Burnout, CaregiverC4C+NCT05884073
Exercise for Oncology Care Professionals
A study testing Circuit-based Resistance Training and Nature-based Walking in people with Burnout, Caregiver and Compassion Fatigue, run by Melanie Keats at 2 sites in Canada.
Trial summary
The goal of this preference-based pilot study will be to assess the feasibility and acceptability, and impact of a 12-week exercise intervention on oncology care provider burnout. Participants self-select to participate into one of two exercise groups. Group assignment will be based on participant preference. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Burnout, Caregiver, Compassion Fatigue
- What is being tested?
- Circuit-based Resistance Training and Nature-based Walking
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 70 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesCanada
- Study dates
- 2 Jan 2025to 31 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 18 years of age or older;
- Able to speak/write in English;
- Must be providing formal care to cancer patients in a clinical setting within the Halifax Municipality;
- Actively practicing within the Nova Scotia Cancer Care Program; and
- Able and willing to engage in low-to-moderate intensity physical activity.
Who cannot join
- Exceeding Canadian physical activity guidelines of 150-minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week; and
- Any health condition that would preclude safe participation in a new exercise program.
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Canada2 sites, 2 recruiting
- Recruiting
Physical Activity and Cancer (PAC) Lab
Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 2Y9
Melanie Keats, PhD, 902-494-7173, melanie.keats@dal.ca
- Recruiting
Physical Activity and Cancer (PAC) Lab
Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2
9024732035, chloe.cyr@dal.ca
About this study
Official title: The Cost of Caring: Examining the Role of Exercise in Mitigating Oncology Care Provider Burnout (C4C+)
The goal of this preference-based pilot study will be to assess the feasibility and acceptability, and impact of a 12-week exercise intervention on oncology care provider burnout. Participants self-select to participate into one of two exercise groups. Group assignment will be based on participant preference.
Group 1: Supervised circuit-based resistance exercise
Group 2: Nature-based walking
- Conditions
- Burnout, Caregiver, Compassion Fatigue
- Being tested
- Circuit-based Resistance Training, Nature-based Walking
- Keywords
- oncology health professionals, burnout, exercise, physical activity, nature-based walking
- Medical subject headings
- Caregiver Burden, Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, Psychological, Motor Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Circuit-based Resistance TrainingBehavioural
Participants will engage in a 12-week circuit-based resistance training program 2-3 times/week. Each supervised session will last about 30 minutes and will consist of 5 resistance exercises. Each exercise will be completed for 1 minute for a total of 5 minutes followed by a 1-minute rest. The circuit will then repeated 3 additional times (total of 4 circuits). All resistance sessions will be supervised by a certified fitness professionals.
Nature-based WalkingBehavioural
Participants will be asked to engage in 30 minutes of self-paced walking in nature 2-3 days/week. Participants will be provided with a list of resources that direct them to walkable nature/green spaces close to their home or workplace.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit-based resistance exercise | Experimental | 12-week, supervised circuit-based resistance training program (2-3 times/week). Receives: Behavioral: Circuit-based Resistance Training |
| Nature Walking | Active comparator | 12-weeks self-paced walking in nature (2-3 times/week). Receives: Behavioral: Nature-based Walking |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Feasibility - Participant Fidelity (Intervention Adherence)
Participant adherence to prescribed exercise intervention
Measured: Through study completion (about 2 years)
Feasibility - Safety
Adverse and serious adverse events
Measured: Through study completion (about 2 years)
Feasibility - Retention/Attrition
Percentage of participants who complete the 12-week intervention
Measured: Through study completion (about 2 years)
Feasibility - Attendance
Attendance is calculated as the percentage of exercise sessions completed by the total number of available exercise sessions over the 12-week intervention.
Measured: Through study completion (about 2 years)
Feasibility - Recruitment
Participant accrual as defined as the number of eligible participants who express an interest in participation divided by the number of participants who consent to participate.
Measured: Through study completion (about 2 years)
Feasibility - Participant Experience
Interviews with a diverse group of participants will be used to assess factors influencing participant selection of intervention type/setting, adherence to and satisfaction with the selected intervention.
Measured: Through study completion (about 2 years)
Secondary outcomes (8)
Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) for Medical Personnel (MP)
The MBI-MP is used to assess burnout in medical professionals. The 22-item, 7-point Likert scale (0 = never to 6 = everyday) assesses burnout across three dimensions: emotional exhaustion (9 items), personal accomplishment (8 items), and depersonalization (5-items).
Measured: Baseline, mid-program (6-weeks), and post intervention (12-weeks).
Physical Activity Behavior - Self-reported
Self-reported physical activity is assessed by the Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire. Higher scores indicate higher levels of physical activity. Participants reporting moderate-to-strenuous Leisure Score Index ≥ 24 are classified as active; those reporting moderate-to-strenuous Leisure Score Index ≤ 23 are classified as insufficiently active.
Measured: Baseline, mid-program (6-weeks), and post intervention (12-weeks).
