Physical Activity Intervention With People at Increased Risk of Developing Colon Cancer

Purpose: A strong body of evidence suggests that lifestyle factors influence cancer risk, and there is now convincing evidence that a physically activity lifestyle is associated with reduced risk of developing colon cancer. However, low self-reported physical activity levels in elderly populations demonstrate the need for physical activity interventions for this patient group that evoke meaningful changes in physical activity behaviour for improvements in CC risk profile to occur.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of a 6 month physical activity intervention on physical activity behaviour and biological markers of CC risk in individuals classified as being at elevated risk of developing the disease following surveillance colonoscopy. The physical activity intervention will be underpinned by Self Determination Theory to create an autonomy-supportive environment, an approach that was recently shown to evoke greater physical activity levels and weight loss than general health education in overweight women. Secondary outcomes will explore the impact of the intervention on aerobic fitness, health-related quality of life and psychological variables (self-efficacy, motivational regulation). In addition, interviews and focus groups will be used to obtain narrative accounts of patient experiences, their perceived health benefits from participating in the intervention and the barriers and facilitators influencing adherence.

Design The proposed study is a randomised controlled trial, with participants stratified for risk status (determined by number and size of polyps identified by colonoscopy). Participants will be randomly allocated to either the physical activity intervention (Active Lifestyle Programme: ALP) or the usual care control group (SC). Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, and after 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Participants allocated to the ALP group will attend supervised exercise sessions at a facility at the University of East Anglia. These will take place twice per week for 3 months and once per week for an additional 3 months. These will be supplemented by home based exercise to achieve a total of 300 minutes of physical activity each week. Supervised exercise sessions will take place in small groups of maximum 7 participants, and last approximately 60 minutes. The exercise sessions will include a 5-10min warm-up period, followed by 20-30 min aerobic exercise, and 15-20 min resistance exercises. The target intensity of the exercises will be 65-85% of the maximum heart rate as determined by the cardiopulmonary fitness test. Intensity will be monitored with heart rate monitors and the rate of perceived exhaustion (Borg Scale). A short cool-down period will conclude the exercise sessions. In addition, participants will be offered physical activity counselling workshops which will be led in groups, and in a motivational interviewing style. All components of the intervention will be undermined by Self-determination Theory, that is to facilitate feelings of autonomy, competence and relatedness.

To further facilitate behaviour change, participants in the ALP group will be provided with pedometers and an educational workbook, which contains information about the benefits of physical activity in general and in regards to bowel cancer, aids to set personalised goals, and other information relevant to physical activity.

There will also be a purposefully selected sample chosen based on prior consent and demographic variables to take part in face to face interviews at 1 and 12 months. Furthermore 3 focus groups containing, participants from the EX and UC group will take place alongside a focus group with Health professionals after the intervention has taken place.

Recruitment and Consenting Potential participants will either hear about the study via posters and flyers at the Big C Cancer Charity at NNUH or they will be approached by a specialist nurse during a consultation appointment before their colonoscopy. However, the recruitment procedure will be the same for each path from the point of their pre-colonoscopy consultation appointment.On the day of the consultation, a nurse will inform the potential participants about the study and give them an invitation letter, and a participant information sheet. At this meeting, the nurse will also provide the patient with a consent form, asking for their agreement to be contacted by a researcher. If the patient gives consent to be contacted, a researcher will call the patient prior to their screening colonoscopy to provide further information about the study, and arrange an appointment to obtain consent for biopsies to be taken during their colonoscopy. If the patient is diagnosed with polyps during the screening colonoscopy, the researcher will arrange another appointment post-colonoscopy to carry out baseline assessments and obtain full study consent.

Baseline assessments will include a maximal fitness test, assessment of current physical activity using accelerometers and self-report, questionnaires assessing quality of life and psycho-social variables, and body composition.

After the completion of all baseline assessments, participants will be randomised to one of the two study arms. This will be carried out by a person not directly involved in the research. The person undertaking the maximal fitness test will be blinded to group allocation throughout the whole duration of the study. The person carrying out the intervention will not be blinded to group allocation.