Rabin, C., Pinto, B., Dunsiger, S., Nash, J., & Trask, P. (2009). Exercise and relaxation intervention for breast cancer survivors: feasibility, acceptability and effects. Psycho-Oncology, 18, 258–266.
To assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of a 12-week combined physical activity and relaxation intervention for sedentary, early stage breast cancer survivors after completing all primary treatment.
Early stage breast cancer survivors participated in a 12-week combined physical activity (PA) and relaxation intervention, with baseline and 12- and 24-week assessments. Participants received a theoretically grounded intervention modeled after on the “Moving Forward” intervention based on the principles of the transtheoretical model (TTM) and the social cognitive theory (SCT). Participants were instructed to do moderate-intensity level exercise with pre-/post stretching. The goal was to walk 30 minutes five times a week by the twelfth week of the intervention. The relaxation component included instruction on progressive muscle relaxation (PMR); a CD with PMR instructions was included. Participants were telephoned weekly to provide counseling, a review of their practice activities, reinforcement, identification of barriers, and negation of the next week's goals.
The study used a prospective, single-arm, repeated measures design.
Participant evaluations of the intervention indicated that it was feasible and acceptable (e.g., 100% would recommend it to others); objective data further supported its feasibility (e.g., 83% completed the trial, and 91% of the intervention calls were received). In addition, when comparing 12- and 24-week follow-up data to baseline data, participants demonstrated significantly increased PA, improved mood and sleep quality, and reduced fatigue (p < 0.05).
The pilot study suggested that the intervention is feasible, acceptable, and produces promising effects on mood, sleep, and fatigue.
Multibehavior interventions, such as exercise and relaxation, hold promise for cancer survivors and may improve quality of life (i.e., fatigue, sleep, mood, and disturbance).