RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Physical activity levels typically decline during cancer treatment and often do not return to prediagnosis or minimum recommended levels. Interventions to promote physical activity are needed. Support through the use of digital health tools may be helpful in this situation. OBJECTIVE: The goal of the research was to evaluate the feasibility, usability, and acceptability of an interactive Web portal developed to support patients with cancer to increase daily physical activity levels. METHODS: A Web portal for supportive cancer care which was developed to act as a patient-clinician information and coaching tool focused on integrating wearable device data and remote symptom reporting. Patients currently receiving or who had completed intensive anticancer therapy were recruited to 3 cohorts. All cohorts were given access to the Web portal and an activity monitor over a 10-week period. Cohort 2 received additional summative messaging, and cohort 3 received personalized coaching messaging. Qualitative semistructured interviews were completed following the intervention. The primary outcome was feasibility of the use of the portal assessed as both the number of log-ins to the portal to record symptoms and the completion of post-program questionnaires. RESULTS: Of the 49 people were recruited, 40 completed the intervention. Engagement increased with more health professional contact and was highest in cohort 3. The intervention was found to be acceptable by participants. CONCLUSIONS: The portal was feasible for use by people with a history of cancer. Further research is needed to determine optimal coaching methods.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Progressive resistance training (PRT) may be effective for targeting the sequelae of breast cancer and its treatment given the unique anabolic nature of this exercise modality. Therefore, our objectives were: (1) to systematically review studies that have prescribed PRT after breast cancer surgery, (2) to summarize the efficacy of PRT in this cohort, and (3) to delineate areas for future investigations. METHOD: A systematic review using computerized databases was performed. RESULTS: The systematic review located 10 trials: Four uncontrolled trials, one controlled trial and five randomized controlled trials (RCTs). PRT was prescribed with aerobic training in 8/10 trials reviewed, and in isolation in 2/10 trials reviewed. Upper body PRT was prescribed in 7/10 trials, including 4/5 RCTs. No exacerbation of objectively measured or subjectively reported lymphedema symptoms was reported in any of these trials. Adverse events were rare, generally musculoskeletal in nature, and were managed effectively by conservative means. Overall, the studies we reviewed suggest that women surgically treated for breast cancer can derive health-related and clinical benefits by performing PRT after breast cancer surgery. Further research may be required to stimulate greater advocacy for PRT among oncologists, and in community care settings. CONCLUSIONS: Robustly designed RCTs prescribing targeted PRT regimens throughout various phases of breast cancer treatment are warranted. RCTs with thorough, standardized reporting of interventions and adverse events are required to establish the efficacy of this intervention for the post-treatment management of breast cancer patients and survivors as a means to improve health status and quality of life.