Wilderness Program for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors

Summary

Young cancer survivors are at higher risk of cancer reoccurrence, frailty, suicidal ideation, sedentary behaviour, reduced quality of life, and reduced overall life expectancy, compared to their siblings or healthy young persons. Development of new interventions after cancer treatment is urgently needed in order to reduce and diminish these unwanted risks in young cancer survivors. Previous studies have reported that wilderness therapy may reduce anxiety/depression, improve body image and self-efficacy, and increase physical activity in young adult cancer survivors.

High quality randomized controlled studies are lacking and thereby urgently needed to investigate the impact of wilderness programs on mental and physical health of adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. The primary aim of this study is to conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) on a wilderness program versus an attention-control activity in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. We will examine the feasibility of performing a RCT and examine health outcomes, in preparation for a larger RCT with adolescent and young adult cancer survivors.

A total of 40 adolescent and young adult cancer survivors (aged 16-39) will be randomized to a wilderness intervention or an attention-control group. The wilderness intervention is a one-week outdoor program where participants have individualized and group activities such as climbing, hiking, kayaking, bush crafting and mindfulness. After this week, participants continue a 3-month program to incorporate elements of the intervention into their daily life. The control group will join a relaxing one-week holiday at a Wellness Center and will be followed for 3 months to control for attention. Study outcomes will be recruitment speed, willingness to be randomized, study adherence, self-reported mental health using validated scales, and tests of physical activity and health (six-minute walk test, submaximal oxygen uptake, blood pressure, sedentary behaviour and physical activity). Outcomes are measured at the start of the study, 1 week and 3 months after intervention. One year follow up of self-reported outcomes will be online. Findings of the study will provide important insights into the feasibility of a large study as well as on ways by which wilderness therapy can promote health in young cancer survivors.

Conditions

• Cancer

Interventions

OTHER

WAYA-Wilderness

The wilderness intervention includes challenging tasks in order to help participants' overcome and master new physical and psychological challenges in an unknown environment, with the idea to support self-efficacy, self-esteem, and ability to recover from adversity. The program is designed to encourage participants to connect with nature as to experience gratitude for the richness of the natural world, a sense of calmness and trust upon spending time in nature, and to be more physically active in nature. Elements previously described Participants will continue in a three-month program at home (on-line supported) after the initial 8-days in order to empower participants to incorporate elements of the onsite wilderness program into their daily life. An individualized a plan for activities will be developed together with the participant. After three months, there will be a re-visit with follow up on outcome measures and reconnection.

OTHER

WAYA-Holiday

An attention control group (information in "Detailed description")

Sponsors & Collaborators

• UiT The Arctic University of Norway

  collaborator OTHER

• University of California, San Francisco

  collaborator OTHER

• See You At The Summit

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Sörlandet Hospital, Norway

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• The Swedish Winter Sports Research Centre

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Mid Sweden University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Mats Jong, PhD · Dep of Health Sciences/Public Health, Mid Sweden University, Sundsvall, Sweden

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

16 Years

Max Age

39 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-01-01

Primary Completion

2023-10-30

Completion

2023-12-31

Countries

• Sweden

Study Locations