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Are palliative cancer patients willing and able to participate in a physical exercise program?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 April 2006

LINE M. OLDERVOLL ,
JON H. LOGE ,
HANNE PALTIEL ,
MAY B. ASP ,
UNNI VIDVEI ,
MARIANNE J. HJERMSTAD  and
STEIN KAASA
LINE M. OLDERVOLL
Affiliation:
The Norwegian Cancer Society, Oslo, Norway Department of Cancer Research & Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Department, the Norwegian University of Technology and Science, Trondheim, Norway Department for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, St. Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
JON H. LOGE
Affiliation:
Department of Cancer Research & Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Department, the Norwegian University of Technology and Science, Trondheim, Norway Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
HANNE PALTIEL
Affiliation:
Palliative Medicine Unit, Department of Oncology, St. Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
MAY B. ASP
Affiliation:
Palliative Medicine Unit, Department of Oncology, St. Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
UNNI VIDVEI
Affiliation:
Hospice Lovisenberg, Lovisenberg Hospital, Oslo, Norway
MARIANNE J. HJERMSTAD
Affiliation:
Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
STEIN KAASA
Affiliation:
Department of Cancer Research & Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Department, the Norwegian University of Technology and Science, Trondheim, Norway Palliative Medicine Unit, Department of Oncology, St. Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
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Abstract

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.

Keywords

Clinical trialsPalliative carePhysical exerciseInterventionRecruitment
Type
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 3 , Issue 4 , December 2005 , pp. 281 - 287
Copyright
© 2005 Cambridge University Press

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