ProHealth: a co-designed online home-based healthy eating and exercise programme for men with prostate cancer treated with androgen deprivation therapy - a study protocol for a feasibility and preliminary efficacy randomised controlled trial

Background Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) improves survival in advanced prostate cancer but may lead to debilitating side effects, including sarcopenic obesity and a 10 - 45% increased risk of other comorbidities. Guidelines recommend exercise and nutrition interventions during ADT, but access to these services is often limited, and referral pathways are unclear.

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an online, home-based, multi-faceted, exercise, nutrition and education programme (ProHealth) for men with prostate cancer treated with ADT. ProHealth was co-designed with consumers and healthcare professionals to include (i) education on prostate cancer and treatment-related side effects and (ii) multimedia behaviour change resources to support individualised nutrition and exercise behaviour change.

Methods and analysis This 12-week randomised controlled trial (target n=50) will include men treated with ADT for >3 months or who have completed ADT in the last 24 months, are overweight or obese and are not under the care of a dietitian or exercise professional. Participants will be randomised (1:1) to the ProHealth intervention or usual care.