Actively Recruiting
The Impact of Prehabilitation Exercise on Frailty and Treatment Outcomes in Ovarian Cancer Patients
Led by Nova Scotia Health Authority · Updated on 2026-06-01
108
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
N
Nova Scotia Health Authority
Lead Sponsor
D
Dalhousie University
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Individuals with advanced ovarian cancer often face poor survival rates because the disease is usually detected late and treatment options can be limited by other health conditions like frailty, which affects up to half of these patients. Frailty is an age-related decline that impacts surgery outcomes and chemotherapy treatment plans. This research explores whether a structured exercise program, called prehabilitation, performed before surgery can reduce frailty and improve recovery and treatment outcomes for women with advanced ovarian cancer. Participants will engage in a circuit-based prehabilitation exercise intervention that includes light-to-moderate aerobic, resistance, and mobility exercises tailored to their abilities. The program will last a minimum of four weeks and continue up to the time of surgery, with sessions three times per week starting at 30 minutes and progressing to 60 minutes as tolerated. The first exercise session will be in person, and the rest delivered virtually, supervised by a Clinical Exercise Physiologist. Throughout the study, researchers will measure changes in frailty before and after the exercise program and following surgery at one and three months. They will also assess surgical complexity, post-surgical outcomes, complications, and chemotherapy completion rates for up to six cycles. Additional evaluations include body mass index, aerobic and muscular fitness, and health-related quality of life at similar time points. This comprehensive approach aims to understand how prehabilitation exercise influences recovery and treatment plans in this patient group.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Prehabilitation for Ovarian Cancer Patients
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- 18 years or older
- Confirmed diagnosis of stage III or IV ovarian cancer
- Scheduled to receive cytoreductive surgery as part of treatment
- At least 4 weeks between enrollment and scheduled surgery
- Able to attend in-person and/or virtual exercise sessions
- Fluent in English
- Oncologist approval to participate
You will not qualify if you...
- Have already completed surgery
- Unstable cardiac or respiratory disease or other conditions making exercise unsafe
- Significant cognitive impairment affecting consent or ability to follow exercise instructions
AI-Screening
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Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
Screening and enrollment visit
Duration - At least 4 weeks until surgery
Participants perform a prehabilitation exercise intervention consisting of light-to-moderate intensity aerobic, resistance, and mobility exercises. Exercises are done in a circuit format, modified to individual abilities, and supervised by a Clinical Exercise Physiologist. The first exercise session is in-person, with subsequent sessions delivered virtually. Exercise is performed 3 times per week, starting at 30 minutes and progressing to 60 minutes as tolerated, for a minimum of four weeks up until surgery.
3 exercise sessions per week; first session in-person, subsequent sessions virtual
Duration - Approximately 1 month
Participants undergo cytoreductive surgery for ovarian cancer treatment and receive immediate post-operative care.
1 visit about 1 month post surgery for assessment
Duration - Up to about 3 months post surgery
Participants are monitored for recovery and treatment outcomes including frailty, fitness, quality of life, and chemotherapy completion rates at multiple timepoints post surgery.
Visits at about 1 month and 3 months post surgery
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Nova Scotia Health
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, B3L 4P1
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
S
Scott Grandy, PhD
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NA
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Number of Arms
1
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