title: Associations between physical activity and quality of life in ovarian cancer survivors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of physical activity in ovarian cancer survivors and to determine if there is a dose-response relationship between physical activity and quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ovarian cancer survivors identified from a Canadian provincial cancer registry were mailed a questionnaire measuring self-reported leisure time physical activity (Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire), cancer-specific quality of life (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Ovarian), and standard demographic and medical variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Completed questionnaires were received from 359 (51.4%) participants. Analyses indicated that 31.1% were meeting public health physical activity guidelines (i.e., at least 60 min of strenuous or 150 min of moderate/strenuous physical activity per week). Comparisons using different volumes of physical activity showed support for the current guidelines. Specifically, participants meeting current physical activity guidelines reported significantly better quality of life than those not meeting guidelines [mean difference: 12.5; 95% CI: 9.1 to 16.0; p<0.001; d=0.75]. Disease status was the only variable to moderate this association. Adjusting for important demographic and medical variables did not alter the findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Few ovarian cancer survivors are meeting public health physical activity guidelines, but those that are meeting guidelines report significantly and meaningfully better quality of life. Clinical trials investigating the causal effects of physical activity on quality of life in ovarian cancer survivors are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stevinson
authors.forename: Wylam
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Faught
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Steed
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tonkin
authors.forename: Aliya B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Ladha
authors.forename: Jeffrey K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Vallance
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Capstick
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schepansky
authors.forename: Kerry S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Courneya
mesh_terms: D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires