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Physical activity interests and preferences in palliative cancer patients

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Abstract

Goals of the work

The purpose of the present study was to examine the physical activity interests and preferences of palliative cancer patients.

Patients and methods

Fifty advanced cancer patients aged 18 years or older with clinician-estimated life expectancy of less than 12 months and Palliative Performance Scale greater than 30% were recruited from an outpatient palliative care clinic and a palliative home care program. An interviewer-administered survey was used to assess physical activity behavior, interests, and preferences.

Main results

The majority of palliative cancer patients in this sample indicated that they would be interested and felt able to participate in a physical activity program. There were strong preferences for home-based physical activity programs that could be completed alone. The majority of participants in this sample reported walking as the type of physical activity in which they were most interested.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that this sample of palliative cancer patients is interested and feel able to participate in a physical activity program. Examining these unique physical activity preferences may aid in the development of an appropriate physical activity program for palliative cancer patients that can be tested in clinical research.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by Operating Grant MOP-84424 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Sonya Lowe is supported by a full-time Clinical Fellowship award from the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research. Kerry Courneya is supported by the Canada Research Chairs program, as well as a Research Team Grant from the National Cancer Institute of Canada with funds from the Canadian Cancer Society and the Sociobehavioral Cancer Research Network.

Funding

Canadian Institutes of Health Research Operating Grant (MOP-84424)

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Symptom Control and Palliative Care, Cross Cancer Institute, 11560 University Avenue, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6G 1Z2

    Sonya S. Lowe

  2. Division of Palliative Care Medicine, Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Sharon M. Watanabe

  3. Division of Palliative Care Medicine, Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Vickie E. Baracos

  4. Faculty of Physical Education & Recreation, E-488 Van Vliet Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6G 2H9

    Kerry S. Courneya

Authors
  1. Sonya S. Lowe
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  2. Sharon M. Watanabe
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  3. Vickie E. Baracos
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  4. Kerry S. Courneya
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sonya S. Lowe.

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Lowe, S.S., Watanabe, S.M., Baracos, V.E. et al. Physical activity interests and preferences in palliative cancer patients. Support Care Cancer 18, 1469–1475 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-009-0770-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-009-0770-8

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