Telerehabilitation for Prostate Cancer

Overseen By Aileen Gabriel

Age: 18+

Sex: Male

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Utah

Must be taking: Hormonal therapy

Disqualifiers: Unstable angina, Uncontrolled hypertension, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: 6 months

74 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests the effectiveness of a new telerehabilitation (remote physical therapy) approach for people with prostate cancer in rural areas. Participants will either use technology, such as tablets and instructional videos, to exercise at home or follow a standard exercise plan without the tech. The researchers aim to determine if those using the technology experience better fitness, fewer symptoms, and improved quality of life after six months. The study seeks men with prostate cancer who are currently receiving hormonal therapy and live in rural communities. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity to explore innovative rehabilitation methods that could enhance quality of life.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on exercise and rehabilitation, so you may not need to change your medication routine, but it's best to confirm with the trial organizers.

What prior data suggests that this telerehabilitation intervention is safe for prostate cancer patients?

Research shows that telerehabilitation is safe for cancer patients, including those with prostate cancer. One study found it both safe and practical, aiding cancer survivors in improving their health. Another study demonstrated that prostate cancer patients benefited from telerehabilitation, even while managing side effects from other treatments.

Overall, telerehabilitation helps cancer patients become more fit and active. These findings suggest it can be a safe option for those wanting to stay active while managing cancer treatment side effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about telerehabilitation for prostate cancer because it offers a unique approach to post-treatment care. Unlike traditional rehabilitation that requires frequent in-person visits, telerehabilitation allows patients to exercise and follow their recovery plans from home using a touchscreen tablet equipped with multimedia instructional materials. This method not only makes it more convenient for patients to adhere to their prescribed exercise routines, but it also promises to improve accessibility for those who may have difficulty traveling to rehabilitation centers. By combining individualized exercise plans with digital support, telerehabilitation has the potential to enhance the overall quality of recovery for prostate cancer patients.

What evidence suggests that telerehabilitation is effective for prostate cancer?

Research has shown that telerehabilitation effectively helps prostate cancer patients improve fitness and quality of life. In this trial, participants in the Telerehabilitation Intervention group will receive exercise programs delivered through telehealth. Studies have found that such programs can significantly enhance heart and lung fitness and increase physical activity levels. A home-based telehealth program is safe and practical for patients undergoing prostate cancer treatment. Additionally, patients find telerehabilitation a helpful and acceptable way to connect with health professionals. These findings suggest that using technology to guide exercise at home could help patients manage symptoms and improve well-being. ^{2 5 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Manish Kohli, MD

Principal Investigator

University of Utah

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for rural patients with metastatic prostate cancer who are undergoing hormonal therapy. It's designed to help those who have difficulty accessing regular physical therapy services due to their location.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a man being treated with hormone therapy for advanced prostate cancer.

I have been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Residing in a rural community defined by the Rural-Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) codes from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (4 and higher)

Exclusion Criteria

Are engaged in a regular exercise rehabilitation program

Participate in another clinical trial related to prostate cancer or rehabilitation. The patients will also be required to have a working telephone line in their home or a cell phone.

Have relocation plans within the next 6 months

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Comprehensive baseline examination conducted by the blinded assessment team

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants receive individualized exercise plans and equipment; TR group receives additional telerehabilitation support

6 months

Weekly virtual check-ins

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Telerehabilitation Intervention

Trial Overview The study tests a telerehabilitation intervention where participants exercise at home using new technology, compared to another group exercising without it. The goal is to see if the tech improves fitness, symptoms, and quality of life after six months.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Telerehabilitation Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in the Telerehabilitation Intervention group (TR) will receive a comprehensive baseline examination conducted by the blinded assessment team. They will also be evaluated by the clinical PT who will prescribe an individualized exercise plan and train them how to perform the exercises. Patients will be mailed exercise equipment (portable bike, elastic bands, pulse oximeter, and activity tracker) with the necessary instructions. Additionally, the TR group will also receive a touchscreen tablet for computer-mediated support in following their individualized exercise plans at their homes daily. The tablet will contain multimedia instructional materials on how to set up and use the telerehab unit.

Group II: Best Available Care Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in the Best Available Care (BAC) group will receive a comprehensive baseline examination conducted by the blinded assessment team. They will also be evaluated by the clinical PT who will prescribe an individualized exercise plan and train them how to perform the exercises. Patients will be mailed exercise equipment (portable bike, elastic bands, pulse oximeter, and activity tracker) with the necessary instructions.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Utah

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,169

Recruited

1,623,000+

United States Department of Defense

Collaborator

Trials

940

Recruited

339,000+

Huntsman Cancer Institute

Collaborator

Trials

14

Recruited

7,700+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07032584

Impact of Multimodal Telerehabilitation in Rural Patients ... Recent studies demonstrated the efficacy of multimodal rehabilitation for secondary and tertiary prevention in prostate cancer patients, reduction of cancer ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462388925001279

Home based prehabilitation in prostate cancer patients ... This study demonstrates the safety and feasibility of a home-based, telehealth prehabilitation program for patients undergoing radical prostatectomy.

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11377521/

'Making a connection': a qualitative study of experiences ... Telerehabilitation was an effective and acceptable way to facilitate connections between participants with cancer and health professionals, the ...

4. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/digital-health/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1584764/pdf

Effectiveness of mobile health in symptom management of ... The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis indicate that patients with prostate cancer benefit less from mHealth interventions both ...

5. bmccancer.biomedcentral.com bmccancer.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12885-024-12348-w

Effect of exercise-based cancer rehabilitation via telehealth This meta-analysis showed that telehealth exercise cancer rehabilitation could significantly increase cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity levels ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8768007/

Telerehabilitation's Safety, Feasibility, and Exercise Uptake ... Conclusions. Telerehabilitation is safe, feasible, and improved outcomes for cancer survivors. Learnings from this study may inform the ongoing ...

7. cancer.jmir.org cancer.jmir.org/2024/1/e56969

Telemedicine Applications for Cancer Rehabilitation: Scoping ... Telerehabilitation for patients with cancer is beneficial and feasible, with diverse approaches in study design, technologies, exercises, and outcomes.

8. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214388224001127

Impact of the MAIA™ telerehabilitation platform in robot ... The aim of the study was to develop a new telerehabilitation and monitoring platform with a tailored design adapted for patients undergoing RARP ...