Multi-Component Prehabilitation Program for High-Risk Older Adults Undergoing Major Elective Surgery: A Pilot and Feasibility Study

Physical therapy targeting flexibility, strength, and endurance will be delivered at the participant's home, center-based, or virtually via a twice-weekly (on average) schedule to provide a total of about 6-8 sessions during the 3-4 week study period. Participants will be asked to participate in self-directed exercise for at least 30 minutes per day for 4 or more days per week.

One-hour virtual group nutrition education classes will be held once per week by a dietitian, focusing on optimal protein intake (1.2 grams per kg of body weight) for lean body mass preservation (from food sources and oral nutritional supplements) and muscle gain. Participants will also receive oral nutritional supplements (20-30 grams of protein/day provided by our study team).

One-hour virtual group meditation sessions will be held once per week by an experienced meditation teacher. Classes will focus on breathing techniques, yoga, and mindful meditation practices. Participants will be asked to participate in self-directed meditation for at least 12 minutes daily.

A 30-min telephone-based session with individual patients will take place to deliver cognitive behavioral strategies once per week by a professionally trained clinician. These strategies include education about frailty and surgery, increasing positive beliefs of the benefits of exercise and nutrition, discussing barriers, setting individualized goals for surgery and recovery, developing a detailed exercise and nutrition plan (including logistics), self-monitoring of progress using weekly exercise, diet, and meditation logs, and enhancing self-efficacy through the celebration of small wins.