Gynecological cancer survivors' health behaviors and their associations with quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake) and body mass index of gynecological cancer survivors and their association with quality of life.


METHODS
We collected cross-sectional mail survey data from 802 gynecological cancer survivors (56% response rate) The questionnaire included validated measures of health behaviors, quality of life, clinical status, and demographics.


RESULTS
Depending on gynecological cancer subtype, 61-68% were insufficiently active or sedentary, 19-44% were obese, 31-41% had less than two daily serves of fruit, 82-89% had less than five serves of vegetables and 6-21% smoked. Significantly more endometrial than other cancer survivors were obese (44%; 95% CI 41-47%); smoking was more prevalent among cervical cancer survivors (21%; 95% CI 19-23%). Using general linear modeling we identified a positive linear trend of physical activity level with quality of life (p = 0.039). Being insufficiently active or sedentary was also associated with not meeting the guidelines for fruit and vegetable consumption, with smoking and with overweight/obesity.


CONCLUSIONS
This research demonstrates the importance of integrating physical activity into follow-up of gynecological cancer survivors. Interventions to improve physical activity and test the causal effect of exercise on quality of life are a future research priority.
Beesley
Vanessa L
VL
Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Public Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Vanessa.Beesley@qimr.edu.au
Eakin
Elizabeth G
EG
Janda
Monika
M
Battistutta
Diana
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity; D011788:Quality of Life; D012907:Smoking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014675:Vegetables