Health Through Activity: Initial Evaluation of an In-Home Intervention for Older Adults With Cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Geriatrics

Background:

• Older adult cancer survivors often experience significant disability, impacting their quality of life.
• Occupational therapy interventions show promise in addressing functional limitations post-cancer treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an in-home occupational therapy (OT) intervention for older adult cancer survivors.
• To assess the potential efficacy of OT in reducing disability and improving quality of life in this population.
• To inform the design of a future full-scale trial.

Main Methods:

• A Phase 1 pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted with older adult cancer survivors reporting activity limitations.
• Participants were randomized to a 6-week in-home OT intervention (n=30) or usual care (n=29).
• Feasibility was assessed via retention rates; potential efficacy was explored through self-reported disability, quality of life, activity, and behavioral activation.

Main Results:

• High retention rates were observed for both intervention completion (90%) and outcome assessments (80-90%).
• Outcomes consistently favored the intervention group, indicating potential benefits, though group differences were small.
• The OT procedures were found to be feasible and acceptable to participants.

Conclusions:

• The in-home occupational therapy intervention is a feasible and acceptable approach for older adult cancer survivors.
• High feasibility and participant acceptance support the progression to a larger, definitive trial.
• This pilot study provides a foundation for future research aimed at reducing disability in this population.