A two-arm randomized controlled trial evaluating a physical activity counselling intervention for young adults diagnosed with cancer

Cancer rates in young adults (18-39 years) have been increasing globally, though death rates are decreasing. These trends have resulted in a global surge of young adults who report unmet supportive care needs after treatment to cure the disease (ie, curative treatment) ends. Physical activity (PA) is critical for the physical and mental wellbeing of young adults after curative treatment. Yet, despite it being recognized that young adults need to be encouraged to adopt and maintain an active lifestyle, many do not have support to take part in PA and are very inactive after curative treatment ends. The ACCESS intervention involves behavioural counselling techniques whereby a specialist works one-to-one with young adults for 12 weeks to provide them with support to undertake advised PA changes to manage various problems (eg, physical and mental health symptoms) and enhance their wellbeing after curative treatment ends. In a previous small-scale study, we established that the ACCESS intervention can be carried out and evaluated as intended (ie, feasibility) and that people receiving and delivering this intervention consider it appropriate and expect positive outcomes such as increased PA levels and enhanced wellbeing (ie, acceptability). This trial will (1) test the effects of the ACCESS intervention versus usual care on PA levels and wellbeing immediately after and 9 months after it ends, and (2) explore how the intervention causes change in PA. Recruited young adults will get the ACCESS intervention (ie, 12 weeks of PA counselling delivered online) or usual care with a copy of PA guidelines. We will measure weekly minutes of PA using research-grade activity monitors, and use self-report surveys to measure wellbeing and possible causes of change in PA. If the intervention increases PA levels and wellbeing, this trial will support the case for the ACCESS intervention to be offered in practice to meet young adults' unmet need for PA support after curative treatment ends.