ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Positive health behaviours such as regular physical activity and a healthy diet have significant effects on cancer outcomes. There is a need for simple but effective behaviour change interventions with the potential to be implemented within the cancer care pathway. Habit-based advice encourages repetition of a behaviour in a consistent context so that the behaviour becomes increasingly automatic in response to a specific contextual cue. This approach therefore encourages long-term behaviour change and can be delivered through printed materials. 'Healthy Habits for Life' is a brief intervention based on habit theory, and incorporating printed materials plus a personally tailored discussion, that has been designed specifically for patients with a diagnosis of cancer. The aim of this trial was to test the effect of 'Healthy Habits for Life' on a composite health behaviour risk index (CHBRI) over 3â months in patients with a diagnosis of breast, colorectal or prostate cancer. METHOD AND ANALYSIS: A 2-arm, individually randomised controlled trial in patients with breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. Patients will be recruited over 18â months from 7 National Health Service Trusts in London and Essex. Following baseline assessments and allocation to intervention or usual care, patients are followed up at 3 and 6â months. The primary outcome will be change in CHBRI at 3â months. Maintenance of any changes over 6â months, and changes in individual health behaviours (including dietary intake, physical activity, alcohol consumption and smoking status) will also be explored. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was obtained through the National Research Ethics Service Committee South Central-Oxford B via the Integrated Research Application System (reference number 14/SC/1369). Results of this study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and scientific presentations. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: 17421871.
