BACKGROUND
Health promotion is an essential component of optimal survivorship care. Growing evidence supports physical activity across the cancer trajectory to ameliorate the effects of treatment, reduce fatigue, minimise risk for future chronic illness and improve wellbeing.
AIM
To assess changes in physical activity patterns, fatigue levels and perceived barriers to exercise in longterm survivors of blood cancer following SCT within a larger 12 month lifestyle intervention project.
METHOD
Following physician clearance, participants received an individually tailored community-based physical activity program supported by an exercise diary and motivational strategies. Patient-reported outcome instruments including the FACIT Fatigue Scale, Barriers Specific Self-Efficacy (BARSE) Scale and Godin Leisure-Time Activity questionnaire were administered at baseline and following 6 and 12 months of participation.
RESULTS
The project has enrolled 40 participants (21 males) with a median age of 50 years (range, 25-67). Median time since either autologous (30%) or allogeneic (70%) transplantation was 5.8 years (range, 2-15.4). At baseline, the median fatigue score was 43 (range, 6-52) with 15% reporting severe fatigue. Median BARSE score was 55 (range, 23-95) indicating moderate confidence levels in ability to overcome common barriers to physical activity. Referencing only moderate and strenuous physical activities, 60% participants reported insufficient physical activity to produce health benefits, 23% reported moderate activity levels with some potential for health benefits and only 17% reported sufficient activity to achieve substantial health benefits. 6 month evaluations are available for 9 participants. 34% report improved fatigue levels. No participant experienced worsening fatigue. BARSE scores reduced on average by 9 points (p=ns). Utilizing the Godin questionnaire, 89% participants increased their physical activity by ≥10% over baseline (p=0.015).
CONCLUSION
Engagement in an individualized community-based physical activity program has the potential to reduce fatigue levels experienced by cancer survivors and support the adoption of a more physically active lifestyle to benefit overall health and wellbeing.