Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-1-2012
Abstract
BACKGROUND: As patients with pancreas and periampullary cancer (PPC) experience improved survival rates and longevity, the focus shifts toward living life while surviving cancer. Fatigue is the most commonly reported symptom in all cancer patients. Exercise has been found to effectively decrease fatigue levels and improve physical functioning in cancer patients.
STUDY DESIGN: One hundred two patients with resected PPC consented to participate in this study and were randomized to either an intervention group (IG) or a usual care group (UCG). Subjects completed visual analog scales, the FACIT-Fatigue Scale and the Short Form-36v2 after surgery and again 3 to 6 months after hospital discharge.
RESULTS: Patients in the IG and UCG were comparable with regard to demographics, comorbidities, cancer type and staging, type of resection, preoperative fatigue and pain levels, adjuvant therapy, and baseline walking distance. Patients in the IG had significantly improved scores on the FACIT-Fatigue Scale at study completion, improved fatigue and pain scores, as well as overall physical functioning and mental health composite scores. At study completion, participants in the IG were walking twice as far and were significantly more likely to have continued walking or another form of exercise as compared with the UCG. Using hierarchical cluster analysis, 3 mutually exclusive symptom groupings were identified in the cohort. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis did not indicate an overall survival benefit for the IG.
CONCLUSIONS: This is the first prospective, randomized controlled trial to report that participation in a home walking program confers a significant benefit in resected PPC patients with regard to fatigue levels, physical functioning, and health-related quality of life.
Recommended Citation
Yeo, Theresa; Burrell, Sherry A; Sauter, Patricia K; Kennedy, Eugene P; Lavu, Harish; Leiby, Benjamin E; and Yeo, Charles, "A progressive postresection walking program significantly improves fatigue and health-related quality of life in pancreas and periampullary cancer patients." (2012). College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations. Paper 50.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/nursfp/50
PubMed ID
22321518
Comments
This article has been peer reviewed. It is the authors' final version prior to publication in Journal of the American College of Surgeons
Volume 214, Issue 4, April 2012, Pages 463=475.
The published version is available at DOI: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2011.12.017. Copyright © Elsevier Inc.