Journal Article

Physical activity and lung cancer screening (PALS): feasibility randomised controlled trial of exercise and physical activity in lung cancer screening

Manser, Renee, Marshall, Henry M., Patrick, Cameron, Granger, Catherine L., Bonney, Asha, Fong, Kwun M., Steinfort, Daniel

2025

Overview

Background There is increasing evidence that screening provides a catalyst for behavioural change. Low physical activity (PA) levels are a potentially modifiable risk factor for developing lung cancer. This study aims to assess the feasibility and safety of a semi-supervised 8-week multi-modal exercise program to improve health-related quality of life and PA levels of participants of lung cancer screening. Methods Participants without lung cancer from a single Australian International Lung Screen Trial (ILST; NCT02871856) site were invited to this feasibility randomised controlled trial. Enrolled participants were randomised to usual care, written material, or a home-based exercise program (in addition to written material). Assessments occurred at baseline, 9 weeks, and 6 months. Results 75 participants were enrolled over a 3-month period in 2022 (consent rate of 67%). 43% of participants were female, median age 66 years old (IQR 62, 73). Of the 25 participants randomised to the home-based exercise program, 22 participants (88%) attended > 70% of weekly sessions. 99% (74/75) of study participants attended their 9-week and 6-month follow-up assessments. Conclusions This study confirms the feasibility and high compliance of delivering a semi-supervised 8-week multi-modal exercise program to participants of a lung cancer screening program. It was safe, with no adverse events. Clinical trial registration Australian Clinical Trials Register https://www.australianclinicaltrials.gov.au ACTRN12622001001785.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Nature Publishing Group,BMC
• Subject: Aged / Assessments / Australia - epidemiology / Cancer / Cancer screening / Clinical trials / Consent / Diagnosis / Early Detection of Cancer - methods / Exercise / Exercise - physiology / Exercise therapy / Exercise Therapy - methods / Feasibility / Feasibility Studies / Female / Follow-Up Studies / Humans / Intervention / Lung cancer / Lung Neoplasms - diagnosis / Lung Neoplasms - epidemiology / Lung Neoplasms - physiopathology / Male / Medical screening / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Methods / Middle Aged / Muscle strength / Oncology / Oncology, Experimental / Physical activity / Physical fitness / Pneumology/Respiratory System / Prevention / Quality of Life / Questionnaires / Risk factors / Screening / Smoking cessation / Testing / Well being