The STRIVE Before Surgery Trial

Launched by OTTAWA HOSPITAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE · Jul 15, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The STRIVE Before Surgery Trial is studying how a special program, called prehabilitation, can help patients prepare for surgery and recover better afterwards. Prehabilitation involves exercises and activities that patients do at home, supported by an online platform. In this trial, half of the participants will take part in this prehabilitation program, while the other half will not. Researchers want to see how this program affects patients' disability levels 30 days after their surgery.

To join the trial, participants must be at least 18 years old and scheduled for certain types of surgeries, such as abdominal or thoracic surgery, within 3 to 12 weeks of signing up. They also need to have access to the internet and be able to communicate in English. Participants can expect to engage in a home-based program and share their experiences, which will help researchers understand the impact of prehabilitation on recovery. It’s important to note that individuals with certain health issues, like severe heart conditions, or those needing surgeries that are not intended to cure their condition, may not be eligible for this study.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Age ≥18 years
• • 2. Scheduled, or on the pathway, for inpatient abdominal, thoracic, pelvic, head-and-neck or vascular surgery
• • 3. Expected surgery date between 3 and 12 weeks from enrollment
• • 4. Valid provincial health insurance number
• • 5. Access to internet-enabled device
• • 6. Email address
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Inability to read and communicate in English
• • 2. Cognitive impairment preventing ability to provide informed consent independently
• • 3. No telephone/cell phone
• • 4. Cardiac, neurological or orthopedic procedure
• • 5. Surgery with no curative intent (palliative surgery)
• • 6. Patient not interested in participating in the context of their TAPA score
• 7. Any of the following cardiovascular conditions:
• • 1. Severe valvular heart disease that limits a patient's ability to ambulate on level ground, or is associated with syncope or dyspnea
• • 2. Severe cardiac dysrhythmias that limit a patient's ability to ambulate on level ground, or is associated with syncope or dyspnea
• • 3. Recent myocardial infarction (within 6 weeks prior to enrollment - based on the Heart and Stroke Foundation's HeartWalk program)