Resting heart rate
Resting heart rate
Measured: Pre to post intervention (12-week change)
Resting Blood Pressure
Resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure
Measured: Pre to post intervention (12-week change)
Aerobic fitness
The six-minute walk test is used to assess aerobic capacity.
Measured: Pre to post intervention (12-week change)
Upper Body Strength
A hand-held dynamometer is used to assess upper body strength.
Measured: Pre to post intervention (12-week change)
Muscular Endurance
The 30-second sit-to-stand is used to assess lower body muscular endurance.
Measured: Pre to post intervention (12-week change)
Body Mass Index
Height and weight is used to assess body mass index
Measured: Pre to post intervention (12-week change)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted1 Jun 2023
- Study start2 Jan 2025
- Primary completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Burnout, CaregiverStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 70 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Melanie Keats
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Melanie Keats, Nova Scotia Health Authority
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05884073
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- C4C+
- Acronym
- C4C+
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 5 May 2023
- Last updated
- 1 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 1 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Cost of Caring: Examining the Role of Exercise in Mitigating Oncology Care Provider Burnout (C4C+)
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05884073
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- C4C+ / C4C+
- Conditions
- Burnout, Caregiver, Compassion Fatigue
- Keywords
- oncology health professionals, burnout, exercise, physical activity, nature-based walking
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 70 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Melanie KeatsUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 2 Jan 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 1 Jun 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this preference-based pilot study will be to assess the feasibility and acceptability, and impact of a 12-week exercise intervention on oncology care provider burnout. Participants self-select to participate into one of two exercise groups. Group assignment will be based on participant preference.
Group 1: Supervised circuit-based resistance exercise
Group 2: Nature-based walking
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit-based resistance exercise | Experimental | Behavioral: Circuit-based Resistance Training12-week, supervised circuit-based resistance training program (2-3 times/week). |
| Nature Walking | Active comparator | Behavioral: Nature-based Walking12-weeks self-paced walking in nature (2-3 times/week). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- 18 years of age or older;
- Able to speak/write in English;
- Must be providing formal care to cancer patients in a clinical setting within the Halifax Municipality;
- Actively practicing within the Nova Scotia Cancer Care Program; and
- Able and willing to engage in low-to-moderate intensity physical activity.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Exceeding Canadian physical activity guidelines of 150-minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week; and
- Any health condition that would preclude safe participation in a new exercise program.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit-based Resistance TrainingParticipants will engage in a 12-week circuit-based resistance training program 2-3 times/week. Each supervised session will last about 30 minutes and will consist of 5 resistance exercises. Each exercise will be completed for 1 minute for a total of 5 minutes followed by a 1-minute rest. The circuit will then repeated 3 additional times (total of 4 circuits). All resistance sessions will be supervised by a certified fitness professionals. | Behavioural | Circuit-based resistance exercise |
| Nature-based WalkingParticipants will be asked to engage in 30 minutes of self-paced walking in nature 2-3 days/week. Participants will be provided with a list of resources that direct them to walkable nature/green spaces close to their home or workplace. | Behavioural | Nature Walking |
Primary outcome
Feasibility - Participant Fidelity (Intervention Adherence)
Time frame: Through study completion (about 2 years)
Participant adherence to prescribed exercise intervention
Feasibility - Safety
Time frame: Through study completion (about 2 years)
Adverse and serious adverse events
Feasibility - Retention/Attrition
Time frame: Through study completion (about 2 years)
Percentage of participants who complete the 12-week intervention
Feasibility - Attendance
Time frame: Through study completion (about 2 years)
Attendance is calculated as the percentage of exercise sessions completed by the total number of available exercise sessions over the 12-week intervention.
Feasibility - Recruitment
Time frame: Through study completion (about 2 years)
Participant accrual as defined as the number of eligible participants who express an interest in participation divided by the number of participants who consent to participate.
Feasibility - Participant Experience
Time frame: Through study completion (about 2 years)
Interviews with a diverse group of participants will be used to assess factors influencing participant selection of intervention type/setting, adherence to and satisfaction with the selected intervention.
8 secondary outcomes
Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) for Medical Personnel (MP)
Time frame: Baseline, mid-program (6-weeks), and post intervention (12-weeks).
Physical Activity Behavior - Self-reported
Time frame: Baseline, mid-program (6-weeks), and post intervention (12-weeks).
Resting heart rate
Time frame: Pre to post intervention (12-week change)
Resting Blood Pressure
Time frame: Pre to post intervention (12-week change)
Aerobic fitness
Time frame: Pre to post intervention (12-week change)
Upper Body Strength
Time frame: Pre to post intervention (12-week change)
Muscular Endurance
Time frame: Pre to post intervention (12-week change)
Body Mass Index
Time frame: Pre to post intervention (12-week change)
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 1 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Circuit-based Resistance Training and Nature-based Walking in people with Burnout, Caregiver and Compassion Fatigue, run by Melanie Keats at 2 sites in Canada.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Melanie Keats, PhD (902-494-7173, melanie.keats@dal.ca), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Feasibility - Participant Fidelity (Intervention Adherence) (time frame: Through study completion (about 2 years)). The study lists 6 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 1 Jun 2026.