Existing research indicates that physical activity (PA) is beneficial to men with prostate cancer (PCa). We examined the potential of a single-contact peer-support-based behavioural intervention to promote PA engagement in men treated for PCa.
A mixed methods design was employed, comprising a two-arm pragmatic trial and semi-structured interviews. The intervention was a 10-min PA-based presentation by a former patient, delivered in group seminars that are provided for patients as standard care. Seminars were alternately allocated to (a) cancer exercise specialist talk + patient speaker talk or (b) cancer exercise specialist talk only. Self-reported PA, exercise motivation, quality of life, fatigue and clinical and demographic characteristics were obtained from n = 148 (intervention: n = 69; control: n = 79) patients immediately prior to the seminar, and at follow-up ≈ 100 days later. Data were analysed using ANCOVA models and χ2 tests. Fourteen semi-structured interviews with intervention participants, which explored how the intervention was experienced, were analysed using a grounded theory-style approach.
The intervention had no significant effect on quantitatively self-reported PA (p = 0.4). However, the intervention was statistically and clinically beneficial for fatigue (p = 0.04) and quality of life (p = 0.01). Qualitative analysis showed that the intervention was beneficial to psychological wellbeing and some participants had increased intention to engage in PA as a result of the intervention.
A brief one-off PA-based presentation for men with PCa, delivered by a former patient alongside cancer exercise specialist advice, may result in clinically significant benefits to quality of life and may influence PA intention in certain individuals.
Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer. 2020 Apr 22 [Epub ahead of print]
Louis Fox, Theresa Wiseman, Declan Cahill, Louisa Fleure, Janette Kinsella, Emily Curtis, Nicola Peat, Mieke Van Hemelrijck
Translational Oncology and Urology Research, King's College London, London, UK. ., Applied Health Research, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK., Urology Surgery, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK., Urology Services, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK., Physiotherapy, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK., Translational Oncology and Urology Research, King's College London, London, UK.