Compliance to exercise-oncology guidelines in prostate cancer survivors and associations with psychological distress, unmet supportive care needs, and quality of life

Daniel A Galvão; Robert U Newton; Robert A Gardiner; Afaf Girgis; Stephen J Lepore; Anna Stiller; Stefano Occhipinti; Suzanne K Chambers

doi:10.1002/pon.3882

Compliance to exercise-oncology guidelines in prostate cancer survivors and associations with psychological distress, unmet supportive care needs, and quality of life

Psychooncology. 2015 Oct;24(10):1241-1249. doi: 10.1002/pon.3882. Epub 2015 Jun 18.

Authors

Daniel A Galvão¹, Robert U Newton¹, Robert A Gardiner^{1

2

3}, Afaf Girgis⁴, Stephen J Lepore⁵, Anna Stiller⁶, Stefano Occhipinti⁷, Suzanne K Chambers^{1

2

6

7

8}

Affiliations

¹ Edith Cowan University Health and Wellness Institute, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia.
² University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
³ Department of Urology, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.
⁴ Psycho-Oncology Research Group, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of NSW, Sydney, Australia.
⁵ Department of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, USA.
⁶ Cancer Council Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
⁷ Menzies Health Institute of Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.
⁸ Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Sydney, Australia.

PMID: 26087455
DOI: 10.1002/pon.3882

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine prevalence of Australian prostate cancer survivors meeting contemporary exercise-oncology guidelines and identify associations with distress, unmet supportive care needs, and quality of life.

Methods: A population-based cohort of 463 prostate cancer survivors who were on 10.8 months post-curative therapy was assessed for compliance with current exercise guidelines for cancer survivors, motivational readiness for physical activity, psychological distress, unmet supportive care needs, and quality of life.

Results: Only 57 men (12.3%) reported sufficient exercise levels (150 min of moderate intensity or 75 min of strenuous exercise per week and twice weekly resistance exercise), 186 (40.2%) were insufficiently active, and 220 (47.5%) were inactive. Among inactive men, 99 (45.0%) were in the contemplation or preparation stage of motivation readiness. Inactive men had higher global distress (p = 0.01) and Brief Symptom Inventory-Anxiety (p < 0.05) than those who were insufficiently active. Total Supportive Care Needs and International Prostate Cancer Symptom scores were higher in inactive than insufficiently and sufficiently active men (p < 0.05). Lack of physical activity contributed to poorer quality of life.

Conclusions: Only a small proportion of Australian prostate cancer survivors met contemporary exercise-oncology recommendations despite increasing recognition of exercise to improve patient outcomes. Strategies are urgently required to increase prostate cancer survivors' participation in aerobic and resistance exercise training.Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.