Can physical activity help to maintain cognitive functioning and psychosocial well-being among breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy? A randomised controlled trial: study protocol.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether a home-based moderate-intensity walking intervention could alleviate cognitive impairments and emotional distress in women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer.
Results Summary
The study proposed that walking could improve cognitive function (memory, executive function, attention, visual spatial skills) and reduce emotional distress (fatigue, anxiety, depression, mood, self-esteem) in breast cancer patients, though specific results were not yet reported as the study was designed but not completed.
Population
Women diagnosed with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy.
Effective Dosage
Moderate-intensity walking (specific frequency/duration not detailed).
Duration
Administered mid-way through chemotherapy (exact duration not specified).
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
chemotherapy treatment | increase | cognitive impairment in domains of memory, attention, concentration and executive function | breast cancer patients | - | associated with side effects such as cognitive impairment | #1 |
cognitive impairments | increase | emotional distress | patients | - | associated with higher levels of emotional distress | #2 |
physical activity interventions | decrease | emotional distress and fatigue | those with breast cancer | - | reported to be effective in alleviating | #3 |
physical activity interventions | increase | cognitive functioning | the elderly, in those suffering with dementia and in children | - | reported to improve | #4 |
physical activity | decrease | cognitive impairments | women diagnosed with breast cancer | - | could also help to alleviate | #5 |
home-based moderate intensity walking intervention | neutral | changes in an objective measure of memory assessed using the Digit Span | women diagnosed with breast cancer mid-way through their chemotherapy treatment | - | will deliver | #6 |
emotional distress | increase | self-reporting of cognitive problems | - | - | has been associated with self-reporting of cognitive problems | #7 |
emotional distress | neutral | self-reported cognitive functioning | - | - | mediates between the amount of walking undertaken during the intervention period and levels of self-reported cognitive functioning | #8 |
effective intervention for preventing difficulties in emotional and cognitive functioning | increase | patients' overall quality of life | cancer patients' post-treatment | - | will help to guide health care professionals to improve | #9 |
BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer is associated with side effects such as cognitive impairment in domains of memory, attention, concentration and executive function. Cognitive impairments reported by patients have been associated with higher levels of emotional distress. To date, intervention studies to alleviate cognitive impairment associated with chemotherapy have focused on psycho-educational techniques or cognitive training. Studies have not yet considered physical activity as a potential for alleviating cognitive problems. Physical activity interventions are reported to be effective in alleviating emotional distress and fatigue in those with breast cancer. They have also been reported to improve cognitive functioning in the elderly, in those suffering with dementia and in children. We propose that physical activity could also help to alleviate cognitive impairments in women diagnosed with breast cancer. The study has been designed using a recently developed taxonomy of behaviour change techniques to reliably report the content of the intervention to allow future replication. METHOD: This study will deliver a home-based moderate intensity walking intervention to women diagnosed with breast cancer mid-way through their chemotherapy treatment and will compare them to patients receiving usual care alone. The primary outcome measure for this intervention is changes in an objective measure of memory assessed using the Digit Span. Secondary outcome measures include: objective measures of executive function; attention; visual spatial skills; self report cognitive function; self-report fatigue; anxiety; depression; mood and self-esteem. As emotional distress has been associated with self-reporting of cognitive problems, this intervention will further test whether emotional distress mediates between the amount of walking undertaken during the intervention period and levels of self-reported cognitive functioning. DISCUSSION: The development of an effective intervention for preventing difficulties in emotional and cognitive functioning of cancer patients' post-treatment will help to guide health care professionals to improve patients' overall quality of life. It will also provide direction for future research, ultimately to improve the day to day functioning of breast cancer survivors. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN50709297.