Maintenance of physical activity in breast cancer survivors after a randomized trial.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the longer-term effects of pedometers and print materials on changes in physical activity (PA) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in breast cancer survivors who participated in a 3-month behavior change intervention.


METHODS
Breast cancer survivors (N = 377) were randomly assigned to receive either (a) a standard public health recommendation for PA (SR), (b) previously developed breast cancer-specific PA print materials (PM), (c) a step pedometer (PED), or (d) a combination of the two (COM). The primary endpoint was self-reported moderate/vigorous PA minutes per week at 6-month follow-up after the initial 3-month intervention period.


RESULTS
Seventy-one percent (266/377) of participants completed the 6-month follow-up assessment. According to intention-to-treat linear mixed-model analyses, self-reported moderate to vigorous PA increased by 9 min x wk(-1) in the SR group compared with 39 min x wk(-1) in the PM group (mean difference = 30 min x wk(-1); 95% CI = -44 to 104; P = 0.425), 69 min x wk(-1) in the PED group (mean difference = 60 min x wk(-1); 95% CI = -13 to 132; P = 0.107), and 56 min x wk(-1) in the COM group (mean difference = 47 min x wk(-1); 95% CI = -26 to 119; P = 0.210). The same pattern was observed for self-reported, brisk walking. No differences were found for HRQoL or fatigue.


CONCLUSIONS
Breast cancer-specific PM and PED did not maintain significantly higher PA or HRQoL at 6-month follow-up in breast cancer survivors, but the magnitude of the effect on PA (30-60 min x wk(-1)) was consistent with the immediate postintervention effect observed at the 3-month postintervention time point. Issues of power resulting from additional loss to follow-up may account for the failure to achieve statistical significance. Additional research with larger sample sizes and more complete follow-up is warranted.
Vallance
Jeffrey K
JK
Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Courneya
Kerry S
KS
Plotnikoff
Ronald C
RC
Dinu
Irina
I
Mackey
John R
JR
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000416:Alberta; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D040241:Social Marketing; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology