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.