A digital health intervention to improve nutrition and physical activity in breast cancer survivors: Rationale and design of the Cook and Move for Your Life pilot and feasibility randomized controlled trial

Abstract

BackgroundThe design of a randomized pilot trial evaluating the feasibility of two doses of a digital health intervention promoting changes in nutrition and physical activity in breast cancer (BC) survivors is described. MethodsEligible women were adults with history of early-stage breast cancer and > 60 days post-treatment, consumed <5 servings/day of fruits/vegetables and/or engaged in <150 min/week of aerobic moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and had internet access. Participants were randomized to 6 months of either a “low” (1 session) or “high” (12 sessions) dose digital health intervention. Zoom-delivered sessions focused on improving diet and physical activity through didactic and experiential classes delivered by a registered dietitian, chef, exercise physiologist, and culinary educator. All study participants received weekly motivational texts, a Fitbit, and study website access. Diet, accelerometry, anthropometric, psychosocial, and biospecimen data were collected remotely at baseline and six months. Primary outcome was feasibility measured via accrual rate, adherence, retention, and acceptability. ResultsRecruitment began in December 2019, was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resumed September 2020, and concluded in January 2021. Women were identified from the local BC registry and flyers posted in the oncology clinic. Of 929 women recruited, 321 completed the screening assessment, and of these, 138 were eligible. A total of 74 women were enrolled and randomized to the study. ConclusionBC survivors were successfully enrolled in a digital health nutrition and physical activity intervention. If feasible, this intervention will be tested in larger and more diverse populations of cancer survivors.Trial registration:ClinicalTrials.govNCT04200482