Effects of a home-based walking program on perceived symptom and mood status in postoperative breast cancer women receiving adjuvant chemotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
This paper is a report of a study analysing the effect of a home-based walking exercise program on symptoms and mood distress among breast cancer women receiving chemotherapy postoperatively.


BACKGROUND
Treatment-related symptoms, mood distress and decline in physical activity have been identified as major complaints among cancer patients. Studies on the efficacy of home-based walking exercise for symptoms and mood did not fully describe the exercise prescriptions that could be safe and beneficial for women with breast cancer, especially these receiving adjuvant chemotherapy.


METHODS
This is a prospective, randomized clinical trial. In 2008-2009, participants were recruited from the oncology outpatient clinic of a medical center in Taiwan, and were assigned to either the exercise group (n=19) or the control group (n=21). Women in the exercise group participated in a moderate-intensity home-based walking program for 12 weeks during their chemotherapy treatments. Symptoms, mood status and physical activity level were measured at baseline, 6- and 12-week follow-up. Data were analysed by two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance.


RESULTS
Women in the exercise group reported significantly lower symptom severity scores and mood disturbance compared with those in the control group throughout the study period.


CONCLUSIONS
Regular moderate-intensity exercise can play an important role in improving treatment-related symptoms and mood in women with breast cancer. A home-based walking exercise program can be easily incorporated into care for women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy.
Department of Nursing, Taipei Medical University Hospital, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.
Chyn-Yng
CY
Yang
Jen-Chen
JC
Tsai
Ya-Ching
YC
Huang
Chia-Chin
CC
Lin
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005221:Fatigue / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D018575:Home Care Services, Hospital-Based; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010349:Patient Compliance; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013624:Taiwan; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking