NCT04761042: WAYA

Wilderness Program for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors

Status unknown NA Last updated 8 June 2021

What this trial tests

NA trial testing WAYA-Wilderness in Cancer in 40 participants. Status unknown.

Timeline

1 January 2021

Primary endpoint
30 October 2023

31 December 2023

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	Mid Sweden University
Phase	NA
Status	Status unknown
Study type	INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation	randomized
Design	parallel
Masking	single
Primary purpose	other
Enrollment	40
Start date	1 January 2021
Primary completion	30 October 2023
Estimated completion	31 December 2023
Sites	1 location across Sweden

Drugs / interventions tested

• WAYA-Wilderness
• WAYA-Holiday

Conditions studied

• Cancer — all drugs for Cancer →

Sponsor

Mid Sweden University

Who can join

Adults 16 to 39, any sex, with Cancer. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

Young cancer survivors are at higher risk of cancer reoccurrence, frailty, suicidal ideation, sedentary behaviour, reduced quality of life, and reduced overall life expectancy, compared to their siblings or healthy young persons. Development of new interventions after cancer treatment is urgently needed in order to reduce and diminish these unwanted risks in young cancer survivors. Previous studies have reported that wilderness therapy may reduce anxiety/depression, improve body image and self-efficacy, and increase physical activity in young adult cancer survivors.

High quality randomized controlled studies are lacking and thereby urgently needed to investigate the impact of wilderness programs on mental and physical health of adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. The primary aim of this study is to conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) on a wilderness program versus an attention-control activity in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. We will examine the feasibility of performing a RCT and examine health outcomes, in preparation for a larger RCT with adolescent and young adult cancer survivors.

A total of 40 adolescent and young adult cancer survivors (aged 16-39) will be randomized to a wilderness intervention or an attention-control group. The wilderness intervention is a one-week outdoor program where participants have individualized and group activities such as climbing, hiking, kayaking, bush crafting and mindfulness. After this week, participants continue a 3-month program to incorporate elements of the intervention into their daily life. The control group will join a relaxing one-week holiday at a Wellness Center and will be followed for 3 months to control for attention. Study outcomes will be recruitment speed, willingness to be randomized, study adherence, self-reported mental health using validated scales, and tests of physical activity and health (six-minute walk test, submaximal oxygen uptake, blood pressure, sedentary behaviour and physical activity). Outcomes are measured at the start of the study, 1 week and 3 months after intervention. One year follow up of self-reported outcomes will be online. Findings of the study will provide important insights into the feasibility of a large study as well as on ways by which wilderness therapy can promote health in young cancer survivors.

Publications & conference data

4 peer-reviewed publications reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

1. The Development and Acceptability of a Wilderness Programme to Support the Health and Well-Being of Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors: The WAYA Programme.
   Jong MC, Stub T, Mulder E, Jong M. · · 2022 · cited 6× · PMID 36231313 · DOI 10.3390/ijerph191912012
2. Protocol of a mixed-method randomised controlled pilot study evaluating a wilderness programme for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors: the WAYA study.
   Jong MC, Mulder E, Kristoffersen AE, Stub T, et al · · 2022 · cited 5× · PMID 35534081 · DOI 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061502
3. A randomized controlled pilot study assessing feasibility and safety of a wilderness program for childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors: the WAYA study.
   Jong MC, Dahlqvist H, Lown EA, Schats W, et al · · 2023 · cited 4× · PMID 37553637 · DOI 10.1186/s12889-023-16408-x
4. Supporting Personal Growth in Childhood, Adolescent and Young-Adult Cancer Survivors Through Challenges in Nature - A Qualitative Study of WAYA Wilderness Programme Participation.
   Jong M, Stub T, Jong MC. · · 2024 · cited 2× · PMID 38464957 · DOI 10.1177/27536130241238150