Background
Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplant (alloBMT) is an aggressive treatment for haematological disease. Consequential physical, emotional and psychological impairments can result in significant morbidity.
Aims
To determine the feasibility of implementing a Telehealth exercise class post-alloBMT and determine the effect of participating on physical and quality of life outcomes.
Methods
Retrospective, single site cohort study conducted at The Royal Melbourne Hospital. Patients aged ≥ 18 years, who underwent alloBMT within <100 days who had medical clearance to exercise were invited to participate in the telehealth exercise class for at least 12 weeks by their medical team or Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC).
Data of all BMT unit admissions in the last three years were extracted from electronic medical records, including: demographics, pre- and post-transplant 6-minute walk test (6MWT) scores, transplant details, post-alloBMT complications and pre-post EORTC QLQ-C30 (global health quality of life item) scores. Class data included number of referrals, attendance, re-admissions, and adverse events. Data were analysed descriptively and exploratory between group analyses were conducted using SPSS version28.
Conclusion
In total, 157 patient files were analysed between August 2021-August 2024. Fifty-six patients were referred to the Telehealth group, and 43 attended (77%). Exploratory analyses determined that there were no obvious differences between referred and non-referred patients (pre-6MWT, length of stay (LOS)). Participants were a median [IQR] 59 [51-63] years old at transplant, 44% female and had a median [IQR] inpatient LOS of 31 [28-37] days. The median [IQR] number of classes attended was 6 [3-12]. Eleven percent (n=5) sustained graft-versus-host disease and 53% (n=23) were re-admitted ≥1 time during their class admission for medical reasons. There were no adverse events during exercising. Exploratory analysis found no differences in EORTC QLQ-c30 (mean(SD) pre-class 57(22), post-class 48(18), t(17)= 1.21, p = 0.24) or 6MWT scores (mean (SD) pre-transplant 538(86), post-class 516(87), t(24) = 2.3, p=0.34).