Participating in Tai Chi to Reduce Anxiety and Keep up Physical Function

Summary

The goal of the proposed project is to test the implementation strategy, in terms of feasibility and utility, of an online Tai Chi intervention as a prehabilitation model to prepare prostate cancer patients and their caregivers for radical prostatectomy (RP). The investigators' hypothesis is that, by using an online teaching module, the proposed prehabilitation model is feasible on the prostate cancer care pathway in a simple, efficient, and minimally disruptive manner. In addition, participating in the Tai Chi intervention will improve patient anxiety leading up to the RP and improve physical function as well as post-operative side-effects associated with RP.

Our primary objective is to test the feasibility of the implementation strategy from multi-stakeholder perspectives. The investigators will use mixed-methods to assess the barriers and facilitators related to implementing the online Tai Chi intervention from multi-stakeholder perspectives guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.

Our secondary objective is to examine the effect of the Tai Chi intervention on patient outcomes at peri-RP and post-RP. The investigators will quantitatively test the effect of the intervention to reduce peri- and post-RP anxiety and improve peri- and post-RP physical function and general disease specific patient-reported outcomes.

An exploratory objective is to explore the effect of the Tai Chi intervention on surgical outcomes. The study team will quantitatively describe the difference in post-RP surgical outcomes between the intervention and control groups.

Conditions

• Prostate Cancer

Interventions

OTHER

Tai Chi Prehabilitation

The intervention arm will be oriented to a WaQi (youthful vitality) program 8 weeks prior to their scheduled surgery date. The WaQi program uses a Tai Chi curriculum previously successfully implemented in older adults, and at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). It has an online teaching module and is uniquely suited for our study population. The program requires no difficult movement transitions, but still contains all essential parts including meditation. The WaQi program has less psychological stress and physical challenge than other exercise activities because it can be performed either sitting or standing. Intervention participants will also receive printed materials from Prostate Cancer Canada about prostate cancer management. These materials include information about how to cope with prostate cancer including pelvic floor exercise, physical activity, healthy eating, and mental wellbeing.

OTHER

Usual care

Control arm participants will receive printed materials identical to intervention arm participants with general information on a healthy lifestyle. The control arm will receive an 8-week online Tai Chi teaching module subscription at the end of the study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Canadian Cancer Society (CCS)

  collaborator OTHER

• AHS Cancer Control Alberta

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Lin Yang, PhD · Alberta Health services

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

MALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-06-21

Primary Completion

2023-08-30

Completion

2024-10-31

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations