Impact of a lifestyle intervention on the quality of life of people living with and beyond cancer – a feasibility study

Abstract Background Lifestyle interventions can reduce treatment-related side effects, promote health and improve quality of life (QoL) in people living with and beyond cancer (PLWBC). However, few studies focus on diet, physical activity (PA) and mental health (MH) as an integrated intervention. This pilot feasibility study provides the foundation for a randomized controlled trial of a complex lifestyle intervention (diet, PA and MH) in PLWBC. The primary objective was to determine study feasibility (recruitment, adherence, logistics, acceptability) and the secondary objective was to explore potential changes in QoL following the intervention. Methods A parallel pilot randomized clinical trial was conducted at the University Hospital Son Espases (Palma, Spain). Participants were recruited at the oncology and haematology departments and randomized 1:1 into the Control (CG) or the Intervention (IG) group. Both groups received standard diet and lifestyle recommendations. IG participants also received individual and group diet, PA and MH counselling. QoL was assessed through the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire at baseline and post-intervention. Indicators of feasibility were: recruitment, adherence, logistics, acceptability. Acceptability and participant’s perceptions were assessed with an adapted version of the Research Participant Perception Survey–Long (RPPS-L). Hodges-Lehmann median differences with 95% confidence intervals were estimated. Results An initial n = 174 participants were recruited, and a total of n = 106 took part in the intervention (overall recruitment rate 60.9%). Study retention rate was 96.2% (102/106 participants completed the study) and total attendance rate across all visits was 91.6%. Study acceptability was high (mean score of 9.1/10). At the end of the intervention, exploratory analyses suggested differences in QoL outcomes between groups. Compared with the CG, participants in the IG showed higher EORTC QLQ-C30 summary scores (median difference = 2.7, 95% CI: −0.1 to 5.9), higher self-perceived global health status scores (median difference = 8.3, 95% CI: 0.0 to 16.7), and lower self-perceived fatigue scores (median difference = -11.1, 95% CI: -11.1 to 0.0) compared to CG. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that the proposed complex lifestyle intervention and study procedures are feasible and acceptable among PLWBC. Exploratory analyses identified changes in QoL outcomes in PLWBC that warrant further investigation. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, TRN: NCT06582498, Registration date: August 29, 2024.