A Avancini, I Fracca and M Lanza
University of Verona, Italy
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Arch Cancer Res
Aims: Exercise has been shown to decrease various side effects of cancer and its related treatment and to have a positive effect on health-related quality of life. The research aims to assess whether there is a relationship between the amount of physical activity carried out and the quality of life in patients who have or who have had a cancer diagnosis. It also aims to identify the barriers and facilitators of physical activity in these subjects. Methods: We present the preliminary results of 25 subjects (23 women, 2 men; age 67.6±9.6 years) with different diagnosis of cancer who responded to a questionnaire that investigating: anthropometric and social characteristics, health conditions (SF- 12 Health Survey and questions about stage of disease), current physical activity (IPAQ) and physical activity in the past decades, barriers and motivation towards physical activity. Results: Energy expenditure for walking (IPAQ) is related with SF- 12 Health Survey (r=.46; p<.05). Before diagnosis only 28% were physically active, during therapies 4% and after therapies active were 35%; also the intensity of exercise decrease significantly (p<.05) during the therapies, and after return to initial level. The most important barriers for physical activity are the lack of energy, difficulties or physical disabilities, not aware of programs or proposals for appropriate physical activity. Principal motivation for physical activity is a positive perception of exercise and enjoyment. Conclusions: Preliminary results encourage to study also in Italy the relation between an active lifestyle and quality of life in cancer survivors to better understand the modalities to encourage these subjects to practice the correct physical activities.
A Avancini is a Doctor in Preventive and Adapted Exercise Science. She is a PhD student in Clinical and Experimental Biomedical Sciences in University of Verona. Her main interest regards the promotion on healthy lifestyle in healthy people and in persons with chronic disease, in particular in cancer survivors.
E-mail: alice.avancini@univr.it
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