Virtual home-based exercise program for kidney transplant candidates
Virtual Home-based Physical Pre-habilitation in Kidney Transplant Candidates: a Pilot RCT
This study is testing a 12-week online exercise and education program for people waiting for a kidney transplant to see if it helps them get stronger before surgery.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Montreal, Quebec and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT06089473 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This clinical trial aims to evaluate the feasibility of a 12-week virtual pre-habilitation intervention that includes exercise and education for individuals awaiting kidney transplants. Participants will engage in a structured program designed to enhance their physical health and functional capacity before surgery, followed by a 5-month maintenance phase of independent home exercises. The study will assess eligibility rates, consent rates, adherence to the intervention, follow-up completion, and overall acceptability of the program among participants. The control group will receive standard outpatient care.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with end-stage kidney disease who are classified as pre-frail to very frail and are awaiting kidney transplantation.
Not a fit: Patients who are classified as robust on the Fried's frailty phenotype score or those currently participating in structured exercise programs may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could improve physical health and recovery outcomes for kidney transplant candidates.
How similar studies have performed: Previous small-scale studies have shown encouraging results for pre-habilitation in kidney transplant candidates, but this approach is still relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * consecutive individuals with end stage kidney disease (ESKD) (aged ≥18 years), classified as pre-frail (1-2 points), frail (3-4 points) or very frail (5 points) on the Fried's frailty phenotype and who are accepted or in the process of being accepted to enter in the deceased or living donor KT waiting list of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montreal (CHUM) or University of Alberta Hospital (UAH) for first-time transplantation or re-transplantation * English or French speakers * is technologically capable of connecting (either independently or through household members/next-of-kin) with an online videoconferencing platform through an e-mail invitation (Patients who do not have access to internet will borrow a tablet with internet for the period of the study) Exclusion Criteria: * Individuals who: * are classified as robust (0 points) on their Fried's frailty phenotype score * are participating in a structured exercise program (hospital-based or home-based or another trial) * are waiting for kidney-pancreas or kidney-liver transplant as those have much longer waiting time * are hospitalized for any reason during the assessment for eligibility * have a cPRA (calculated panel reactive antibodies) \>95% and are on the highly sensitized exchange program and expected to have a prolonged waiting times on the waiting list * are expected to have a transplant before the end of the 12 week-intervention (e.g. individuals who will receive an organ from a living donor or are type A blood * have pre-existing or newly identified significant cognitive impairment * have pre-existing or newly identified cardiac, musculoskeletal, neuropathy or neurological condition that might affect their exercise performance or otherwise render rehabilitation participation unsafe
Where this trial is running
Montreal, Quebec and 1 other locations
- Centre de recherche - Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) — Montreal, Quebec, Canada (Recruiting)
- Research Institute - McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) — Montreal, Quebec, Canada (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Tania Janaudis-Ferreira, PhD — Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC)
- Study coordinator: Tania Janaudis-Ferreira, PhD
- Email: tania.janaudis-ferreira@mcgill.ca
- Phone: 514-619-0871
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.