title: Lifestyles of cancer survivors attending an inpatient educational program-a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cancer survivors have increased risk for adverse health effects, but the risk can be reduced by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Knowledge of lifestyle in terms of physical activity (PA), diet (intake of fruit and vegetables [F&V]) and smoking behaviors of cancer survivors enrolled in an inpatient educational program and identification of subgroups not meeting the lifestyle guidelines are needed to set up more targeted programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We invited 862 cancer survivors, ≥18 years, diagnosed within the last 10 years and about to attend a 1-week educational program, to participate in this cross-sectional study. Sixty-seven percent (n = 576) returned the questionnaire before the start of the program. PA, F&V intake (5-A-Day) and smoking behaviors were self-reported. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify the characteristics of those not meeting the guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-three percent were women, median age was 60 years (range 28-83), 52 % had high education and median time since diagnosis was 12 months (range 2-119). Fifty-five percent did not meet the PA guidelines, 81 % did not meet the 5-A-Day guidelines and 12 % were current smokers. In multivariate analyses, age ≥60 years and low education were associated with not meeting the PA guidelines, and male gender and low education were associated with not meeting the 5-A-Day guidelines. Living alone was associated with smoking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of cancer survivors attending an educational program do not meet the public guidelines for PA and diet. Special attention should be given to those who are male, over age 60 years and with low education.
authors.affiliation: National Advisory Unit on Late Effects after Cancer Treatment, Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. gunhg@ous-hf.no.
authors.forename: Gunhild M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Gjerset
authors.affiliation: Regional Centre for Excellence in Palliative Care, Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Jon H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Loge
authors.affiliation: Montebello-Center, The Norwegian Resource Center for Coping with Cancer, Mesnali, Norway.
authors.forename: Sævar B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Gudbergsson
authors.affiliation: Regional Centre for Excellence in Palliative Care, Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital and Department of Health, Nutrition and Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Asta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bye
authors.affiliation: National Advisory Unit on Late Effects after Cancer Treatment, Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Fosså
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Promotion and Resources, Department of Social Work and Health Science, NTNU, Trondheim and Research and Development Group, LHL Clinics, LHL Clinics, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Line M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Oldervoll
authors.affiliation: National Advisory Unit on Late Effects after Cancer Treatment, Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Cecilie E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Kiserud
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Demark-Wahnefried
authors.affiliation: National Advisory Unit on Late Effects after Cancer Treatment, Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Lene
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thorsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000193:education*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Cancer survivors; Educational program; Lifestyle; Physical activity; Rehabilitation