Effect of moderate physical activity on cancer related fatigue among breast cancer patients in recovery stage / 中国实用护理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the effectiveness of moderate intensity physical activity on cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in breast cancer patients during the convalescence in China. Methods A total of 61 participants were randomly assigned to two groups30 cases in the control group, 31 cases in the experimental group. The two groups were given routine care and exercise prescription. The cases in the control group were informed of doing exercises according to physical condition. The experimental group did exercise by exercise prescription of 30-minute walk every day which met the American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines for moderate physical activity. The patients fatigue index and physical activity were compared, simultaneously the relationship between the two groups in the pre-cheo phase (T0 ), 1 week, after the end of chemotherapy (T1), and 1 month after chemotherapy (T2) was analyzed. Results In terms of the fatigue index, there was no statistical difference between the two groups during the T0 period (t=0.967, P>0.05). The experimental group at T1 and T2 were 6.31±0.81,4.71±0.94, significantly lower than those of the control group 6.92 ± 0.79, 5.36 ± 0.91, with a statistical difference (t=2.987, 2.730, P<0.01). In terms of physical activity level, there was no statistical difference between the two groups during the T0 period (t=1.902, P>0.05). The experimental group at T1 and T2 was (716.94±71.09), (828.87± 118.50) MET-minutes/week, significantly higher than the control group (562.00 ± 94.47),(718.47 ± 61.13)MET-minutes/week, with a statistical difference (t=7.235, 4.548, P<0.01). Using Logistic regression, the correlation between fatigue index and age, physical activity level, cancer staging, and surgical method was analyzed. There was a significant correlation between physical activity level and fatigue index (P<0.05). There was no correlation between fatigue index and age, stage of cancer, and surgical methods (P>0.05). Conclusions Moderate levels of physical activity can help improve the quality of life by means of significantly reduce CRF in patients with breast cancer during the convalescence.