6 Minutes Walking Program for Terminally Ill Patients at Home or in an Institution

Effects of 6-minute Walking Exercise in Advanced Cancer and Non-cancer Patients: a Randomized Controlled Trial

This study was conducted with a single-blind, randomized control method for 120 participants, 60 in the regular care group and 60 in the exercise intervention group. Those who meet the admission criteria will be contacted by phone and explained the purpose of the study. After asking for and obtaining consent, those who are willing to sign the consent form will be divided into groups and go to the home with the home care worker for the study. A suitable space was arranged for a 6-minute explanation and demonstration of walking exercise and a structured questionnaire to be filled out by the participant (the Barr's scale, Koch's scale and cognitive function assessment in the basic data were filled out by the facilitator), and the facilitator accompanied the participant during the process, giving explanations for unclear points to facilitate the completion of the questionnaire and to achieve a valid questionnaire. A trained research assistant was responsible for recruiting cases and receiving a study number and corresponding group assignment. Stratified random assignment (1:1) was used to divide the exercise intervention group and the usual care group. The study was listed using a randomized use of replacement blocks (block size 4). The assignment sequence was only available to the program facilitator and was not known to the other staff. Interventional measures Routine care group: A primary care team of physicians and nurse practitioners visited at least once a month for: (1) an initial intake visit (60-90 minutes) to provide a holistic assessment of disease intensity and prognosis, psychological distress, and social support; (2) at least one home care visit per month (30-60 minutes); (3) a telephone (4) Provide caregivers with social software and telepresence to solve caregiving problems (5) Provide exercise diaries to record daily activities of daily living (including vital signs, mobility, and fatigue). Exercise intervention group: In addition to the regular care group model, the intervention measure: 6 minute walk test (6MWT) is the simplest and most cost effective way to assess exercise. Pre-intervention equipment: 6-minute walk exercise video, yardstick, distance marker cone, measuring tape, exercise diary, smart bracelet, all subjects were provided with 6-minute walk exercise video and related equipment by the facilitator at intake. Before the test: explain the pre and post-test precautions, demonstrate the correct way to perform the test, and inform the patient to perform the test in a comfortable manner. In addition, the case was asked to wear the bracelet 24 hours a day for 7 days a week to observe the sleep quality. During the intervention period, if a case has the following conditions, the principle of implementation is as follows: (1) if the case has good walking ability, the case will be reminded to comply with the intervention (or keep the original physical activity) through telephone care and exercise diary; (2) if the case is physically able to walk but has low willingness to perform the 6-minute walk due to various conditions, the case will be reminded by family members or followed up by the researcher by telephone to improve the implementation rate; (3) if the case has difficulty getting out of bed due to the progress of the disease or treatment factors. (3) Cases with difficulty in getting out of bed or at risk of falling due to the progress of the disease or treatment factors; (4) Cases using oxygen to walk for 6 minutes in the area of the oxygen nasal cannula and tubing; if there is a risk of falling or injury during the procedure, please stop all activities immediately and ask the caregiver to monitor the vital signs and notify the facilitator and home care provider. If the patient needs to be taken to the hospital for treatment, assist in contacting the ambulance and send to the nearest hospital or the hospital where the patient usually goes for treatment; the host will visit the hospital and understand the situation and fill in the abnormal events. Outcome measurement: The family, primary caregiver, and the case are instructed to correctly measure the number of laps, distance, time, and number of times to walk, and to give instructions. Outcome measures were collected by the co-facilitators at intake, month 1, month 2, month 3, and month 6, and all data and assessment scales were tracked.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. advanced cancer (cancer stage III or IV)
2. terminal ill disease
3. aged >=20 years
4. ECOG stage 0-3
5. Life expectancy =< 12 months

Exclusion Criteria:

1. unable to have normal conversation due to illness.