title: Endometrial cancer survivors' assessment of the benefits of exercise.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The majority of women who have had endometrial cancer remain at risk for obesity related diseases. The social cognitive theory was used to explore their beliefs about exercise to aid in the development of effective interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women who had been treated for Stage I endometrial cancer were asked about their level of exercise to determine if they had been exercising regularly for more than 6 months (exercisers vs non-exercisers). They were asked to rate the likelihood that exercise would result in various health outcomes (expectations) and to rate the importance of these outcomes (expectancies). Scores for how likely exercise would result in an outcome of importance were calculated. Height and weight were obtained from nurses for calculation of BMI. Statistics were conducted using SPSS v 15.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 106 valid questionnaires (86% participation rate); 41% were exercisers. Mean BMI was significantly lower in exercisers (31.6 ± 1.2 vs. 37.3 ± 1.2, p=0.001); a significantly greater proportion reported not having diabetes, heart disease or hypertension (69.8% vs. 49.2%, p=0.035). Exercisers were significantly more likely to report that feeling better physically and emotionally versus reducing the risk of diseases were likely and important outcomes of exercise (18.2 ± 0.8 vs 15.0 ± 1.0, p=0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exercisers identified outcomes of exercise that are more immediate and subjective as being important and likely outcomes of exercise. Focusing on these aspects of exercise (feeling better physically and emotionally) may aid in the development of effective interventions for non-exercisers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Akron General Medical Center, Akron, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lukowski
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jenison
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Basen-Engquist
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors