Evaluation Of Physical Activity And Quality Of Life Among Breast Cancer Survivors In Peninsular Malaysia
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Date
2016-12
Authors
Ahmad Rufa'i, Adamu
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Physical activity is one of the identified approaches used to better the recovery and enhance quality of life of breast cancer survivors. Despite established health enhancement benefit of physical activity on the overall quality of life and well-being, studies amongst Malaysian breast cancer survivors are limited. This study examined the physical activity profile and pattern, investigated the associated factors for physical activity participation and explored the relationship between physical activity and quality of life among the breast cancer women. Also, the study assessed feasibility and effectiveness of a physical intervention to improve physical activity participation, quality of life and other ‘supportive care end’ points. In the first part, a cross-sectional survey was carried out in 334 breast cancer patients recruited from 6 selected hospitals in peninsular Malaysia. Variables assessed included sociodemographic characteristics, physical activity, health-related quality of life and anthropometry. In the second part, breast cancer survivors (n=57) were recruited in an exercise intervention study. Participants in the exercise group were randomized into resistance exercise therapy/home program (n=20) and aerobic exercise therapy/home program group (n=20). The attention control group (n=17) continued with the usual care regimen. Participants were assessed at baseline, 12 weeks post-intervention and 12 weeks follow-up. The assessments included physical activity levels, quality of life, anthropometry and body composition. The tools used for assessments were International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Functional Assessment for Cancer Therapy-Breast and Digital Body Composition Analyzer. The
rate of physical activity participation was found to be 39.4%, and the pattern tends toward low-intensity. Moderate-intensity physical activity had significant correlation with functional well-being (r=0.57, p=0.054), breast cancer specific concern ((r=0.48, p=0.019), trial outcome index (r=0.71, p=0.035) and overall quality of life (0.49, p=0.002). Walking was correlated with physical well-being (r=-0.27, p=0.016). The insufficiently active participants were more likely to have no formal education, diagnosed less than one year, had no surgery and post-menopausal women. The intervention program had 92% retention for all the assessment sessions. Both the intervention groups demonstrated improvements in physical activity participation in the follow-up session (p< 0.05). Meanwhile, quality of life was shown to be the same at baseline across all the groups, however, post-intervention and follow-up it has shown some improvements in the intervention groups. Nevertheless, it was significantly improved in the aerobic exercise therapy/home program. In the case of anthropometry, although the intervention groups had improved anthropometric variables, the resistance exercise therapy/home program group demonstrated significantly better improvement. Similar trend of findings was observed in the changes in body composition parameters (e.g. body fat%, muscle mass, fat mass and fat free mass). The outcomes of this study show majority of the breast cancer survivors are not sufficiently active. It has also, shown that early diagnosis is associated with insufficient physical activity. In the intervention part, the results suggest simple individualized exercise is feasible with the retention recorded. Both the intervention exercises have proven to be effective in enhancing physical activity participation as well as betterment of ‘supportive care’ end points. A readily accessible personalized exercise intervention is effective in promoting healthy lifestyle behaviour among breast cancer survivors.
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Keywords
Physical activity and quality of life , among breast cancer survivors.