title: Efficacy of multimodal exercise-based rehabilitation on physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and patient-reported outcomes in cancer survivors: a randomized, controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sedentary behavior and impaired cardiovascular reserve capacity are common late effects of cancer therapy emphasizing the need for effective strategies to increase physical activity (PA) in cancer survivors. We examined the efficacy of a 12-month exercise-based rehabilitation program on self-reported PA, cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak), strength, and patient-reported outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred fourteen post-treatment cancer survivors were randomly assigned to a 12-month rehabilitation program consisting of individual (x3) and group-based (x6) counseling in combination with once weekly high-intensity group-based exercise training (the Copenhagen Physical Activity after Cancer Treatment, PACT; n = 108) or to a health evaluation program (HE, n = 106). Study outcomes were assessed at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 12 months, the percentage of patients reporting meeting PA goal behavior (≥3 h/week) was significantly increased in the PACT group versus the HE group (70.4% versus 43.4%, P = 0.001). Repeated measures analyses indicated a statistically significant improvement in VO2peak (l min(-1)) in favour of PACT (treatment effect ratio = 1.04; 95% confidence interval 1.00-1.07; P = 0.032). Significant between group differences were also observed for strength (P < 0.001), depression (P = 0.020) and mental health (P = 0.040).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 12-month exercise-based rehabilitation program is an effective strategy to promote PA and improve VO2peak in cancer survivors.
authors.affiliation: The University Hospitals Centre for Health Care Research, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. julie@ucsf.dk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Midtgaard
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tolver
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Uth
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Adamsen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rørth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011788:Quality of Life; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods; D017741:Survivors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: cancer survivors; cardiorespiratory fitness; exercise; physical activity behavior; rct; rehabilitation