AIM
To assess the feasibility and acceptability of an outpatient nutrition and exercise intervention for adults pre and post stem cell transplantation (SCT).
METHODS
Adults with a haematological malignancy receiving a SCT at Alfred Health from February – June 2024 were identified and referred. The program included once weekly dietitian education and supervised exercise delivered face-to-face or via telehealth. Feasibility was measured with referral uptake, attendance and clinical outcomes such as nutritional status, functional exercise capacity and health related quality of life. To assess acceptability, participants completed a theoretical framework of acceptability (TFA) questionnaire which included eight questions on a five-point Likert scale.
RESULTS
Fifty-nine adults were referred over 6 months (35 male, median age 62 [IQR 13] years) from March – June 2024. Of those referred to prehabilitation, 90% (n=53) attended an initial physiotherapy assessment and 60% (n=35) participated in prehabilitation sessions. Of these, 43% (n=15) attended exercise and nutrition sessions, 54% (n=19) attended nutrition sessions only and 3% (n=1) attended exercise only. 12% (n=7) of patients referred were unable to attend prehabilitation due to insufficient timing between referral and SCT, 5% (n=3) declined, 5% (n=3) were unable to be contacted or were admitted to hospital, and 2% (n=1) were discharged as no longer receiving a SCT.
Eleven participants (80%) have completed the TFA questionnaire. 100% (n=11) reported the program to be “completely acceptable” or “acceptable” and 90% (n=10) denied that participation in the nutrition and exercise intervention interfered with other priorities.
CONCLUSIONS
Feasibility pilot data suggest that the provision of a nutrition and exercise program to adults receiving a SCT was mostly feasible and had high acceptability. High appointment burden and short timeframes from work-up to transplant were factors that affected access and attendance. Further program scaling and evaluation of patient clinical and long-term outcomes is warranted.