A Dyadic Approach to Cancer Care: a Feasibility and Efficacy Partner-based Exercise Study

NEED: Cancer has been characterized as a family affair, as it is a disease in which both the patient and their family members are confronted by considerable physical and psychological stressors. With an anticipated 80% increase in the average number of new cancer diagnoses by 2030 and rapidly escalating health care costs, there has been a shift to outpatient and home-based care. In doing so, family members are increasingly being called upon to participate as informal caregivers (i.e., an individual who provided uncompensated care). Despite being a key partner in the supportive care of the cancer patient, family caregivers are often inadequately prepared or supported to take on this critical role, subsequently putting their own health and well-being at risk and by extension, that of the cancer patient/survivor. Preliminary data suggests that exercise interventions show promise in mitigating caregiver burden and improving health outcomes for both the caregiver and the patient/survivor. To date, however only two studies have examined the benefit of exercise interventions on family caregiver and patient outcomes within the cancer care context.

GOAL: The primary goal of this study will be to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a partner-based 12-week exercise intervention. The investigators will also explore the preliminary effectiveness of the exercise program on caregiver burden and physical and psychological health of both the family caregiver and the care recipient.

WHO: Participants will include adult primary caregivers and cancer patients/survivors of all cancers and stages at any point along the cancer care trajectory.

HOW: Using both surveys and participant interviews, the participant experience and impact (e.g., physical and psychological health benefits) of a 12-week, partner-based exercise intervention will be evaluated. The 12-week exercise program will include a combination of aerobic, resistance, balance, and flexibility exercises delivered in a partner-based setting twice weekly at a dedicated cancer and exercise lab.

Inclusion criteria

(all):

• 18+ years
• able to perform discontinuous low intensity physical activity at a minimum
• able to provide informed written consent in English.

Inclusion criteria

(cancer patients/survivors)

• are along any stage of the cancer continuum (i.e., pre-treatment, receiving active treatment, and up to 5 years post-treatment)

Inclusion criteria

(informal caregivers)

• must be currently providing physical and/or psychological support to an adult (+18 years) cancer patient/survivor
• not be exceeding current Canadian physical activity guidelines (i.e., 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week)

Exclusion criteria

(all):

• Patients/survivors and caregivers will be excluded from the study if they have any medical conditions that would contraindicate exercise

Exclusion criteria

(informal caregivers)

• Bereaved caregivers