title: A pilot study of activity engagement in the first six months after stem cell transplantation.
abstract: PRPOSE/OBJECTIVES: to describe the natural pace and pattern of activity resumption in the first six months after stem cell transplantation (SCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  longitudinal, descriptive survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  bone marrow transplantation program of a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in the northeastern United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  18 men and 18 women who underwent either autologous (83%) or allogeneic (17%) transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  participants were surveyed 30 days, 100 days, and six months after SCT. Descriptive statistics were followed by exploratory linear mixed modeling with factors of time, gender, and the interaction between time and gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  a modified checklist version of the Activity Card Sort was used to measure activity retention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  participants generally were performing 49% of their usual activities 30 days after transplantation, 70% of their premorbid activities 100 days after transplantation, and 77% of their premorbid activities six months after transplantation. Level of activity engagement increased over time, with the greatest changes observed from 30-100 days after SCT. Men retained more of their activities than women in the domains of low physical-demand leisure and social activities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  rehabilitation screening may be most helpful in the period from 100 days to six months, when activity levels begin to plateau. Activity recovery may differ for men and women; future research should explore how this could affect rehabilitation needs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  nurses can use structured surveys to explore and promote patients' satisfaction with and ability to engage in daily activities and ensure appropriate referrals to rehabilitation during recovery from SCT.
authors.affiliation: Dartmouth Medical School, Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Lebanon, NH, USA. kathleen.d.lyons@dartmouth.edu
authors.forename: Kathleen Doyle
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.forename: Jay G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Hull
authors.forename: Lynn D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Root
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kimtis
authors.forename: Anna D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Schaal
authors.forename: Diane M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Stearns
authors.forename: Idalina C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Kenneth R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Meehan
authors.forename: Tim A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Ahles
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012919:Social Behavior; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous