Journal Article

Effects of a self-managed home-based walking intervention on psychosocial health outcomes for breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: a randomised controlled trial

Ahmed, Samreen, Wallis, Deborah, Munir, Fehmidah, Boiangiu, Ion, Gokal, Kajal, Kancherla, Kiran

2016

Overview

Purpose This study evaluated the effectiveness of a self-managed home-based moderate intensity walking intervention on psychosocial health outcomes among breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Methods The randomised controlled trial compared a self-managed, home-based walking intervention to usual care alone among breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Outcome measures included changes in self-report measures of anxiety, depression, fatigue, self-esteem, mood and physical activity. Fifty participants were randomised to either the intervention group ( n  = 25), who received 12 weeks of moderate intensity walking, or the control group ( n  = 25) mid-way through chemotherapy. Participants in the intervention group were provided with a pedometer and were asked to set goals and keep weekly diaries outlining the duration, intensity and exertion of their walking. Levels of psychosocial functioning and physical activity were assessed pre- and post-intervention in both groups. Results The intervention had positive effects on fatigue ( F  = 5.77, p  = 0.02), self-esteem ( F  = 8.93, p  ≤ 0.001), mood ( F  = 4.73, p  = 0.03) and levels of physical activity ( x 2  = 17.15, p  = 0.0011) but not anxiety ( F  = 0.90, p  = 0.35) and depression ( F  = 0.26, p  = 0.60) as assessed using the HADS. We found an 80 % adherence rate to completing the 12-week intervention and recording weekly logs. Conclusion This self-managed, home-based intervention was beneficial for improving psychosocial well-being and levels of physical activity among breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN50709297.

• Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Adolescent / Adult / Aged / Anxiety / Autobiographical literature / Breast cancer / Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy / Cancer / Cancer patients / Care and treatment / Chemotherapy / Clinical outcomes / Comparative analysis / Depression (Mood disorder) / Diaries / Emotions / Exercise / Fatigue / Female / Groups / Health status / Home based / Humans / Intervention / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Mental depression / Middle Aged / Motor Activity / Nursing / Nursing Research / Oncology / Original Article / Pain Medicine / Patient outcomes / Patients / Physical activity / Physical fitness / Psychological aspects / Psychosocial factors / Psychosocial functioning / Psychosocial intervention / Psychosocial well being / Registration / Rehabilitation Medicine / Self Care / Self esteem / Self evaluation / Self report / Studies / Treatment Outcome / Walking / Walking - psychology / Well being / Young Adult