Abstract
Purpose
Exercise and physical activity are recommended for cancer survivors. This study aimed to identify the patient characteristics associated with behavioral changes and maintenance of exercise habits through supervised exercise therapy (SET) by licensed physiotherapists during outpatient care.
Methods
The participants in this case–control study were outpatients with cancer who underwent uninsured SET at the Matsue City Hospital Cancer Center from April 1, 2017, to April 1, 2021. Data were collected retrospectively from medical records. The participants were divided into two groups: a continuation group that continued SET for at least 24 weeks and showed sufficient behavioral change and a dropout group that dropped out of SET after less than 24 weeks and showed insufficient behavioral change. Statistical analysis was performed using logistic regression analysis, with patient characteristics as the independent variable and SET continuation as the dependent variable.
Results
A total of 54 participants (median age, 58 years), including 38 female participants, were included in this study. The most common type of cancer was breast cancer, most commonly Stage IV cancer, and 33 patients (61%) were undergoing treatment. The continuation group consisted of 27 patients (50%). Factors significantly associated with SET continuation were age (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 1.07 [1.00–1.13]), treatment completion (4.29 [1.15–16.05]), and the QLQ-C30 dyspnea score (0.34 [0.12–0.99]).
Conclusions
Older age, treatment completion, and the absence of dyspnea were associated with SET continuation and maintenance of exercise habits in outpatients with cancer.