Healthy Living after Cancer (Status: Completed)

Despite considerable evidence, lifestyle interventions are not incorporated into the routine care of cancer survivors. Healthy Living after Cancer (HLaC) is a NHMRC-funded Partnership Project (2015 – 2019) evaluating the implementation of an evidence-based, telephone-delivered lifestyle program by four Cancer Councils (NSW, VIC, SA, WA) via their 13 11 20 service. Cancer survivors, following treatment with curative intent, were eligible for the free, six-month program of behaviourally-based support to achieve internationally-agreed recommendations for physical activity, healthy eating and healthy weight. In this phase IV dissemination study (single-group, pre-post design; baseline, 6, 12-month assessment), primary outcomes related to program implementation included adoption (referral sources); reach (# of participants) and retention; participant and staff satisfaction; fixed and recurrent costs of program delivery. Secondary outcomes were patient-reported and validated measures of: physical activity and dietary intake/behaviour, weight, quality of life, cancer-related side-effects, and fear of recurrence. Program completers were offered the option of a further 6-months of tailored text messages to support maintenance of behaviour change. This University-Cancer Council collaboration provided an opportunity for national dissemination of an evidence-based intervention to support healthy living among cancer survivors. Rigorous evaluation of service-level and patient-reported outcomes will provide the practice-based evidence needed to inform decisions about sustained delivery.

For more information or publications arising from this project, please contact PI Professor Liz Eakin.