Poster Presentation Cancer Survivorship 2019

Quality of life in people with blood cancer after participation in a specialised exercise intervention (#217)

Jennifer L Nicol 1 , Michelle M Hill 2 , Mary Smith 3 , Molly Shevill 3 , Deb Pickersgill 3 , Dane Larsen 3 , Amanda Donaghue 3 , Caroline Pollard 4 , Maryanne Skarparis 4 , Michele Leis 4 , Tina L Skinner 1
  1. School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  2. QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  3. Aspire Fitness and Rehabilitation, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
  4. Leukaemia Foundation of Australia, Fortitude Valley, Queensland, Australia

Aims:

‘Fit to Thrive’ (FTT) is an individualised, focussed exercise program available to people with blood cancer who are clinically able to carry out exercise. This study aimed to assess the effect of the FTT program on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in people with blood cancer.

Methods:

The 12-week FTT program utilises progressive aerobic and resistance training, supervised by an Accredited Exercise Physiologist, in group sessions (n=6), twice per week from weeks 4 to 12, with associated psychosocial and peer support. HRQoL was measured using the 36-item Short Form Survey Instrument (SF-36) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy General (FACT-G) at baseline, immediately post-intervention and, for a subset of participants, at 3 months post-intervention. Minimally important differences (MID) involved a change of 2 points for the SF-36 and 3 points for the FACT-G.

Results:

Participants (n=106) who attended the FTT program between 2014 and 2016 were included in this analysis, with 36 participants followed up 3 months post-intervention. The SF-36 physical component summary (PCS) significantly increased (+4.99 [95% CI 3.29-6.68] p<0.001) immediately following the intervention, with 68% (n=72) of participants achieving the MID. Whilst all mental health domains significantly increased, the improvement in the SF-36 mental component summary did not achieve statistical significance (+2.36 [95% CI -0.06-4.78] p=0.06), with 51% (n=54) achieving the MID. FACT-G scores improved significantly from pre- to post-intervention (+5.90 [95%CI 2.52-8.47], p<0.001) with 58% (n=62) of participants meeting the MID. MID improvements in PCS and FACT-G were maintained in 77% (n=20/26) and 95% (n=19/20) of participants 3 months following completion of the program.

Conclusions:

The FTT program is effective in improving and maintaining HRQoL. An individually-prescribed exercise program, supervised by an Accredited Exercise Physiologis,t should be considered as part of standard care to improve HRQoL in patients with stable blood cancer.