality of life, and any physiological changes. The study involves multiple centers across Canada, including Vancouver and Toronto, and aims to understand how well this program can be integrated into different cancer care settings.

To be eligible for the trial, participants should be at least 18 years old and have been diagnosed with certain types of cancer, such as breast or colorectal cancer, within the last 24 months. They should have completed their main treatment, like surgery or radiation, and need to have access to the internet. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the rehabilitation program or a comparison group, and they can expect to engage in online exercises and assessments during the study. It’s important to note that those with significant mental health issues or severe physical limitations may not be eligible to participate.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1) Age 18 years or older
• • 2) Diagnosed with breast (stage 0-III), colorectal (stage I-III), head and neck (stage I-III), or lymphoma/lymphoproliferative disorder (excluded: recurrent, refractory, progressive, received or planning to receive transplant)
• • 3) Completed a primary treatment (i.e. surgery and/or radiation and/or systemic therapy of any kind) within the last 24 months
• • 4) If patients received systemic therapy of a fixed duration with adjuvant/curative intent, the main part should be completed, but patients are eligible if on primary, maintenance, or other adjuvant systemic therapy (e.g. eligible while on trastuzumab, immunotherapy, rituximab, oral endocrine or targeted therapy - ie ibrutinib). Indolent non-curative lymphoma patients are eligible if they have response to systemic therapy
• • 5) Communicate sufficiently in English to complete intervention and questionnaires
• • 6) Willing to be randomized and participate in the intervention and in-person assessments; 6) Internet access
• • 7) An indication for cancer rehabilitation (WHO-DAS score \>5).
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1) Impaired functional status that would preclude rehabilitation (PRFS \>3)
• • 2) Indication of major depressive disorder (PHQ-2 \>3)
• • 3) Diagnosis of neurological disease or condition significantly limiting cognitive functioning, such as language or memory (e.g., Alzheimer's disease or other dementia, severe traumatic brain injury);
• • 4) Conditions or current injuries which are not appropriate for distance based exercise