Stay on Track: A Pilot Randomized Control Trial on the Feasibility of a Diet and Exercise Intervention in Patients with Breast Cancer Receiving Radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: Among patients with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy, posttreatment cardiovascular disease and worsened quality of life (QoL) are leading causes of morbidity and mortality. To overcome these negative radiotherapy effects, this prospective, randomized clinical trial pilots a 12-week Stay on Track exercise and diet intervention for overweight patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer undergoing whole-breast radiotherapy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The intervention group (n = 22) participated in three personal exercise and dietary counseling sessions, and received three text reminders/week to adhere to recommendations. The control group (n = 22) was administered a diet/exercise information binder. All patients received a Fitbit, and at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months, measurements of biomarkers, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans, QoL and physical activity surveys, and food frequency questionnaires were obtained. A satisfaction survey was administered at 3 months. RESULTS: Stay on Track was well received, with high rates of adherence and satisfaction. The intervention group showed an increase in self-reported physical activity and preserved QoL, a decrease in body mass index and visceral fat, and higher American Cancer Society/American Institute of Cancer Research dietary adherence. The control participants had reduced QoL, anti-inflammatory markers, and increased metabolic syndrome markers. Both groups had decreased overall body mass. These changes were within group effects. When comparing the intervention and control groups over time, there were notable improvements in dietary adherence in the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted lifestyle interventions during radiotherapy are feasible and could decrease cardiovascular comorbidities in patients with breast cancer. Larger-scale implementation with longer follow-up can better determine interventions that influence cardiometabolic health and QoL. SIGNIFICANCE: This pilot study examines cardiometabolic benefits of a combined diet and exercise intervention for patients with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy. The intervention included an activity tracker (FitBit) and text message reminders to promote adherence to lifestyle interventions. Large-scale implementation of such programs may improve cardiometabolic outcomes and overall QoL among patients with breast cancer.

Physician Adherence to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guidelines for Sexually Active Adolescents in the Pediatric Emergency Setting.

OBJECTIVES: There is limited literature about physicians' adherence to 2010 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines specific to specimen collection testing methods in adolescent females in the emergency setting is limited. The objectives are to (1) determine physician adherence to CDC guidelines for specimen collection/testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea, (2) determine physician characteristics associated with guideline adherence, and (3) describe physicians' knowledge of expedited partner therapy (EPT) laws. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, anonymous, Internet-based survey of physician members of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section of Emergency Medicine. Questions addressed practice patterns and knowledge through clinical scenarios of adolescent girls. Descriptive statistics are used to report frequency. Fisher exact and χ analyses are used to compare physician subgroups: gender, years in practice, practice setting, and geographical region. RESULTS: Overall, 257 physicians responded and 231 were analyzed; 62.4% females; 46.0% in practice for ≤ 7 years; 86.2% in academic medicine. Specimen collection/testing in an asymptomatic patient were consistent with guidelines for 85.6% of respondents, but decreased to 37.4% for a symptomatic patient. Guideline adherence was not different between physician subgroups. Only 30.4% of physicians reported state EPT law knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence with the CDC guidelines for chlamydia/gonorrhea specimen collection/testing for adolescents in the emergency setting is inadequate, and EPT knowledge is poor. With increased emergency department use by adolescents, it is critical that physicians know and implement the current recommendations to improve adolescent health outcomes.