Purpose: Older adults with lung cancers are often frail and unfit, negatively affecting treatment tolerance and quality of life (QoL). Lifestyle behaviours, like physical activity (PA) and healthy nutrition, significantly improve QoL among people with cancer. They may also positively impact treatment completion rates, potentially improving survival. However, older, frailer lung cancer populations are typically excluded from research as, assumed to be too high risk. Our aim was to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a tailored wellbeing programme for older adults with lung cancers.
Methods: Clinicians identified older adults (≥60 years) with stage III/IV lung cancer or mesothelioma who were deemed fit for systemic anti-cancer treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and/or immunotherapy). Feasibility was assessed by recruitment/retention rates, data collection/quality, and programme adherence/acceptability. Secondary measures included PA, frailty, performance status, physical function, body composition, grip strength, nutritional status, symptom burden, treatment tolerance, QoL, and health service usage. Participants received a tailored home-based PA and nutrition programme (resistance bands, Fitbit, handheld fan, tailored educational materials) with initial consultation sessions with a physiotherapist and a dietitian. Participants were followed over 12 weeks with check-in calls. Measures were collected at mid-point (6 weeks), post-study (12 weeks), and at 24 weeks. At 12 weeks, in-depth interviews were conducted with participants to explore acceptability further.
Results: Recruitment rate was ~27% (11 consented). One participant has yet to complete 24-week measures; 90% of all check-in appointments have been completed. Changes in secondary measures will be reported, but so far, interviews show increased confidence for other activities (e.g., going out, walking more, visiting family more), feeling stronger overall, and positive views about the tailored, adaptable programme.
Conclusions: Though a challenging time for clinic-based recruitment, those recruited felt it helpful and worthwhile. We will use the interviews and feasibility data to understand how best to further evaluate this potentially beneficial programme for this overlooked group of people with cancer.