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MOVE-ONKO Project

Multi-professional care structure and network to promote needs-oriented, local exercise therapy for oncology patients

Inquiries and contact for this study:
E-Mail: moveonko(at)nct-heidelberg.de

Consortium Management and Principal investigator:
Prof. Dr. Joachim Wiskemann

Consortium Partners:

Clinical/Oncological Centers: National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg / Heidelberg University Hospital, University Center for Tumor Diseases (UCT) Frankfurt a.M. - Marburg / Krankenhaus Nordwest Frankfurt, University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz / University Center for Tumor Diseases (UCT) Mainz, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin / Charité Comprehensive Cancer Center, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT/UCC) Dresden, University Medical Center Freiburg, University Medical Center Tübingen

Evaluation centers: University of Cologne, Heidelberg University Hospital

Link to the project website: https://move-onko.de/

Description

More than 700 publications show the potential of oncological sports and exercise therapy. This leads to the reduction of side effects, the improvement of therapy results and thus to the improvement of patients' health during and after cancer treatment. For this reason, there is an increasing demand for the integration of exercise promotion and therapy as a supportive measure in interdisciplinary oncological treatment. However, nationwide, the provision of specific services is inadequate. Studies show that oncology patients are not sufficiently informed about the benefits and possibilities of exercise and are therefore not very physically active.

Patients and oncology professionals describe a variety of disease- and therapy-related as well as structural barriers that stand in the way of regular implementation of or advice on physical activity. Based on the current literature, conditions conducive to the widespread implementation of exercise therapy are, above all, the early, treatment-accompanying information and motivation of those affected to exercise by specialist staff and linked to oncological care, as well as low-threshold access to (existing) adequate and quality-assured exercise therapy/movement promotion programs. This implies the need for qualified advice and referral for the promotion of physical activity.
The MOVE-ONKO project therefore aims to establish an interdisciplinary and multi-professional care structure through which patients can be identified, advised and referred to an individually suitable exercise therapy program. With the help of specially developed training programs, healthcare professionals (so-called movement pilots) and specialists (so-called movement experts) are to be qualified for this purpose. A specially developed communication platform and an app that can later be used throughout the OnkoAktiv network will be used to manage the range of care on offer. The new care structure will initially be set up at seven top oncology centers in three model regions in Germany (Rhine-Main-Neckar, Southern Black Forest, Berlin-Dresden). This care structure can then be adapted accordingly and used in organ centers and by established oncological care providers, with the aim of being established nationwide in standard care.

The following research questions arise:

  1. To what extent can the planned structure and range of services for MOVE-ONKO be established or expanded in oncology centers of excellence and at regional oncology care providers?
  2. Which barriers and support factors influence the establishment and expansion?
  3. To what extent can utilization by patients be improved?
  4. How do perceived experiences and outcomes develop among the patients included in the exercise program?
  5. What framework conditions are needed/created for sustainable implementation?

To answer these questions, the project will be continuously evaluated using a mixed-methods approach. In addition to the effectiveness of the care pathway, structures and processes for sustainable implementation will be assessed. For this purpose, a survey of n=2,240 adult cancer patients and qualitative interviews with service providers and key persons are planned. Patients will be surveyed at study inclusion, after four weeks, after twelve weeks (completion of the exercise therapy program) and after 24 weeks. The surveys of service providers and key persons took place before the start of the intervention. Further surveys are planned during the implementation phase in the clinical/oncological centers and during the implementation phase with regional oncological care providers.

The project is funded by the German Cancer Aid (DKH) as part of the funding priority program "Model implementation of structures for sports and exercise therapy for cancer patients".

Current status

The four-year MOVE-ONKO project started on March 1, 2023 with the development and differentiation of the care pathway. Patient recruitment has been taking place at the seven participating oncology/clinical centers as part of routine consultation since March 1, 2024. From March 1, 2025, patients from regional oncology care providers will also be included in the study.

At a glance

  • Study objective:
    The aim of the project is to provide as many oncology patients as possible with access to needs-oriented, local, quality-assured exercise therapy services.
     
  • Study patients:
    Cancer patients, age ≥ 18 years, during acute therapy

Cooperation Partners

  • Training and further education partners:
    German Association for Health Sports and Sports Therapy (DVGS), German Society for Sports Medicine and Prevention (DGSP) - German Association of Sports Physicians, German University for Health Sports and Sports Management, German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB)
     
  • Specialist oncology societies/interest groups:
    German Society for Hematology and Oncology (DGHO), OnkoAktiv (network for oncological sports and exercise therapy), ActiveOncoKids network, German Cancer Society (DKG): Working Group on Oncological Rehabilitation and Social Medicine (AGORS), Working Group on Supportive Measures in Oncology (AGSMO), Working Group on Dermatological Oncology (ADO), Working Group on Palliative Medicine (APM), Working Group on Social Work in Oncology (ASO), Conference of Pediatric Oncology Nurses (KOK), Gynecological Oncology Working Group (AGO), Internal Oncology Working Group (AIO), Radiological Oncology Working Group (ARO), Urological Oncology Working Group (AUO), Neuro-oncology Working Group (NOA), Psycho-oncology Working Group (PSO)
     
  • Patient representatives/self-help groups:
    Frauenenselbsthilfe Krebs Bundesverband (FSH), Deutsche ilco (self-help association for stoma carriers and people with colorectal cancer and their relatives), Bundesverband Prostata Selbsthilfe (BPS), Deutsche Leukämie- und Lymphom Hilfe (DLH), Haus der Krebs-Selbsthilfe Bundesverband, Cancer Survivor
     
  • Technical and industry partners:
    Center for Telemedicine Bad Kissingen (ZTM), merona software web consulting, German Cancer Survivors
     
  • Health insurance companies:
    AOK, Pronova BKK, ikk Südwest