LIFT Intervention in Liver Transplant Candidates

Description

Frailty is a significant problem in patients undergoing liver transplant and is associated with poor outcomes and survival. Hence, optimizing physical fitness and counteracting frailty is important. However, many interventions are very resource intensive and therefore not feasible. In this study, the investigators aim to test the effectiveness of a newly designed intervention to improve frailty in liver transplant candidates. The "LIver FrailTy" intervention (LIFT) will consist of an evaluation by a physical therapist, an individualized home exercise prescription (HEP), exercise tracking using a smart phone application, daily text reminders to exercise and recurrent telephone check-ins. The investigators also aim to perform "Realistic Effort Action Planning" (REAP), which is a form of personality-informed motivational interviewing, in a subset of patients to determine if this enhances the LIFT intervention.

Conditions

Frailty, Cirrhosis, Liver Transplant

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

Frailty is a significant problem in patients undergoing liver transplant and is associated with poor outcomes and survival. Hence, optimizing physical fitness and counteracting frailty is important. However, many interventions are very resource intensive and therefore not feasible. In this study, the investigators aim to test the effectiveness of a newly designed intervention to improve frailty in liver transplant candidates. The "LIver FrailTy" intervention (LIFT) will consist of an evaluation by a physical therapist, an individualized home exercise prescription (HEP), exercise tracking using a smart phone application, daily text reminders to exercise and recurrent telephone check-ins. The investigators also aim to perform "Realistic Effort Action Planning" (REAP), which is a form of personality-informed motivational interviewing, in a subset of patients to determine if this enhances the LIFT intervention.

Home-based Physical Therapy Intervention to Decrease Frailty in Liver Transplant Candidates

LIFT Intervention in Liver Transplant Candidates

Condition
Frailty
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Chicago

Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Patients with a diagnosis of liver cirrhosis being evaluated for liver transplantation in hepatology/transplant evaluation clinic
  • * English-speaking
  • * Patients with access to a smart phone (with videoconference capabilities)
  • * Vulnerable populations: We will include patients who are cognitively impaired due to hepatic encephalopathy and unable to consent for themselves.
  • * Patients \< 18 years of age
  • * Patients who require outpatient physical therapy.
  • * Patients without the ability to consent for themselves or through a medical power of attorney.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

Northwestern University,

Daniela Ladner, MD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Northwestern University

Study Record Dates

2025-09-01