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The development and pilot trial of two PROgrammes of REHABilitation for cancer patients (PRO-REHAB)


Over two million people in the UK are living with and living beyond cancer: this figure is increasing. Advances in the treatment of cancer have led to improved outcomes in survival and response to treatments. However the impact of cancer on a person is varied and the illness itself, the treatments and their side effects all combine to compromise physical and psychological health and quality of life. Current follow-up arrangements do not appear to address the full range of needs that people with cancer may have.

We are seeking to address these issues via the PRO-REHAB study which is being carried out at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire in collaboration with the Universities of Warwick and Coventry and has been funded by the NIHR Research for Patient Benefit programme. The aim is to develop and assess a home-based and a group-based rehabilitation programme (similar to cardiac rehabilitation) with and for people who have completed treatment for either breast, colorectal, head and neck, prostate or lung cancer. The interventions will be delivered mostly by allied healthcare professionals and assessed by means of a three-arm randomised pilot trial (incorporating ‘usual care’). PRO-REHAB is unique in that it will rely heavily on participant-developed interventions.

The research team is:

Prof Annie Young (Principal Investigator)

Dr Claire Balmer

Dr Joanne Fisher

Mrs Morna Woods