PRIOR: Fit before esophageal surgery

man loopt de trap af
While patients with esophageal cancer often already have a reduced nutritional status and fitness level, esophageal surgery has a major impact on their physical fitness level too. The PRIOR-project focuses on improving fitness and nutritional status before surgery, to promote the recovery afterwards.  

Objective

In this project, we have developed, together with healthcare providers, a prehabilitation program for esophageal cancer patients, scheduled for surgery. The aim of this program is to improve physical fitness, and to enhance a good recovery after surgery.

Results

  • 243 patients, from five hospitals in the Netherlands, followed the new program
  • It was feasible for patients to follow the physical training and nutrition program and to improve their physical fitness level.
  • Patients and healthcare providers were positive about the program.
  • The results of the study will be published in scientific articles and will be presented at congresses.
 

Duration

01 May 2017 - 31 December 2024

Approach

Together with dieticians and physiotherapists from the collaborating hospitals, we have developed the intervention, and implemented this is in the usual care pathway. Hospitals collaborated with a network of primary care (oncology specialized) physiotherapists, so that patients could train in their own environment. Using the collected treatment data on fitness and nutritional status, we will investigate to what extent patients recover after surgery, and which factors influence this recovery.

"I was more relaxed before surgery. Because I was in good shape, and I got a bit of confidence out of that. "

Patient

HU researchers involved in the research

  • Elja Reijneveld | Researcher | Research group Innovation of Movement Care
    Elja Reijneveld
    • Researcher
    • Research group: Innovation of Movement Care
  • Cindy Veenhof portret
    Cindy Veenhof
    • Professor
    • Research group: Innovation of Movement Care

Related research groups

Would you like to collaborate or do you have any questions?

Elja Reijneveld | Researcher | Research group Innovation of Movement Care

Elja Reijneveld

  • Researcher
  • Research group: Innovation of Movement Care