title: A self-regulation-based intervention to increase physical activity in cancer patients.
abstract: The study examined whether a behavior-change intervention focusing on self-regulatory strategies and emphasizing role model support increases physical activity (PA) among insufficiently active (not meeting PA guidelines of 150 min/week) cancer patients. Ambulatory cancer patients [N = 72; 54% female; M = 56 years, SD = 12.34; most with breast or colon cancer (34, 15%)] were enrolled in the MOTIVACTION-study, a 4-week intervention (1-hr counseling, followed by weekly phone calls), with pretest (T1), posttest (T2) and a 10-week follow-up (T3). Participants were randomized to either an exercise or to a stress management intervention (active control). The exercise intervention emphasized self-regulatory strategies (e.g. action- and coping planning and self-monitoring); patients were also encouraged to contact a physically active same-sex role model as a potential exercise partner. The active control condition consisted of coping and relaxation techniques. Sixty-seven patients remained in the study and completed the SQUASH assessment of PA and a measure of perceived stress. PA was validated by Actigraph accelerometry. At T2, 46% of the patients in the exercise group and 19% of stress management patients increased their activity levels to meet PA guidelines (>150 min/week; χ(2)(1) = 5.51, p = .019). At T3, participants in the exercise intervention maintained their exercise level (46%), but also 31% of the stress management patients met the guidelines. All patients reported reductions in perceived stress. Additional analyses comparing patients in the exercise group by role model contact (63% realized contact) revealed that those who had contact with their role model were significantly more likely to adhere to the recommended guidelines (T2:50%; T3:64%) compared to those who did not have contact with a role model (T2:39%; T3:15%), suggesting the potential of mobilizing role model support to facilitate PA. In sum, cancer patients may not only benefit from an exercise intervention emphasizing self-regulation, but also from stress management, regarding both reducing stress and increasing PA.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Psychology, University of Heidelberg , Heidelberg , Germany.
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ungar
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Psychology, University of Heidelberg , Heidelberg , Germany.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sieverding
authors.affiliation: b Department of Biology , San Francisco State University , Tiburon , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Gerdi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Weidner
authors.affiliation: c Division of Preventive Oncology , National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) , Heidelberg , Germany.|d Huntsman Cancer Institute , Salt Lake City , UT , USA.
authors.forename: Cornelia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ulrich
authors.affiliation: c Division of Preventive Oncology , National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) , Heidelberg , Germany.|e Division of Medical Oncology , National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), University Clinic Heidelberg , Heidelberg , Germany.
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wiskemann
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D003376:Counseling; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D000068356:Self-Control; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: behavior change; cancer; perceived stress; physical activity; role model; self-regulation; stress management