Research overview
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common distressing complication of gynaecological cancer treatment affecting between 60-70% of women undergoing chemotherapy for ovarian and other gynaecological cancers.
Symptoms, including numbness, tingling and pain, loss of proprioception and fine motor function in the hands and feet, typically emerge during treatment and may persist long-term. CIPN is associated with reduced quality of life and mobility, increased falls, and can result in reduced chemotherapy dosage or cessation. No medications effectively prevent or treat CIPN.
Hand-foot exercise interventions can effectively reduce symptom severity. Evidence suggests women with cancer want more self-management strategies, yet these are rarely provided by their treating team.
This project aims to translate evidence to practice by co-designing, implementing and evaluating a sustainable self-managed hand-foot exercise intervention to reduce CIPN symptom severity and improve quality of life.
A stakeholder advisory group of consumer and clinical experts will guide the project. Two modes of participant resources, an internet-based application and a paper-based booklet, will be co-designed, evaluated, trialled and compared.
Clinical outcomes will be assessed pre-, during and post-intervention. Participant feedback will be invited through interviews and focus groups, and a health economics analysis will be conducted to evaluate the acceptability and sustainability of the intervention.
This project will evaluate the feasibility and impact of a sustainable, patient-centred solution and its translation to practice.
Project researchers
Natalie Williams
Partners
King Edward Memorial Hospital
Funders
Women and Infants Research Foundation
Project timeline
2025 – 2026
