title: Exercise decisions within the context of multiple myeloma, transplant, and fatigue.
abstract: This constructivist (naturalistic) study explored the decision-making strategies of patients with multiple myeloma who were implementing a home-based exercise program intended to decrease cancer-related fatigue during therapy. A purposive nonprobability sample of 21 patients who were undergoing an aggressive tandem transplant protocol provided data through face-to-face and follow-up telephone interviews. Salient themes derived from the data through content analysis and constant comparison included intrinsic and extrinsic facilitators and barriers that influenced the participants' day-to-day decisions about exercise. Intrinsic factors that facilitated exercise adherence included a belief that exercise would be beneficial, a personal moral/ethical philosophy with regard to honoring a commitment and/or taking responsibility for one's health, and personal strategies such as keeping a routine and setting goals. Extrinsic facilitators included having a good support system and receiving prophylactic epoetin alfa. The experience of chemotherapy and related side effects were intrinsic barriers, while environmental factors such as weather, travel, and employment could be either facilitators or barriers. The delicate balance within the matrix of facilitators and barriers influenced participants' daily decisions about starting, interrupting, stopping, or resuming their workouts.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Arkansas Cancer Research Center, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Slot 529, 4301 W Markham St, Little Rock, AR 72005, USA. coonsharonk@uams.edu
authors.forename: Sharon K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Coon
authors.forename: Elizabeth Ann
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Coleman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003657:Decision Making; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D036102:Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa