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Pilot study of a self-administered stress management and exercise intervention during chemotherapy for cancer

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Abstract

Goals of work

This pilot project explored the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of a self-administered exercise and stress management intervention for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

Patients and methods

Thirty-nine of 56 eligible patients (acceptance =69%) with a variety of solid tumors volunteered for the study. Participants were advised to exercise 20–40 min at 50–75% estimated heart rate reserve 3–5 times per week. In addition, patients were provided with instruction and written materials regarding stress management techniques. Follow-up data were collected during regularly scheduled outpatient visits at the start of the second, third, and fourth chemotherapy cycles using diary entries and the same questionnaires previously administered at baseline.

Main results

Twenty-four of 39 patients (62%) completed all study requirements. These participants completed 438 of the 678 exercise sessions assigned (adherence =62%). Of the stress management techniques, positive thinking most practiced most frequently (48%), followed by deep breathing (38%) and active relaxation (37%). Paired t tests, comparing baseline values with final recorded values, indicated a significant improvement over time in bodily pain (p<0.03) and mental health (p<0.04) subscale scores. Participants’ evaluations of the combined intervention were favorable: 90% felt it was helpful to them and 100% would recommend it to another patient.

Conclusions

A self-administered intervention combining aerobic exercise and stress management was acceptable and safe for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Preliminary data demonstrating intervention efficacy should be confirmed in subsequent randomized clinical trials.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physical Therapy, University of South Florida College of Medicine, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, MDC 77, Tampa, FL, 33612-4766, USA

    Rick W. Wilson

  2. H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA

    Lindsay A. Taliaferro & Paul B. Jacobsen

Authors
  1. Rick W. Wilson
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  2. Lindsay A. Taliaferro
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  3. Paul B. Jacobsen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rick W. Wilson.

Additional information

This project was reviewed and approved by the Protocol Monitoring and Review Committee, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute and by the Institutional Review Board (Biomedical), University of South Florida.

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Wilson, R.W., Taliaferro, L.A. & Jacobsen, P.B. Pilot study of a self-administered stress management and exercise intervention during chemotherapy for cancer. Support Care Cancer 14, 928–935 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-006-0021-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-006-0021-1

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