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Patients' perceptions of quality of life during active treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer: the importance of preoperative exercise

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this longitudinal study was to explore advanced rectal cancer patients' perceptions of quality of life (QoL) during participation in a pre-surgery structured exercise program.

Methods

Patients (n = 10) participated in repeated semi-structured in-depth interviews which covered four broad QoL domains (i.e., physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being). Patients' personal accounts of QoL were explored prior to (0 weeks), midway (3 weeks), and at completion (6 weeks) of the program. Data were analyzed using strategies grounded in a phenomenological approach.

Results

Participation in the program facilitated positive changes in QoL over time by (1) fostering a greater sense of vitality, (2) cultivating a positive attitude, (3) enhancing social connections, and (4) fostering a strong sense of purpose in life for these patients.

Conclusions

Based on these data, preoperative exercise programs can be effective in promoting QoL among patients diagnosed and treated for locally advanced rectal cancer during a particularly difficult time in the cancer trajectory. Additional research is needed to develop and evaluate implementation strategies to facilitate the delivery of preoperative exercise programs as part of routine care in this population.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their gratitude to Lisa Loughney for supervising the exercise training of all patients, Ben Bolland for conducting the interviews, and all of the patients for sharing their experiences with us.

Conflict of interest

The authors report no declarations of interest. They have full control of all primary data and agree to allow the journal to review their data if requested.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS29JT, UK

    Shaunna M. Burke

  2. Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada

    Jennifer Brunet

  3. Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Catherine M. Sabiston

  4. Critical Care Research Area, NIHR Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK

    Sandy Jack & Michael P. W. Grocott

  5. Integrative Physiology and Critical Illness Group, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

    Michael P. W. Grocott

  6. Colorectal Surgery Research Group, Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Aintree, UK

    Malcolm A. West

  7. Department of Musculoskeletal Biology II, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, Faculties of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK

    Malcolm A. West

Authors
  1. Shaunna M. Burke
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  2. Jennifer Brunet
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  3. Catherine M. Sabiston
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  4. Sandy Jack
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  5. Michael P. W. Grocott
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  6. Malcolm A. West
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shaunna M. Burke.

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Burke, S.M., Brunet, J., Sabiston, C.M. et al. Patients' perceptions of quality of life during active treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer: the importance of preoperative exercise. Support Care Cancer 21, 3345–3353 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-013-1908-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-013-1908-2

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