A TAILORED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY INTERVENTION'S EFFECTS ON SELF-EFFICACY, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE

Authors

BR Wolle
S Mihalko
P Brubaker
J Costa
S Norton
BA McIver
A Lucas
G Hundley

Abstract

Brianna R. Wolle¹, Shannon Mihalko¹, Peter Brubaker¹, Juliana Costa¹, Sam Norton¹, Bennett Ann McIver¹, Alexander Lucas², Gregory Hundley². ¹Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC. ²Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.

PURPOSE: The Physical Activity and Lymphoma Study (PALS) pilot trial tested a six-month tailored physical activity intervention for lymphoma patients undergoing anthracycline-based chemotherapy. PALS was designed to reduce treatment-related cardiovascular morbidity and declines in patient health-related quality of life (HRQL) through tailored exercise. The primary objective of the current study was to investigate the effects of the tailored exercise intervention (PAI) on self-efficacy, physical activity (PA) participation, and HRQL in patients undergoing treatment for lymphoma. METHODS: Fifteen patients recently diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin or Hodgkin lymphoma were randomized into the PAI or the healthy living intervention (HLI). Separate linear-mixed effects models adjusted for baseline levels of each outcome used complete case data to examine changes in self-efficacy at baseline, the Godin’s Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire, and HRQL (SF-36) at 3 and 6 months. RESULTS: Self-efficacy for walking was significantly higher in the PAI group compared to the HLI group over time (Mean difference = 5.35 units (SE 1.20), p<.01). At 6 months, participants in the PAI group engaged in significantly higher levels of physical activity than the HLI group (p<0.01). There were no significant differences in the physical and mental components of HRQL between groups. DISCUSSION: The use of theory-based behavioral strategies to support participant’s self-efficacy towards PA and their adherence to the intervention may explain the maintenance of a high level of self-efficacy and more engagement in PA in the PAI group. This research is significant because it demonstrates the importance of promoting self-efficacy for engaging in PA, early and throughout the course of treatment for lymphoma.

Recommended Citation

Wolle, BR; Mihalko, S; Brubaker, P; Costa, J; Norton, S; McIver, BA; Lucas, A; and Hundley, G (2023) "A TAILORED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY INTERVENTION'S EFFECTS ON SELF-EFFICACY, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 16: Iss. 2, Article 317.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol16/iss2/317