Duc  M. Ha, MD, MAS

We are fortunate that the COVID-19 pandemic has not had an adverse impact on our work. Study activities are performed remotely by design as we are evaluating the effect of a telerehabilitation intervention compared with education alone for promoting physical activity and reducing dyspnea following curative intent therapy for lung cancer. Participants may complete all study activities remotely. The telerehabilitation intervention, which consists of motivational interviewing to increase step count and instruction on inspiratory muscle training to alleviate dyspnea, is delivered to participants via videoconference. Education on strategies to reduce breathlessness and increase physical activity is delivered to education arm participants by email. We have been able to capture complete participant baseline and follow-up measures by phone interview and REDCap for all participants enrolled thus far. The study team meets by videoconference on a weekly basis to discuss questions about potentially eligible patients, progress on enrollment and delivery of the telerehabilitation and education arm activities, analytic plans, and to troubleshoot obstacles to study implementation. These meetings are well attended and have facilitated efficiency of our work and group cohesion. Study team members visit our KPCO Institute for Health Research offices for as-needed in-person meetings and to mail participant study packages.

Update: We assembled a collaborative, expert, and dedicated research team that meets weekly. We developed an algorithm of electronic health data to identify lung cancer survivors. We also trained team members to confirm eligibility, in motivational interviewing, and inspiratory muscle training. We have chart reviewed 312 potentially eligible patients, confirmed eligibility on 66 patients, consented 17 participants, and completed baseline outcome including activPAL assessments and randomized 14 participants. Five participants in the telerehabilitation arm have completed two or more of the six telerehabilitation sessions and one has completed one session. In addition, we have published three original research articles, one abstract, and one book chapter on dyspnea, rehabilitation, physical activity and exercise, and quality of life in lung cancer survivorship.