The role of physical activity and physical fitness in postcancer fatigue: a randomized controlled trial
Publication year
2013Source
Supportive Care in Cancer, 21, 8, (2013), pp. 2279-88ISSN
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor
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Organization
Medical Oncology
Radiology
Medical Psychology
Nuclear Medicine
Neurology
Rehabilitation
Radiation Oncology
Physiology
Journal title
Supportive Care in Cancer
Volume
vol. 21
Issue
iss. 8
Page start
p. 2279
Page end
p. 88
Subject
NCEBP 10: Human Movement & Fatigue; NCEBP 14: Cardiovascular diseases IGMD 5: Health aging / healthy living; ONCOL 3: Translational research; ONCOL 3: Translational research NCMLS 4: Energy and redox metabolism; ONCOL 4: Quality of CareAbstract
PURPOSE: Patients suffering from postcancer fatigue have both an inferior physical activity and physical fitness compared to non-fatigued cancer survivors. The aims of this study were (1) to examine the effect of cognitive behavior therapy, an effective treatment for postcancer fatigue, on physical activity and physical fitness and (2) to examine whether the effect of cognitive behavior therapy on postcancer fatigue is mediated by physical activity and/or physical fitness. METHODS: Severely fatigued cancer survivors were randomly assigned to either the intervention (cognitive behavior therapy) or the waiting list condition. After assigning 23 patients in the intervention condition and 14 patients in the waiting list condition, they were assessed both at baseline and 6 months later. Physical activity was assessed via actigraphy and physical fitness was assessed by a maximal exercise test. A nonparametric bootstrap approach was used to test the statistical significance of the mediation effects. RESULTS: A significant increase in physical activity was observed in the intervention group from baseline to follow-up, whereas physical activity did not change from baseline to follow-up in the waiting list group. Physical fitness did not significantly change after cognitive behavior therapy or after 6 months of waiting for therapy. Fatigue decreased more significantly in the intervention group than in the waiting list group. The mediation hypotheses were rejected. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive behavior therapy effectively reduced postcancer fatigue and increased physical activity but did not change physical fitness. The effect of cognitive behavior therapy on postcancer fatigue is not mediated by a change in physical activity or physical fitness.
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- Academic publications [238441]
- Faculty of Medical Sciences [90373]
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