Perioperative medicine & outcomes
The feasibility of implementing and evaluating individualised digital prehabilitation prior to major elective surgery in adults aged ≥ 50 years: the PreActiv intervention
Authors' conclusion
A definitive study investigating the effects of this novel digital prehabilitation programme on postoperative outcomes is feasible based on achieving predefined progression criteria, and warranted based on high compliance and acceptability.
Study context
- Population
- Patients aged ≥ 50 years awaiting major elective surgery in ≥ 10 weeks
- Participants
- 35 patients
- Outcome
- Retention (completing follow-up measurements) and adherence (completing all exercise sessions), assessed against Stop criteria ≤ 50%
Methodological detailsprospectively registered
- Prospectively registered
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Retention (completing follow-up measurements) and adherence (completing all exercise sessions); Stop criteria ≤ 50%
Retention rate
69%
Exercise adherence in study completers
88%
Secondary outcomes
Compliance (correct exercise intensity, type and duration)
- Sessions completed with correct intensity, type and duration
- 79%
Acceptability
- All participants reported exercise videos easy to follow and would recommend the programme
- Concern when completion of prehabilitation did not coincide with surgery date
- In-person measurement visits a barrier to recruitment and retention
Signal of effect (pre- to post-intervention)
- Functional fitness, quality of life and mood improved
- Cardiorespiratory fitness unchanged at group level, with individual clinically-meaningful improvements
Safety
- No related serious adverse events
Original publication
The feasibility of implementing and evaluating individualised digital prehabilitation prior to major elective surgery in adults aged ≥ 50 years: the PreActiv intervention. Perioper Med (Lond). Published 3 March 2026. doi:10.
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