title: Randomized pilot test of a lifestyle physical activity intervention for breast cancer survivors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper will report the results of a pilot test of a 6-month, 21-session intervention to increase breast cancer survivors' physical activity by teaching them to incorporate short periods of moderate activity into their daily routines (lifestyle intervention). The effect of the intervention on physical performance, quality of life, and physical activity are reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty breast cancer survivors were randomized to either a lifestyle intervention or a standard care control group. Physical performance, quality of life (Medical outcomes study short form-36 [SF-36]), and physical activity (7-day recall and motivation readiness), were assessed at baseline and 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The lifestyle group had significantly better performance in the 6-min walk task than the controls (p=0.005) at 6 months. The intervention had positive effects on the bodily pain (p=0.020) and general health (p=0.006) subscales from the SF-36. The lifestyle group had a greater motivational readiness for physical activity at 6-month than standard care, but no significant differences were seen between the two in terms of number of minutes of moderate or more intense physical activity or number of days on which they did > or =30 min of moderate or more intense activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the small sample size, the lifestyle intervention showed promise for improving physical functioning and quality of life and increasing physical activity, and should be tested in a larger randomized trial.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If the lifestyle approach is shown to be effective in a larger trial, it represents a highly feasible intervention that it can be delivered to cancer survivors by health care institutions or community organizations without dedicated exercise facilities and equipment.
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, USA. kbasenen@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Basen-Engquist
authors.forename: Cindy L Carmack
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rosenblum
authors.forename: Murray A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Eileen H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Shinn
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Greisinger
authors.forename: Xylina
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gregg
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Massey
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Valero
authors.forename: Edgardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rivera
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000193:education*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000209:etiology; D009042:Motivation; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology; D013781:Texas; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking