Research Priorities in Prehabilitation for Patients Undergoing Cancer Surgery: An International Delphi Study

Raichurkar, P; Denehy, L; Solomon, M; Koh, C; Pillinger, N; Hogan, S; McBride, K; Carey, S; Bartyn, J; Hirst, N; Steffens, D; Prehabilitation Expert Collaborative

Author(s): Raichurkar, P; Denehy, L; Solomon, M; Koh, C; Pillinger, N; Hogan, S; McBride, K; Carey, S; Bartyn, J; Hirst, N; Steffens, D; Prehabilitation Expert Collaborative;
Details: Publication Year 2023,Volume 30,Issue #12,Page 7226-7235
Journal Title: Annals of Surgical Oncology
Publication Type: Research article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Recently, the number of prehabilitation trials has increased significantly. The identification of key research priorities is vital in guiding future research directions. Thus, the aim of this collaborative study was to define key research priorities in prehabilitation for patients undergoing cancer surgery. METHODS: The Delphi methodology was implemented over three rounds of surveys distributed to prehabilitation experts from across multiple specialties, tumour streams and countries via a secure online platform. In the first round, participants were asked to provide baseline demographics and to identify five top prehabilitation research priorities. In successive rounds, participants were asked to rank research priorities on a 5-point Likert scale. Consensus was considered if > 70% of participants indicated agreement on each research priority. RESULTS: A total of 165 prehabilitation experts participated, including medical doctors, physiotherapists, dieticians, nurses, and academics across four continents. The first round identified 446 research priorities, collated within 75 unique research questions. Over two successive rounds, a list of 10 research priorities reached international consensus of importance. These included the efficacy of prehabilitation on varied postoperative outcomes, benefit to specific patient groups, ideal programme composition, cost efficacy, enhancing compliance and adherence, effect during neoadjuvant therapies, and modes of delivery. CONCLUSIONS: This collaborative international study identified the top 10 research priorities in prehabilitation for patients undergoing cancer surgery. The identified priorities inform research strategies, provide future directions for prehabilitation research, support resource allocation and enhance the prehabilitation evidence base in cancer patients undergoing surgery.
Publisher: Springer Nature
Keywords: Humans; Delphi Technique; Preoperative Exercise; *Physicians; Research Design; *Neoplasms/surgery
Department(s): Allied Health
PubMed ID: 37620526
Publisher's Version: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-023-14192-x
Open Access at Publisher's Site: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-023-14192-x
Terms of Use/Rights Notice: Refer to copyright notice on published article.

Creation Date: 2023-11-08 07:27:58

Last Modified: 2023-11-08 07:28:27