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A comparison of physical activity correlates across breast, prostate and colorectal cancer survivors in Nova Scotia, Canada

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to compare the medical, demographic and social cognitive correlates of physical activity (PA) in breast (BCS), prostate (PCS) and colorectal (CRCS) cancer survivors.

Methods

A stratified random sample of 2062 BC, PC and CRC survivors diagnosed between 2003 and 2011 was identified by the Nova Scotia Cancer Registry (NSCR) and mailed a questionnaire assessing PA, social–cognitive constructs from the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), and demographic and medical variables. Structural equation modelling was used to conduct path analyses of the TPB within each cancer survivor group and an invariance analysis was used to compare the TPB across groups.

Results

A total of 741 completed surveys were analysed. Overall, 42 % of cancer survivors were meeting PA guidelines with no differences among the cancer sites. Treatment-related variables were strong correlates of PA in PC survivors but not for BC or CRC. Body mass index was strongly associated with PA in BC survivors but not PC or CRC. Path analyses within each cancer survivor group showed that intention was significantly associated with PA for CRCS only; planning was significantly associated with PA for BCS and PCS only; and perceived behavioural control (PBC) was significantly associated with PA for PCS only. For intention, PBC and instrumental attitude (IA) were significant correlates in all three cancer survivor groups whereas affective attitude (AA) was significant for BCS and CRCS only; and descriptive norm (DN) was significant for PCS and CRCS only. Invariance analyses revealed significantly stronger relationships for (a) intention to planning for BCS compared to PCS, (b) affective attitude to intention for CRCS compared to PCS, and (c) planning to PA for PCS compared to CRCS.

Conclusions

Although BC, PC, and CRC survivors have similar levels of PA, the correlates of their PA may differ. These findings may inform cancer site-specific interventions to promote PA in cancer survivors.

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Acknowledgments

Special thanks to the Nova Scotia Cancer Registry for granting permission and participating in this research study. This work was supported by the President’s Grant for the Creative and Performing Arts — Human Performance Scholarship Fund and the Canada Research Chairs Program held by Kerry Courneya.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, E-488 Van Vliet Center, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2H9

    Cynthia C. Forbes, W. Kerry Mummery & Kerry S. Courneya

  2. Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

    Chris M. Blanchard

Authors
  1. Cynthia C. Forbes
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  2. Chris M. Blanchard
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  3. W. Kerry Mummery
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  4. Kerry S. Courneya
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Correspondence to Kerry S. Courneya.

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Authors’ contributions

All authors made substantial contributions to the conception and design of the study. CF was involved in the acquisition of data. CF and KC drafted the manuscript and KM and CB revised it critically for important intellectual content. CF, KS and CB performed the statistical analyses and were responsible for the interpretation of the data. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Forbes, C.C., Blanchard, C.M., Mummery, W.K. et al. A comparison of physical activity correlates across breast, prostate and colorectal cancer survivors in Nova Scotia, Canada. Support Care Cancer 22, 891–903 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-013-2045-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-013-2045-7

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