title: The comparative effectiveness of a team-based versus group-based physical activity intervention for cancer survivors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Physical activity benefits cancer survivors, but the comparative effectiveness of a team-based delivery approach remains unexplored. The hypothesis tested was that a team-based physical activity intervention delivery approach has added physical and psychological benefits compared to a group-based approach. A team-based sport accessible to survivors is dragon boating, which requires no previous experience and allows for diverse skill levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a non-randomized trial, cancer survivors chose between two similarly structured 8-week programs, a dragon boat paddling team (n = 68) or group-based walking program (n = 52). Three separate intervention rounds were carried out in 2007-2008. Pre-post testing measured physical and psychosocial outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to walkers, paddlers had significantly greater (all p < 0.01) team cohesion, program adherence/attendance, and increased upper-body strength. For quality-of-life outcomes, both interventions were associated with pre-post improvements, but with no clear-cut pattern of between-intervention differences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These hypothesis-generating findings suggest that a short-term, team-based physical activity program (dragon boat paddling) was associated with increased cohesion and adherence/attendance. Improvements in physical fitness and psychosocial benefits were comparable to a traditional, group-based walking program. Compared to a group-based intervention delivery format, the team-based intervention delivery format holds promise for promoting physical activity program adherence/attendance in cancer survivors.
authors.affiliation: Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, 86 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
authors.forename: Cindy L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Georgiana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Onicescu
authors.forename: Kathleen B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Cartmell
authors.forename: Katherine R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Sterba
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tomsic
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Alberg
mesh_terms: D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012767:Ships; D013022:South Carolina; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*