Physical Activity For Health in Kidney Cancer Survivors

• Author / Creator

  Trinh, Linda

• Background: The health benefits of physical activity (PA) have been established in cancer survivors, however, no research to date has focused on kidney cancer survivors (KCS). Purpose: The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the benefits and determinants of PA in KCS, and to develop a behaviour change intervention to promote PA in this population. Methods: Study 1 was a population-based, mailed survey of 703 KCS, which consisted of measures of self-reported PA, quality of life (QoL), sedentary behaviour, the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), and PA preferences. Study 2 examined the feasibility of adding behavioural counselling to a standard supervised exercise program in 32 KCS. The primary outcome was changes in self-reported PA. Secondary outcomes included QoL, motivational outcomes, physical function, anthropometric measures, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Results: In Paper 1 from Study 1, 56.3% of KCS were completely sedentary and only 26.0% were meeting public health guidelines. Moreover, there was a steep dose-response association between PA and most QoL outcomes. In Paper 2 from Study 1, there were very few associations between sitting time and QoL in KCS. In Paper 3 from Study 1, some common PA preferences for KCS were to: receive information from a fitness expert at a cancer centre (55.7%), start a PA program after treatment (36.5%), and do moderate intensity PA (58.4%). In Paper 4 from Study 1, PA was strongly associated with planning and intention which, in turn, were strongly associated with PBC, instrumental attitude, and descriptive norm. In Paper 1 from Study 2, the TRACKS trial was feasible and resulted in modest improvements in PA minutes for the supervised PA plus behavioural counselling group (SPA+BC) group compared to the supervised PA plus exercise counselling (SPA+EC) group. In Paper 2 from Study 2, KCS in the SPA+BC group reported significantly higher planning, perceived control, and self-efficacy compared to SPA+EC. Conclusions: PA has a strong association with QoL including potential gains even for small amounts of PA. Adding behavioural counselling to supervised PA in a behaviour change trial is feasible and may result in meaningful improvements in PA and fitness outcomes in KCS.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Kidney cancer
  • Physical activity
  • Theory of planned behaviour

• Graduation date

  Spring 2013

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Doctor of Philosophy

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3KD6J

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.