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Building a physical activity intervention into clinical care for breast and colorectal cancer survivors in Wisconsin: a randomized controlled pilot trial

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Abstract

Background

Cancer survivorship care plans (“care plans”) often recommend an active lifestyle yet are rarely accompanied by programs to help patients enact the prescribed behavior change. As a step towards bridging this gap, this trial tested the feasibility of augmenting care planning with a multi-level physical activity intervention.

Methods

Breast and colorectal cancer survivors were enrolled alongside a self-selected support partner (e.g., spouse, friend). Survivors received a care plan alone (comparison group) versus one augmented with a 12-week physical activity module (intervention group). For the intervention group dyads, both members received a multi-component program including Fitbit trackers, with the survivor’s Fitbit linked to his/her electronic health record (EHR). Treating clinicians received periodic updates regarding the survivors’ physical activity. The primary outcome was ActiGraph-measured physical activity, analyzed using mixed models. Feedback questionnaires were administered to participants and clinicians at 12 weeks.

Results

Survivors (n = 50) were 54.4 ± 11.2 years of age and 2.0 ± 1.5 years post-diagnosis. Survivors in the intervention group increased moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) by 69 ± 84 min/week vs. a 20 ± 71 min/week decrease in the comparison group (p = .001). Likewise, daily steps increased by 1470 ± 1881 vs. a 398 ± 1751 decrease (P = .002). Among responding clinicians, 100% looked at survivors’ activity data within the EHR at least once and 80% said it provided insight into their patients’ lifestyles.

Conclusions

Augmenting a standard care plan with a multi-level, technology-based intervention increased physical activity among cancer survivors.

Implications for cancer survivors

Technology-based approaches, including activity trackers, can be used by individuals to work towards an active lifestyle after cancer.

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Funding

This study was funded by the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program, through the NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), grant UL1TR002373. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH. Dr. Cadmus-Bertram’s time was supported by NIH grant 1K07CA178870.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin – Madison, 2000 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA

    Lisa Cadmus-Bertram

  2. Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, WI, USA

    Lisa Cadmus-Bertram, Amye J. Tevaarwerk, Mary E. Sesto & Ronald Gangnon

  3. Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, WI, USA

    Amye J. Tevaarwerk, Mary E. Sesto & Ronald Gangnon

  4. Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, WI, USA

    Brittany Van Remortel & Preshita Date

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  1. Lisa Cadmus-Bertram
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lisa Cadmus-Bertram.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the University of Wisconsin Health Sciences IRB (protocol 2015–1295) and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Cadmus-Bertram, L., Tevaarwerk, A.J., Sesto, M.E. et al. Building a physical activity intervention into clinical care for breast and colorectal cancer survivors in Wisconsin: a randomized controlled pilot trial. J Cancer Surviv 13, 593–602 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-019-00778-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-019-00778-6

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