Evaluating the YATAC Programme

Summary

Young adults aged 18-39 years with cancer often experience physical, psychological, and social challenges that affect their participation in everyday life and their health-related quality of life. Existing cancer rehabilitation services are rarely tailored to the specific needs of this age group. The Young Adults Taking Action (YATAC) programme was developed together with young adults with cancer, healthcare professionals, and researchers to provide age-specific rehabilitation that supports young adults in managing cancer-related challenges and returning to everyday life.

The aim of this pilot randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the feasibility of conducting a larger trial of the YATAC programme in a municipal rehabilitation setting. The study will examine recruitment, retention, acceptability of randomization, data completeness, assessment burden, and adverse events. In addition, the study will provide preliminary estimates of the programme's effects on health-related quality of life and self-efficacy.

Fifty young adults aged 18-39 years who are undergoing or have completed curative-intent treatment will be recruited through municipal cancer rehabilitation services in Aarhus Municipality, Denmark. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the 16-week YATAC programme or usual cancer rehabilitation services. The YATAC programme includes an individual needs assessment and goal setting, followed by group-based and individual sessions addressing physical activity, fatigue, sleep and cognitive challenges, mental health, sexuality and relationships, family and friends, nutrition, and education or work. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and at 4, 6, and 12 months after enrolment.

Conditions

• Cancer
• Young Adults

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

YATAC programme

The YATAC 2.0 intervention will consist of a 16-week multidimensional rehabilitation programme including a mandatory needs assessment and goal-setting component, which will determine the primarily group-based components in which the young adults will participate. These components will include: 1) Physical activity, 2) Fatigue, sleep, and cognitive challenges, 3) Mental health, 4) Sexuality and relationships, 5) Family and friends, 6) Nutrition, and 7) Education and work. Each participant will be assigned a designated contact person, either a nurse or physiotherapist, who will follow the young adult throughout the programme. The contact person will conduct the needs assessments and goal-setting consultations and contribute to selected group sessions. In addition, one of the contact persons will be present during group-based sessions alongside the primary facilitator to promote continuity, coordination, and a sense of safety throughout the rehabilitation trajectory.

BEHAVIORAL

Standard rehabilitation

Participants assigned to the control group will receive the standard cancer rehabilitation programme offered through Folkesundhed Aarhus. This includes physical exercise.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Southern Denmark

  collaborator OTHER

• Gødstrup Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Aarhus

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Marc Sampedro Pilegaard, PhD · Social Medicine and Rehabilitation, Gødstrup Hospital

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

39 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-07-03

Primary Completion

2027-12-31

Completion

2028-12-31

Countries

• Denmark

Study Locations