Abstract B032: Randomized trial of the Active Living After Cancer program in a neighborhood experiencing persistent poverty: Early recruitment and retention results

Abstract Purpose: Physical activity improves the quality of life and physical functioning of cancer survivors and is associated with improved survival, but few survivors meet recommendations. Survivors living in neighborhoods affected by persistent poverty (PP) are particularly susceptible to low physical activity, which may contribute to lower cancer survival rates. We adapted an evidence-based 12-week group physical activity intervention, Active Living After Cancer, for post-treatment cancer survivors living in a neighborhood experiencing PP in Houston, TX, and are evaluating its effects. We report recruitment efforts, enrollment and retention to date. This study is conducted as a part of the Acres Homes Cancer Prevention Collaboration, an NCI-funded initiative implemented in the context of Be Well Communities™, a place-based community-engaged cancer prevention initiative. Methods: Survivors were recruited through flyers distributed at Be Well community events, postings on community websites and newsletters, and outreach to patients from MD Anderson and the safety net oncology clinic. Survivors are contacted and screened by phone; eligible participants completed consent and an in-person baseline assessment at a community center. They are then randomized to intervention or waitlist control groups and will complete additional assessments at 3 months and 6 months. Results: A total of 195 survivors have been identified through recruitment efforts. To date, we have screened 29; 25 were eligible, 4 were ineligible. Eleven of the 25 declined to participate and 14 enrolled (56% enrollment rate). Reasons for declining included current injury or health issue and conflict with work or family responsibilities. Of the 14 who completed the baseline assessment, 62% had survived breast cancer, 15% prostate cancer, 8% colorectal cancer, and 15% another cancer; 15% were men, 85% were women. The ages ranged from 58 to 85 years old (M=67.6). The majority, 85%, were Black, 8% were Hispanic, and 8% were White. At baseline, 46% reported doing no physical activity, and 23% reported doing some activity but not at the level recommended for survivors. On the sit-to-stand test, 92% were below the 50th percentile for their age and sex. The first cohort has reached the 3-month assessment with an 89% completion rate. Conclusions: Recruitment channels have successfully identified potential participants but remains challenging using channels targeted to the general community where are low proportion of those reached are cancer survivors. Participants recruited to date are diverse regarding cancer type, race/ethnicity, and income, and most have low physical activity and poor physical functioning when compared to others of their sex and age, potentially contributing to disparities in cancer survival among survivors living in PP areas. The study has a moderate-high enrollment rate for an intervention trial (56%), and high retention, perhaps due in part to transportation support and high program satisfaction. Citation Format: Karen Basen-Engquist, Dalnim Cho, Andrew Springer, Scherezade Mama, Kylee Laffoon, Patricia Tracy, Stacy Mitchell, Hailey J. Gardiner, Jasmine Dailey, Maria E. Fernandez, Eunyoung Kang, Ruth Rechis, Lorna McNeill. Randomized trial of the Active Living After Cancer program in a neighborhood experiencing persistent poverty: Early recruitment and retention results abstract. In: Proceedings of the 18th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities; 2025 Sep 18-21; Baltimore, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2025;34(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B032.