Reducing Health Disparity of Physical Functioning Among Young Adult Cancer Patients of Color

The purpose of the study is to pilot test of PAfitME™ among (1) young adults (YA) cancer patients of color (POC) (Analytic Sample [N=36] after attrition of 30%) and (2) YA cancer patients of White (POW) (Analytic Sample [N=36] after attrition of 30%).

Aim 1: Evaluate Exergame Grading Scheme (EGS) validity when EGS is tested in relationship to standard lab tests (Bruce Treadmill Protocol and isometric/isokinetic dynamometry) and field fitness tests (6-minute walk test, handgrip, and Chair Stand Test).

Aim 2a: Evaluate the feasibility (enrollment rate [% of eligible patients], attrition rate [% in either intervention or control group], adherence rate [% of completed prescribed exergame minutes]), safety (numbers of adverse events), and acceptability (satisfaction score & exit qualitative interviews) of PAfitME™.

Aim 2b: Evaluate the preliminary effect of 12-week PAfitME™ on cardiorespiratory fitness (6-minute walk test) and muscle strength (handgrip [upper body] and Chair Stand Test [lower body]) when compared with a usual care condition among YA cancer POC.

Aim 2c: Evaluate the preliminary effect of 12-week PAfitME™ on cardiorespiratory fitness (6-minute walk test) and muscle strength (handgrip [upper body] and Chair Stand Test [lower body]) when compared with a usual care condition among YA cancer POW.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Symptom Management Behavior Behavior Change Interventions Gaming Motor Activity Neoplasms Physical Activity Young Adult Cancer

Age range

18 year–39 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Early Phase 1

Primary location

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama, 35233, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

post-cancer treatment
age of 18-39 years old
ability to read and speak English
medical clearance of stress test (Bruce treadmill protocol)
no participation in an exercise program
complaint of functional decline after cancer diagnoses
complaint of fatigue or/and pain symptoms after cancer treatment.

Exclusion criteria

no cancer diagnosis
no participation of exercise programs

Treatment and study plan

PAfitME™

Behavioral

PAfitME™, a personalized Physical Activity intervention with fitness graded Motion Exergames, is a telehealth program built on Social Cognitive Theory and the exercise principle of adaptation (cardiorespiratory and skeletal muscle functional adaptation and remodeling in response to frequent physical activity stimuli). PAfitME™ is personalized to the patient's PA barriers: (1) fitness capacities, (2) PA health beliefs (self-efficacy and enjoyment), and (3) fatigue/pain levels. PAfitME™, delivered via FaceTime/Zoom calls, uses commercially available exergaming platforms (Nintendo). Innovative features of PAfitME™ include personalizing the exergame platform to deliver (1) a home-based telehealth intervention to overcome PA barriers in order to improve PA self-efficacy, PA enjoyment, and subsequent PA behavior; (2) a technological approach with dynamic visual feedback to assure PA accuracy and competence; and (3) a real-time assessment of individual exergame performanance.

Primary outcomes

Change 6-minute walk test

Time frame: Baseline and Week 12

6-minute walk. The distance (in meters) walked in 6 minutes is measured.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Other

Collaborators

Oncology Nursing Society

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2023
Primary completion: 2026
Study completion: 2026
First posted: Jul 20, 2026
Registry last updated: Jul 20, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed