title: Mobility of older palliative care patients with advanced cancer: a Korean study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to describe the levels of mobility in older cancer patients receiving palliative care in Korea, and to examine the associations of their mobility with lifestyle factors (sleep disturbance, physical activity) and physical symptoms (pain, fatigue).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 91 older cancer patients receiving palliative care were interviewed using a semi-structured survey questionnaire. Mobility was measured using the 6MWT. Physical activity behavior was measured using the classification of the ACSM. Sleep disturbance was assessed using the frequency sub-category of the SHQ. Both pain and fatigue were measured using a VAS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean 6MWT distance was 220.38 m. Participants in their 60 s, 70 s, and 80 s walked, on average, 260.93 m, 205.31 m, and 157.05 m, respectively. Approximately 73% of the participants engaged in regular physical activity. Those engaged in regular physical activity were significantly more mobile than those who were not (t = 2.44; p = .017). Higher levels of mobility were correlated with lower levels of sleep disturbance (r = -.37), fatigue (r = -.23), and pain (r = -.27). Significant predictors for mobility included levels of sleep disturbance, medication status, age, number of family members and monthly income, accounting for 34.7% of the variance in mobility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Korean cancer patients have relatively low levels of mobility. Cancer patients aged over 80 years are a vulnerable group at risk for impaired mobility. Older palliative care patients are more active than one might expect. Levels of mobility are inversely associated with pain, fatigue, and sleep-related symptoms.
authors.affiliation: The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, 224 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 137-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Hospice/Palliative Care, The Catholic University of Korea College of Nursing, Arizona State University College of Nursing and Health Innovation, 224 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 137-701, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: yha@catholic.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Hye-A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Yeom
authors.affiliation: The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, 224 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 137-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Myung-Ah
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Kyungbok University Department of Nursing, Sinbuk-myeon, Pocheon, Gyeonggi-do, 487-717, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: In Young
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005221:Fatigue / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology*; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D010166:Palliative Care; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Aged; Koreans; Mobility limitation; Oncology nursing; Palliative care