Promoting exercise self-efficacy and physical activity in women after cancer

Abstract

Introduction: Regular physical activity and exercise has a range of physical and mental health benefits for cancer survivors (WCRF & AICR, 2007). Current physical activity recommendations for cancer survivors are generic, but all suggest reducing sedentary time and increasing regular physical activity (Buffart, et al., 2014). In relation to promoting behaviour change, there is evidence that self-efficacy beliefs are strongly correlated with exercise behaviour in adults (Bauman et al., 2012). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an e-health enabled multiple health behaviour change intervention (the Women’s Wellness after Cancer Program) to increase exercise self-efficacy and promote physical activity in women after cancer. Methods: The WWACP intervention includes easy to read, structured evidence based information about physical activity and exercise, with strategies to improve exercise self-efficacy including nurse coaching and goal setting to support positive mastery experience and behaviour change. Data were collected using self-report online and interview administered survey. Physical activity was measured using the Short IPAQ (Craig et al., 2003) and exercise self-efficacy using the Self-Efficacy for Exercise scale (Bandura, 2006). Descriptive and inferential analysis was undertaken using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25.0 (IBM Corp, 2017) and compared the difference between intervention and control groups post intervention (using ANCOVAs and Cohen’s d). Results: A total of 351 women participated in the randomised controlled trial, with an average age of 53 years (SD = 8). After adjusting for pre-intervention scores there was a significant difference between intervention and control groups for exercise selfefficacy (p <0.05) post intervention, with a small to moderate effect size noted (Cohen’s d). While there was no statistically significant difference in walking, moderate or vigorous physical activity between groups, there was a clinically significant increase in all types of physical activity in the intervention group over time. Conclusions: Outcomes of this study suggest that the WWACP intervention is effective in promoting exercise self-efficacy and physical activity in female cancer survivors. With increased survival rates and evidence of the multiple benefits of regular physical activity in increasing fitness, reducing fatigue and depression, interventions such as the WWACP have potential to contribute to improved health and wellbeing of women following cancer treatment.