Implementing an online-delivered exercise program for childhood cancer survivors: A hybrid effectiveness-implementation protocol for the MERRIER studyKey points
Background: Physical activity levels are low in childhood cancer survivors. Structured physical activity programs are not routinely provided, despite being safe and beneficial for improving physical and psychological health. Innovative health promotion programs delivered online may allow families to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | JSAMS Plus |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772696725000092 |
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| author | David Mizrahi Alexandra Martiniuk Laurence Hibbert Dinisha Govender Tora Sibbald Richard Mitchell Natalia Millard Lauren Ha Damian Ragusa Kylie Brown Ben Smith |
| author_facet | David Mizrahi Alexandra Martiniuk Laurence Hibbert Dinisha Govender Tora Sibbald Richard Mitchell Natalia Millard Lauren Ha Damian Ragusa Kylie Brown Ben Smith |
| author_sort | David Mizrahi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Physical activity levels are low in childhood cancer survivors. Structured physical activity programs are not routinely provided, despite being safe and beneficial for improving physical and psychological health. Innovative health promotion programs delivered online may allow families to receive equitable health support, which may foster survivors to improve their health. Aims: To determine implementation factors of an online exercise program recruited through a community organization, and effectiveness on physical activity levels and self-efficacy for childhood cancer survivors. Methods and analysis: The MERRIER study is a type-1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation. Sixty children (5–18 years old) who have completed treatment for any cancer type will be enrolled between March 2025 and June 2026. Participants will be randomised (stratified by age, cancer type and sex) 1:1 to 3-months multimodal exercise or control group. The intervention group will receive five online consultations with an Accredited Exercise Physiologist to provide behaviour counselling, and prescribe an individualised aerobic, resistance and balance exercise program at low-moderate intensity. The RE-AIM framework will assess reach (e.g. recruitment rate), effectiveness (e.g. physical activity levels), adoption (e.g. qualitative interviews), implementation (e.g. exercise adherence), and maintenance (e.g. self-efficacy at follow-up). Physical function and patient-reported outcomes will be assessed at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1; week 12) and follow-up (T2, week 24). An Axivity AX3 accelerometer will measure physical activity over five-days at T0/T1. Implications: If effective, we aim to collaborate with community organisations, who are well placed to implement similar programs to childhood cancer survivors. Ethics: The study was approved by The University of Sydney Health Research Ethics Committee (2024/HE000391). Trial registration: ACTRN12624000604505p. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-229f8db395744cb0b58c6d486b4e96fe |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2772-6967 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JSAMS Plus |
| spelling | doaj-art-229f8db395744cb0b58c6d486b4e96fe2025-08-20T03:20:56ZengElsevierJSAMS Plus2772-69672025-06-01510009510.1016/j.jsampl.2025.100095Implementing an online-delivered exercise program for childhood cancer survivors: A hybrid effectiveness-implementation protocol for the MERRIER studyKey pointsDavid Mizrahi0Alexandra Martiniuk1Laurence Hibbert2Dinisha Govender3Tora Sibbald4Richard Mitchell5Natalia Millard6Lauren Ha7Damian Ragusa8Kylie Brown9Ben Smith10The Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, A Joint Venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, Australia; Corresponding author. Moore Theological College Building, The University of Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.The Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, A Joint Venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, Australia; Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, AustraliaCancer Voices, Sydney, AustraliaCancer Centre for Children, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, AustraliaCancer Centre for Children, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, AustraliaKids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Discipline of Paediatrics & Child Health, School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, AustraliaKids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital, Sydney, AustraliaKids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Discipline of Paediatrics & Child Health, School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, AustraliaServices & Programs, Camp Quality Australia, Sydney, AustraliaServices & Programs, Camp Quality Australia, Sydney, AustraliaThe Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, A Joint Venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, AustraliaBackground: Physical activity levels are low in childhood cancer survivors. Structured physical activity programs are not routinely provided, despite being safe and beneficial for improving physical and psychological health. Innovative health promotion programs delivered online may allow families to receive equitable health support, which may foster survivors to improve their health. Aims: To determine implementation factors of an online exercise program recruited through a community organization, and effectiveness on physical activity levels and self-efficacy for childhood cancer survivors. Methods and analysis: The MERRIER study is a type-1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation. Sixty children (5–18 years old) who have completed treatment for any cancer type will be enrolled between March 2025 and June 2026. Participants will be randomised (stratified by age, cancer type and sex) 1:1 to 3-months multimodal exercise or control group. The intervention group will receive five online consultations with an Accredited Exercise Physiologist to provide behaviour counselling, and prescribe an individualised aerobic, resistance and balance exercise program at low-moderate intensity. The RE-AIM framework will assess reach (e.g. recruitment rate), effectiveness (e.g. physical activity levels), adoption (e.g. qualitative interviews), implementation (e.g. exercise adherence), and maintenance (e.g. self-efficacy at follow-up). Physical function and patient-reported outcomes will be assessed at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1; week 12) and follow-up (T2, week 24). An Axivity AX3 accelerometer will measure physical activity over five-days at T0/T1. Implications: If effective, we aim to collaborate with community organisations, who are well placed to implement similar programs to childhood cancer survivors. Ethics: The study was approved by The University of Sydney Health Research Ethics Committee (2024/HE000391). Trial registration: ACTRN12624000604505p.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772696725000092Childhood cancerPaediatric oncologyExercisePhysical activityFitnessDigital health |
| spellingShingle | David Mizrahi Alexandra Martiniuk Laurence Hibbert Dinisha Govender Tora Sibbald Richard Mitchell Natalia Millard Lauren Ha Damian Ragusa Kylie Brown Ben Smith Implementing an online-delivered exercise program for childhood cancer survivors: A hybrid effectiveness-implementation protocol for the MERRIER studyKey points JSAMS Plus Childhood cancer Paediatric oncology Exercise Physical activity Fitness Digital health |
| title | Implementing an online-delivered exercise program for childhood cancer survivors: A hybrid effectiveness-implementation protocol for the MERRIER studyKey points |
| title_full | Implementing an online-delivered exercise program for childhood cancer survivors: A hybrid effectiveness-implementation protocol for the MERRIER studyKey points |
| title_fullStr | Implementing an online-delivered exercise program for childhood cancer survivors: A hybrid effectiveness-implementation protocol for the MERRIER studyKey points |
| title_full_unstemmed | Implementing an online-delivered exercise program for childhood cancer survivors: A hybrid effectiveness-implementation protocol for the MERRIER studyKey points |
| title_short | Implementing an online-delivered exercise program for childhood cancer survivors: A hybrid effectiveness-implementation protocol for the MERRIER studyKey points |
| title_sort | implementing an online delivered exercise program for childhood cancer survivors a hybrid effectiveness implementation protocol for the merrier studykey points |
| topic | Childhood cancer Paediatric oncology Exercise Physical activity Fitness Digital health |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772696725000092 |
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