scholarly journals The Effect of a Physical Exercise Program in Palliative Care: A Phase II Study

2006 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 421-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Line M. Oldervoll ◽  
Jon H. Loge ◽  
Hanne Paltiel ◽  
May B. Asp ◽  
Unni Vidvei ◽  
...  
2005 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 281-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
LINE M. OLDERVOLL ◽  
JON H. LOGE ◽  
HANNE PALTIEL ◽  
MAY B. ASP ◽  
UNNI VIDVEI ◽  
...  

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.


2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 206-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Follwell ◽  
Debika Burman ◽  
Lisa W. Le ◽  
Kristina Wakimoto ◽  
Dori Seccareccia ◽  
...  

Purpose Although there is increasing advocacy for timely symptom control in patients with cancer, few studies have assessed outpatient palliative care clinics. This study assessed prospectively the efficacy of an Oncology Palliative Care Clinic (OPCC) in improving patient symptom distress and satisfaction. Patients and Methods Eligible patients were new referrals to an OPCC, had metastatic cancer, were at least 18 years old, and were well enough and able to speak and read English sufficiently to provide informed consent and complete questionnaires. Patients received a consultation by a palliative care team. The primary end points of symptom control and patient satisfaction were assessed using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and patient-adapted Family Satisfaction with Advanced Cancer Care (FAMCARE) scale at baseline, 1 week, and 1 month. Initial and follow-up scores were compared using paired t tests. Results Of 150 patients enrolled, 123 completed 1-week assessments, and 88 completed 4-week assessments. At baseline, the mean ESAS Distress Score (EDS) was 39.5. The mean improvement in EDS was 8.8 points (P < .0001) at 1 week and 7.0 points (P < .0001) at 1 month. Statistically significant improvements were observed for pain, fatigue, nausea, depression, anxiety, drowsiness, appetite, dyspnea, insomnia, and constipation at 1 week (all P ≤ .005) and 1 month (all P ≤ .05). The mean improvement in FAMCARE score was 6.1 points (P < .0001) at 1 week and 5.0 points (P < .0001) at 1 month. Conclusion This phase II study demonstrates efficacy of an OPCC for improvement of symptom control and patient satisfaction with care. Randomized controlled trials are indicated to further evaluate the effectiveness of specialized outpatient palliative care.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. TPS10126-TPS10126
Author(s):  
Florence Joly Lobbedez ◽  
Laurence Vanlemmens ◽  
Jean-Marc Descotes ◽  
Sophie Abadie-Lacourtoisie ◽  
Claude Boiron ◽  
...  

TPS10126 Background: Fatigue is a frequent side effect with oral targeted therapies (OTT). Physical activity has been reported to improve fatigue and quality of life (QoL). However, few studies focused on metastatic cancer patients and mainly among patients treated with chemotherapy. Furthermore, recent guidelines recommend evaluation and optimization of standardized exercise programs. The aim of our study is to evaluate home-based standard physical exercise program (SPEP) for metastatic cancer patients treated with OTT. Methods: This phase II-III study will randomize (2:1) patients starting first-line OTT for metastatic cancer between an individualized SPEP supervised by a personal coach, and recommended physical exercises via a booklet. Eligible patients will have received ≤2 lines of metastatic chemotherapy, ECOG PS ≤2, controlled pain (VAS < 3/10), and life expectancy ≥3 months. The phase II part (120 patients) will evaluate the feasibility of a 3-month SPEP using the rate of patients performing ≥50% of SPEP (2-stage Fleming: one-sided α = 5%; β = 85%). An interim analysis is planned after the phase II. The phase III will compare the efficacy of an SPEP as opposed to recommendations to reduce fatigue and/or improve physical well-being (PWB) dimensions of QoL (evaluated with FACT-G and FACT-F questionnaires). To show a difference of ≥5 points in PWB and 2.5 for fatigue (α = 2.5%; β = 80%), 312 patients are required in the phase III trial. . Secondary objectives include: PFS, OS, other dimensions of QoL, tolerability and observance of OTT, change in body composition, physical benefits, and a medico-economic study. The SPEP was developed by specialized coaches involved in physical activity and cancer. The study has Ethic committee approval and accrual is planned in 18 French centers in April 2017, for 30 months. This is the first randomized trial dedicated to patients with metastatic cancer treated with OTT evaluating the feasibility and the efficacy of a well design home based SPEP on fatigue and physical well-being.


2005 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 197-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
JULIE MIDTGAARD ◽  
MIKAEL RØRTH ◽  
REINHARD STELTER ◽  
ANDERS TVETERÅS ◽  
CHRISTINA ANDERSEN ◽  
...  

Little is known about the role of exercise in improving cancer patients' mood while undergoing chemotherapy. In this phase II study changes in self-reported anxiety and depression and fitness (VO2max) are reported in relation to a 6-week, 9 h weekly, multidimensional exercise program. A total of 91 patients receiving chemotherapy, between 18 and 65 years old, completed a Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale Questionnaire (HADS; response rate 91%, adherence rate 78%). Anxiety (p< 0.001) and depression (p= 0.042) was significantly reduced. The mean ±SDof the change was −1.14 ± 2.91 for anxiety and −0.44 ± 2.77 for depression. Improvements in fitness were correlated with improvements in depression, χ2(1) = 3.966,p= 0.046, but not with improvements in anxiety, χ2(1) = 0.540,p= 0.462. The research suggests that exercise intervention may have a beneficial impact on psychological distress for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy with low to moderate levels of baseline psychomorbidity. The study furthermore indicates that changes in distress may be associated with disease status and levels of physical activity undertaken during disease. The study is followed up by an ongoing randomized clinical controlled trial to evaluate potential causal effects of exercise intervention on psychological distress and fitness in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.


2001 ◽  
Vol 120 (5) ◽  
pp. A280-A280
Author(s):  
S HANAUER ◽  
P MINER ◽  
A KESHAVARZIAN ◽  
E MORRIS ◽  
B SALZBERG ◽  
...  

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