Digital family-centred support for physical activity after childhood cancer

About the project

Children who have completed cancer treatment are at increased risk of long-term health problems and often have lower levels of physical activity and physical fitness than their peers. At the same time, support for physical activity after treatment remains limited. This project therefore aims to develop digital support to help children and families integrate physical activity into everyday life.

The project will be conducted in three phases

Phase 1 – Development: Together with parents of children who have completed cancer treatment and healthcare professionals in paediatric oncology and rehabilitation, we will co-produce a family-centred digital intervention. Through co-production workshops, we will identify families' needs and barriers and determine how support can best be designed and tailored to different family contexts.

Phase 2 – Feasibility: The intervention will be evaluated in a randomised feasibility trial involving 50 families. We will examine the feasibility of delivering the intervention, families' experiences and use of the support, and preliminary effects on physical activity, health, and well-being among children and parents.

Phase 3 – Evaluation: Findings from the first two phases will inform a future multicentre trial. This study will evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the intervention in a larger group of families.

Significance

By combining digital support with families' experiences and needs, we aim to develop an accessible and sustainable approach to promoting physical activity after childhood cancer. In the longer term, the goal is to contribute to equitable access to evidence-based physical activity support for childhood cancer survivors and their families across Sweden.