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An individual-based versus group-based exercise and counselling intervention for improving quality of life in breast cancer survivors. A feasibility and efficacy study
Psycho-Oncology (2012)
  • Fiona Naumann, University of New South Wales
  • Aime Munro, University of Notre Dame Australia
  • Eric Martin, University of Notre Dame Australia
  • Paula Magrani, University of Notre Dame Australia
  • Jena Buchan, Queensland University of Technology
  • Cathie Smith, University of Notre Dame Australia
  • Ben Piggott, University of Notre Dame Australia
  • Martin Philpott, University of Notre Dame Australia
Abstract
Background: Cancer and its treatments produce lingering side‐effects that undermine the qual-ity of life (QOL) of survivors. Exercise and psycho‐therapies increase QOL among survivors,however, research is needed to identify intervention characteristics most associated with such improvements
Objective: This research aimed to assess the feasibility of a 9 week individual or group based exercise and counselling program, and to examine if a group based intervention is as effective at improving the QOL of breast cancer survivors as an individual-based intervention.
Methods: A three group design was implemented to compare the efficacy of a 9 week individual (IEC n = 12) and group based exercise and counselling (GEC n = 14) intervention to a usual care (UsC n = 10) group on QOL of thirty‐six breast cancer survivors.
Results: Across all groups, 90% of participants completed the interventions, with no adverse effects documented. At the completion of the intervention, there was a significant difference between groups for change in global QOL across time ( p < 0.023), with IEC improving significantly more (15.0 points) than the UsC group (1.8 points). The effect size was moderate(0.70). Although the GEC improved QOL by almost 10.0 points, this increase did not reach significance. Both increases were above the minimally important difference of 7– 8 points.
Conclusion: These preliminary results suggest a combined exercise and psychological counseling program is both a feasible and acceptable intervention for breast cancer survivors.Whilst both the individual and group interventions improved QOL above the clinically important difference, only the individual based intervention was significant when compared to UsC.
Keywords
  • cancer,
  • oncology,
  • exercise,
  • counselling,
  • quality of life
Publication Date
October, 2012
DOI
10.1002/pon.2015
Citation Information
Fiona Naumann, Aime Munro, Eric Martin, Paula Magrani, et al.. "An individual-based versus group-based exercise and counselling intervention for improving quality of life in breast cancer survivors. A feasibility and efficacy study" Psycho-Oncology Vol. 21 Iss. 10 (2012) p. 1136 - 1139
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/eric-alexander-martin/1/