Community physical activity program could help diverse populations of cancer survivors

Breast cancer survivors who participated in Active Living After Cancer, an evidence-based 12-week group program, significantly increased their physical activity and ability to perform basic activities of daily living, reported today. ‘hui researchers from the MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas in Cancer. The results show that the program could serve as a model for delivering a community-based physical activity program to minority and medically underserved cancer survivors.

After a cancer diagnosis, the physical functioning of survivors declines much faster than their peers of the same age and sex who do not have cancer, which can ultimately affect their ability to remain independent and mobile. We have shown that this evidence-based program can be successfully implemented through a community model to help diverse populations of cancer survivors improve their physical functioning after completing cancer treatment. “

Karen Basen-Engquist, Ph.D., professor of behavioral science and lead author of the article

The program measured changes in participants’ six-minute sit-to-stand test scores and 30 seconds between the start and end of the program. These physical functioning tests measure activities essential to daily living. The average number of sit-stand repetitions increased 19%, from 12.5 to 14.9; and the average six-minute walk distance increased 10%, from 428 meters to 470 meters. Self-reported physical activity almost doubled, from an average of 172.8 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week at baseline to 344.6 minutes at 12-week follow-up. Participants also reported an 8% increase in physical quality of life and a 6% improvement in mental health, as measured by a health-related quality of life outcome questionnaire.

Active living after cancer is not a supervised exercise program. Community agency facilitators follow a 12-week program that introduces a different low-impact exercise, cognitive / behavioral skills, and survival resource each week to help participants increase physical activity at home, learn to adopt healthier habits and dealing with survival challenges.

“One of the reasons for the success of this model is that we focus on meeting people where they are, teaching them the skills to develop their own goals and allowing them to go at their own pace.” , said Basen-Engquist. “We know that not everyone is ready or interested in going to a gym. We need role models to deliver these services to all cancer survivors, especially those who have less access to them. working life benefits them and integrating physical activity into their everyday life.

The findings reported in Cancer were based on 127 breast cancer survivors who completed the program between 2014 and 2017. During this time, 34 post-cancer active living groups (12-week sessions with the same cohort) were completed in healthcare organizations. health, community organizations and churches throughout the greater Houston area.

The research team focused on recruiting minority and medically underserved cancer survivors, as these populations tend to exercise less and have less access to physical activity resources. The program is free and was offered to breast cancer survivors who had completed primary cancer treatment.

The recruitment rate for the program was 45%, similar to other exercise programs for cancer survivors. Of the 187 participants enrolled in the program, 74% completed at least half of the sessions. The 68% who completed the 12-week procedure were included in the outcome analysis.

The participants were all female, with an average age of 59.6 years, and 65% were minority and / or medically underserved breast cancer survivors. The participants were 30.6% White, 31.2% Black, 26.9% Hispanic, and 11.1% Other. Some courses were given in Spanish to accommodate the 15.5% of Spanish-speaking participants. Almost half had private insurance, while 51% were covered by Medicare, Medicaid, Harris County’s Gold Card health care financial assistance program or were uninsured.

Researchers at MD Anderson developed the program, trained facilitators from community organizations to lead the sessions, and measured the results of the program.

“It was important to work with community partners to provide a means to disseminate the program more widely,” said Basen-Engquist. “We try to work with organizations that have a history of working within this community and can make it relevant to the people they serve.”

The program builds on a lifestyle-focused physical activity intervention that the team has already tested in a randomized study. Since 2017, Active Living After Cancer has expanded to include survivors of all types of cancer and expanded to serve the communities of El Paso, Beaumont and Tyler, Texas. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Active Living After Cancer has been offered virtually since March 2020, and more than 1,000 cancer survivors have now completed the program.

“We have learned a lot about exercise and the benefits for cancer survivors over the past 20 years, and now our job is to implement that knowledge,” said Basen-Engquist. “We hope that Active Living After Cancer will be a model for providing these services to all cancer survivors, especially those with less access to resources for healthy living.