Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T18:43:39.044Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Are palliative cancer patients willing and able to participate in a physical exercise program?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 April 2006

LINE M. OLDERVOLL ,
JON H. LOGE ,
HANNE PALTIEL ,
MAY B. ASP ,
UNNI VIDVEI ,
MARIANNE J. HJERMSTAD  and
STEIN KAASA
LINE M. OLDERVOLL
Affiliation:
The Norwegian Cancer Society, Oslo, Norway Department of Cancer Research & Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Department, the Norwegian University of Technology and Science, Trondheim, Norway Department for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, St. Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
JON H. LOGE
Affiliation:
Department of Cancer Research & Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Department, the Norwegian University of Technology and Science, Trondheim, Norway Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
HANNE PALTIEL
Affiliation:
Palliative Medicine Unit, Department of Oncology, St. Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
MAY B. ASP
Affiliation:
Palliative Medicine Unit, Department of Oncology, St. Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
UNNI VIDVEI
Affiliation:
Hospice Lovisenberg, Lovisenberg Hospital, Oslo, Norway
MARIANNE J. HJERMSTAD
Affiliation:
Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
STEIN KAASA
Affiliation:
Department of Cancer Research & Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Department, the Norwegian University of Technology and Science, Trondheim, Norway Palliative Medicine Unit, Department of Oncology, St. Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective: The primary aim of the present article was to identify palliative care patient populations who are willing to participate in and able to complete a group exercise/physical training program designed specifically for the individual patient.

Method: We conducted a prospective phase II intervention study examining the willingness and ability of palliative care cancer patients to participate in a group exercise physical training program. Patients who were diagnosed with incurable cancer and had a life expectancy of less than 1 year at two outpatient clinics were invited to participate in an exercise program in the hospitals. The groups met twice a week over a 6-week period.

Results: One hundred one consecutive patients were asked for inclusion. Sixty-three patients agreed to participate. Sixteen (25%) of the 63 patients dropped out after consent was given, but before the program started due to medical problems, social reasons, or death. Thus, 47 patients started the exercise program. Thirteen patients withdrew during the program due to sudden death, medical problems, or social reasons. The most frequent reasons for withdrawal were increased pain or other symptoms. Thirty-four patients completed the exercise program.

Significance of results: A high proportion of incurable cancer patients were willing to participate (63%) in a structured exercise program. The attrition rate was high, but despite being severely ill, 54% of the patients completed the exercise period. This shows that a physical exercise program tailored to the individual patient is feasible in this population.

Keywords

Clinical trialsPalliative carePhysical exerciseInterventionRecruitment
Type
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 3 , Issue 4 , December 2005 , pp. 281 - 287
Copyright
© 2005 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Cheville, A. (2001). Rehabilitation of patients with advanced cancer. Cancer, 92(Suppl.), 1039–1048.Google Scholar
Courneya, K.S., Mackey, J.R., Bell, G.J., et al. (2003). Randomized controlled trial of exercise training in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors: Cardiopulmonary and quality of life outcomes. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 21, 1660–1668.Google Scholar
Dahele, M. & Fearon, K.C. (2004). Research methodology: Cancer cachexia syndrome. Palliative Medicine, 18, 409–417.Google Scholar
DeLisa, J.A. (2001). A history of cancer rehabilitation. Cancer, 92(Suppl.), 970–974.Google Scholar
Dishman, D.K. (1990). Determinants of participation in physical activity. In Exercise, fitness and health: A consensus of currents knowledge, Bouchard, C, Shepard, R.J., Stephens, T, Sutton, J.R. & McPherson, B.D. (eds.), pp. 75–101. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Jordhoy, M.S., Kaasa, S., Fayers, P., et al. (1999). Challenges in palliative care research; recruitment, attrition and compliance: Experience from a randomized controlled trial. Palliative Medicine, 13, 299–310.Google Scholar
Ling, J., Rees, E., & Hardy, J. (2000). What influences participation in clinical trials in palliative care in a cancer centre? European Journal of Cancer, 36, 621–626.Google Scholar
Oldervoll, L.M., Kaasa, S., Hjermstad, M.J., et al. (2004). Physical exercise results in the improved subjective well-being of a few or is effective rehabilitation for all cancer patients? European Journal of Cancer, 40, 951–962.Google Scholar
Oldervoll, L., Loge, J.H., Paltiel, H., et al. (2005). The effect of a physical exercise program in palliative care; a phase II study. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.Google Scholar
Pinto, B.M., Frierson, G.M., Rabin, C., et al. (2005). Home-based physical activity intervention for breast cancer patients. Journal Clinical Oncology, 23, 3577–3587.Google Scholar
Porock, D., Kristjanson, L.J., Tinnelly, K., et al. (2000). An exercise intervention for advanced cancer patients experiencing fatigue: A pilot study. Journal of Palliative Care, 16, 30–36.Google Scholar
Rinck, G.C., van den Bos, G.A., Kleijnen, J., et al. (1997). Methodologic issues in effectiveness research on palliative cancer care: A systematic review. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 15, 1697–1707.Google Scholar
Santiago-Palma, J. & Payne, R. (2001). Palliative care and rehabilitation Cancer, 92(Suppl.), 1049–1052.Google Scholar
Segal, R.J., Reid, R.D., Courneya, K.S., et al. (2003). Resistance exercise in men receiving androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 21, 1653–1659.Google Scholar
Thorsen, L., Nystad, W., & Dahl, O. (2003). The level of physical activity in long-term survivors of testicular cancer. European Journal Cancer, 39, 1216–1221.Google Scholar
Thorsen, L., Skovlund, E., Stromme, S.B., et al. (2005). Effectiveness of physical activity on cardiorespiratory fitness and health-related quality of life in young and middle-aged cancer patients shortly after chemotherapy. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 23, 2378–2388.Google Scholar
Wilcock, A., Manderson, C., Weller, R., et al. (2004). Does aromatherapy massage benefit patients with cancer attending a specialist palliative care day centre? Palliative Medicine, 18, 287–290.Google Scholar
Yoshioka, H. (1994). Rehabilitation for the terminal cancer patient. American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 73, 199–206.Google Scholar