Development of a Risk‐Screening Tool for Cancer Survivors to Participate in Unsupervised Moderate‐ to Vigorous‐Intensity Exercise: Results From a Survey Study
Year: 2014
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The health benefits of exercise increase in dose-response fashion among cancer survivors. However, it is unclear how to identify cancer survivors who may require a pre-exercise evaluation before they progress from the common recommendation of walking to unsupervised moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise. OBJECTIVE: To clarify how to identify cancer survivors who should undergo a pre-exercise evaluation before they progress from the common recommendation of walking to unsupervised moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise. DESIGN: Electronic survey. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-seven (n = 47) experts in the field of exercise physiology, rehabilitation medicine, and cancer survivorship. SETTING: Not applicable. METHODS: We synthesized peer-reviewed guidelines for exercise and cancer survivorship and identified 82 health factors that may warrant a pre-exercise evaluation before a survivor engages in unsupervised moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise. The 82 health factors were classified into 3 domains: (1) clinical health factors; (2) comorbidity and device health factors; and (3) medications. We surveyed a sample of experts asking them to identify which of the 82 health factors among cancer survivors would indicate the need for a pre-exercise evaluation before they engaged in moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The response rate to our survey was 75% (n = 47). Across the 3 domains of health factors, acute symptoms, comorbidities, and medications related to cardiovascular disease were agreed on to indicate a pre-exercise evaluation for survivors before they engaged in unsupervised moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise. Other health factors in the survey included hematologic, musculoskeletal, systemic, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, and neurological symptoms and comorbidities. Eighteen experts (38%) said it was difficult to provide absolute answers because no 2 patients are alike, and their decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this expert survey will help to identify which cancer survivors should undergo a pre-exercise evaluation before they engage in unsupervised moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise.
Source: PM&R
Institution: University of Pennsylvania
Language: English
Topic: Cancer survivorship and care
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2058859067