Effects of targeted print materials on physical activity and quality of life in young adult cancer survivors: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the effects of a targeted physical activity (PA) print material on PA and quality of life (QoL) in young adult cancer survivor (YACS). Methods: YACS (N=212) were randomly assigned to either the targeted print material (TPAG) or the Canadian PA Guidelines (CPAG). The primary outcome was self-reported PA minutes per week. Secondary outcomes were QoL, stress, self-esteem, and depression. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 1 month and 3 months for PA and at baseline and 3 months for QoL and psychosocial outcomes. Results: At three months, analyses of covariance adjusting for baseline value of the outcome and other covariates showed no differences between the TPAG and CPAG groups for the primary outcome of PA minutes/week (adjusted mean group difference=+8 minutes; 95% CI= -60 to +77; p=.81). The TPAG was superior to the CPAG for the mental component of QoL (adjusted mean group difference=+3.1; 95% CI=+0.1 to +7.3; p=0.043). In an exploratory analysis of YACS reporting less than 300 PA minutes/week at baseline, the TPAG group was superior to the CPAG group at 3 months for PA minutes/week (adjusted mean group difference=+90; 95% CI=+10 to +170; p=.028). Conclusion: A targeted PA print material did not increase PA compared to a generic PA print material in a highly active sample of YACS. In YACS reporting less than 300 minutes of PA at baseline, which is the group of interest from a PA behavior change perspective, the targeted PA print material was effective in increasing PA.

Acknowledgments: Lisa Belanger was supported by Alberta Innovates Health Solutions Studentship. Kerry Courneya is supported by the Canada Research Chairs Program. We would like to thank Carol Russell and Lorraine Cormier from the Alberta Cancer Registry for their assistance in conducting this study.