Renewing Caregiver Health and Well-being Through Exercise (RECHARGE)

University of Calgary

Status: Completed

Conditions: Family Caregivers

Treatments: Behavioral: A 24 week center-based structured exercise and education program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02580461

14-2478

Details and patient eligibility

About

The RECHARGE study is evaluating the effect of a 24 week structured exercise and education program on the physical and emotion health, quality of life, physical activity and fitness levels of family caregivers. Very little research has been done examining the impact of a structured exercise program designed for family caregivers of cancer patients. The purpose of this study is to determine if physical activity is effective in improving caregiver health and well-being.

Full description

The REHCARGE study is a randomized control trial testing a structured exercise program for cancer family caregivers. One half of the participants enrolled will receive no exercise program until after twelve weeks have passed (the delayed start group) and the other half of the participants will start the exercise program right away. In addition to regular attendance at exercise classes, participants will also be asked to complete some measurements throughout the study including an initial assessment and one after 12 weeks and 24 weeks of the exercise programs. If participants are a part of the delayed start group, they will receive a fourth fitness assessment. Assessments include an evaluation of physical activity levels, quality of life, depression, sleep, and social support through survey type questionnaires as well as a fitness assessment to measure overall fitness and body composition. Participants will receive an individualized exercise program appropriate for their fitness level as well as 6 education sessions about healthy behaviors throughout the study.

Enrollment: 80 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Currently providing physical care, instrumental or psychological support to an adult patient who has been diagnosed with any type of cancer.
• They must not have any physical health conditions that would restrict their participation in an aerobic and resistance exercise program.
• They must be willing to participate in two exercise classes per week at a gym space at the University of Calgary.
• They must not be planning on moving for the next 12 months
• Not currently meeting the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines (150 minutes of aerobic activity per week and 2 sessions of resistance training per week) for the last three months.
• Be able to speak and read English

Exclusion criteria

• Providing care to a child with cancer Participants caring for a child with cancer will be excluded
• Participants with a health condition that limits their participation in a physical activity program will be excluded
• Participants who were previously caring for a cancer patient and that patient has now died (i.e. bereaved caregivers) will be excluded
• Participants meeting the Canadian Physical Activity guidelines for the past three months will be excluded
• Participants who cannot attend the group exercise classes will be excluded

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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80 participants in 2 patient groups

Immediate Exercise Group

Experimental group

Description:

One half of the participants enrolled in the 24 week center-based structured exercise and education program will be randomized to the immediate exercise group. The immediate exercise group will receive a 12 week center based structured exercise program followed by a 12 week maintenance of exercise program.

Treatment:

Behavioral: A 24 week center-based structured exercise and education program

Delayed Exercise Group

No Intervention group

Description:

One half of the participants enrolled in the 24 week center-based structured exercise and education program will be randomized to the delayed exercise group. This will be a wait list control group and the participants will receive no active intervention for 12 weeks. The wait list control group will then be enrolled in the 12 week structured exercise intervention.