ESPEN 2022 Late Breaking Abstracts
Topic: Nutrition and cancer
Abstract Submission Identifier: ESPEN22-LB-2148
HEALTHY EATING AND ACTIVE LIFESTYLE AFTER BOWEL CANCER: FEASIBILITY OF A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL
J. Sremanakova*, 1, A. M. Sowerbutts 1, C. Todd 1, 2, L. Pearce 3, 4, V. Kenyon 4, D. Leiberman 4, H. Ashby 2, G. Harrison 2, J. McLaughlin 3, 4, A. Ramesh 2, J. Hill 2, R. Cooke 5, M. Gittins 1, S. Burden 1
1School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, 2Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, 3School of Medical Sciences , University of Manchester, Manchester, 4Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford, 5School of Health, Science and Wellbeing, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent , United Kingdom
Rationale: Evidence from cohort studies indicates that a healthy lifestyle can improve cancer survival.1,2 However, evidence from randomised controlled trials is lacking.3 The study aimed to investigate the feasibility of HEAL ABC lifestyle intervention in patients after colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery and treatment.
Methods: This was a mixed-method, feasibility randomised controlled trial (RCT) based on World Cancer Research Fund Prevention Guidelines (WCRF/AICR). Thirty-five participants were recruited and allocated to the usual care control group or the telephone-based intervention with printed resources and a website. Data on anthropometry, diet, physical activity, quality of life, and behaviour change were collected in both groups at baseline, three months post-intervention, and six-month follow-up. Data were analysed with Stata using means, confidence intervals and multiple regression model (V14, StataCorp LLC, College Station, TX). A subgroup of participants took part in in-depth interviews and framework analysis was used to analyse data.
Results: Recruitment was challenging (35 recruited, 31 ineligible, 37 eligible but declined). At three months, 34 participants completed the study (97% retention rate), and adherence to the intervention calls was 100%. The intervention was reported to be acceptable to participants. Participants suggested that three to six months after surgery/treatment are needed before they are ready to make lifestyle changes. Participants reported feeling left alone post-surgery and asked for further support with diet and exercise. Intervention met their needs with the content, guidance and kept them accountable towards their lifestyle goals. Improvement was observed in WCRF/AICR score (1.08, 95%CI 0.2-0.8, P 0.001) and Diet Quality Index (8.6, 95%CI 3.6-13.6, P 0.002) at three months.
Conclusion: New strategies are needed to recruit CRC survivors to RCTs. HEAL ABC intervention was feasible to deliver, positively rated and reported as beneficial by participants, supporting them in healthy lifestyle changes after CRC.
References: 1. Vergnaud et al. Adherence to the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research guidelines and risk of death in Europe: results from the European Prospective Investigation into Nutrition and Cancer cohort study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013;97(5):1107–1120. 2. Schwedhelm et al. Effect of diet on mortality and cancer recurrence among cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. Nutr Rev. 2016;74(12):737–748. 3. Burden et al. Dietary interventions for adult cancer survivors. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;2019(11):CD011287.
Disclosure of Interest: None Declared
Keywords: behaviour change, colorectal cancer, diet, physical activity, survival