The ACTION Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Randomised Controlled Trial to Investigate the Feasibility and Acceptability of a Snacktivity-C™ Physical Activity Intervention for Young People During Cancer Treatment
IRAS ID
320158
Contact name
Amanda Daley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Loughborough University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 1 days
Research summary
This study aims to test a physical activity intervention for young people (aged 13-24 years) during cancer treatment. We aim to explore whether young people like the intervention, and adhere to it, and if it can be delivered in the way it was designed to be delivered.
Young people with cancer engage in very small amounts of physical activity and spend large amounts of time sitting down. However engaging in regular physical activity during the treatment period may help to reduce some of the unpleasant effects of cancer treatment that young people may experience such as fatigue, pain and nausea.
We have designed a physical activity intervention for young people during cancer treatment, called Snacktivity-C™. This intervention is based on an existing physical activity intervention called Snacktivity™, which encourages people to do short bouts of physical activity, called activity snacks, lasting 2-5 minutes, regularly throughout the day. For example, doing high knees whilst brushing teeth, walking up the stairs instead of taking the lift, and doing leg raises whilst sitting watching TV. Participants will receive a physical activity tracker and access to an App called Snacktivity-C SnackApp which will enable them to monitor how many short bouts of physical activity they have done, their total physical activity and their steps. The Snacktivity-C™ intervention also includes tailored support to help encourage young people with cancer to complete small bouts of physical activity.
We will recruit 13-24 year olds who are receiving treatment for cancer and randomly assign them to the intervention or comparator group for an 8-week trial period. Participants in the intervention group will receive the Snacktivity-C™ intervention, participants in the comparator group will receive written guidance.
We will measure all participants physical activity, sedentary behaviour, fatigue and quality of life before and after the 8-week trial period.
REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/WM/0064
Date of REC Opinion
24 Apr 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion