Effects of exercise on sexual function and cardiovascular health in men with prostate cancer (ESCA) study
The purpose of this research study is to implement and evaluate a sexual function and cardiovascular health-targeted intervention during and following treatment for prostate cancer.
Who is it for? You may be eligible to join this study if you are aged 18 years or more and you have been, or have previously been, diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Study details: Participants in this study will be randomly allocated (by chance) to either 12-weeks of an exercise intervention or usual care. Participants in the exercise intervention group complete cardiorespiratory/aerobic, resistance and stretching exercises on 3 days of the week; which are individually tailored to each intervention participant. Participants in both groups are required to undertake assessments both before and after the 12-week intervention period. These assessments are related to sexual function, cardiovascular disease risk development and other health measures (e.g. body composition, blood markers, cardiorespiratory fitness).
Some participants will also be invited to attend a focus group discussion on the quality and feasibility of the intervention after intervention completion.
You'll receive:
Whether participants are randomised to the intervention or usual care group, their involvement in this study will help to further the knowledge of the effects of exercise on sexual and cardiovascular dysfunctions in the growing number of men affected by these conditions during or following treatment for prostate cancer.
Additionally, there are potential benefits for participants randomised to the exercise intervention group within this study, however these cannot be guaranteed. Greater physical activity involvement has been shown to be strongly associated with greater quality of life and function in men with, or who have previously had, prostate cancer. Participants will also be provided with 12-weeks of closely-monitored and highly individualised exercise training by qualified exercise professionals free of charge. Participants randomised to the usual care group within the study will receive no such benefits but will still continue with their usual health care and be encouraged to continue their usual exercise and dietary habits. Finally, no matter what group a participant is randomly assigned to, they will be provided free of charge with gold-standard measures of your aerobic fitness, body composition and cardiovascular health.
Eligibility:
- Men with a histologically-confirmed diagnosis of prostate cancer
- Sexual dysfunction score of moderate (score = 8-11/25), mild-to-moderate (score = 12-16/25), or mild (score = 17-21/25), as assessed by the abridged version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5)
- Undergoing watchful waiting, active surveillance, or previous or concurrent treatment with any anti-cancer treatment/s
- Aged >18 years
- >4 weeks since major surgery
- No comorbid condition or falls risk that could prevent safe completion of the intervention
- Cognitively capable of consent
Register your interest:
Please register your interest for the study by contacting Natalie Vear on n.vear@uq.edu.au or via telephone on 0473 550 978.
This study has been approved by The University of Queensland Human Research Ethics Committee [Approval No. 2019000052]