Online Prehabilitation for Patients Awaiting Liver Transplantation (NCT05899231)
OPAL: Online Prehabilitation for Patients Awaiting Liver Transplantation - a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial to Reduce Physical Frailty and Improve Health Outcomes
🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
Physical frailty is common in patients awaiting liver transplantation and has been associated with poor health outcomes. There is promising data from small studies showing that behavioural, nutrition, exercise therapy (prehabilitation) improves physical function in patients while they are waiting for a liver transplant. The proposed trial will assess if a 12-week online prehabilitation program improves physical function in patients listed for liver transplantation. Over 4 years, 177 patients will be recruited from 6 transplant centres across Canada and will be randomized to receive either the online prehabilitation program or usual care. The primary outcome of physical function will be evaluated using the FTSST at baseline and 12 weeks (or last timepoint before transplant) assessed virtually or in-person. Secondary outcomes include liver specific physical frailty, aerobic fitness, health-related quality of life (QoL), participant experience and acceptability. Exploratory outcomes include other virtual and in-person physical function measures, covert hepatic encephalopathy (CHE), sarcopenia, malnutrition, adherence, behaviour factors, clinical and post-transplant outcomes. Results will be compared between the intervention and usual care groups.
Who can join: Review the eligibility criteria below.
Location: Foothills Medical Centre — Calgary, Alberta
Age range: 18 Years
🧪 Interventions in This Study
- Prehabilitation Programming (BEHAVIORAL)
📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistFull eligibility criteria are available on the official NIH protocol. View the criteria ↗
📍 All Participating Trial Locations (6 Sites)
- Foothills Medical Centre — Calgary, Alberta
- Kaye Edmonton Clinic — Edmonton, Alberta
- Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre — Vancouver, British Columbia
- London Health Sciences Centre — London, Ontario
- Toronto General Hospital - Ajmera Transplant Centre — Toronto, Ontario
- McGill University Health Centre — Montreal, Quebec
📞 Contact the Study Coordinator
Phone: (780) 492-9844
Email: ptandon@ualberta.ca
Coordinator details come directly from the registered NIH protocol. Confirm the study is still recruiting before traveling.
💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.
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💡 How to Participate
- Check the checklist above to see if you may qualify.
- Contact the study coordinator using the phone/email above.
- Ask about the visit schedule, what is covered at no cost, and any travel support.
- Confirm with your own doctor before making a decision.