How can telemedicine optimize the feasibility of a physical activity program in paediatric oncology?

Abstract

Cancer patients are prone to secondary diseases and side effects due to treatments. Further, they have a tendency towards inactivity, therefore prompting the expression of comorbidities. However, engagement in daily physical activities is beneficial to improve health-related quality of life and functional health. The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of a physical activity program for paediatric oncology population throughout treatments. This is an ongoing study conducted at Sainte-Justine University Health Center (SJUHC) since July 2017. It is the first feasibility study of its kind, conducted with intention to treat, including patients between the age of 2 and 21 years old. The experimental group will include 150 patients that will receive exercise-based supervised intervention twice per week throughout treatments. The control group, to be completed one year from now, will include 150 survivors who did not receive exercise-based intervention during treatments. Recruitment for control group started before the experimental group to improve the evaluation protocol. Moreover, the main instrument used to provide and optimize supervision during individual physical activity intervention will be telemedicine web platform. To date, our sample of 43 survivors (predominately of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) within the control group presents a mean age of 11.6 ± 5.7 years; the Male-Female ratio in the sample is respectively of 44% ( n = 19) and 56% ( n = 24). The Incremental Shuttle Walking Test showed that males (927.8 ± 163.6 m) can perform a greater distance than females (674.2 ± 330.7 m), and distance performed by older participants (870.06 ± 280.39 m) was superior to younger participants’ (712.50 ± 237.74 m). In the next few weeks, results of the experimental group, compared to control, will provide insight on the feasibility of physical activity intervention using telemedicine in the paediatric oncology field. This study will provide valuable tools for health professionals who wish to encourage children diagnosed with cancer to exercise.