Determinants of physical activity in palliative cancer patients: an application of the theory of planned behavior.

Abstract

Background: Increasing evidence points to the theory of planned behavior as a useful framework to understand physical activity behavior in cancer patients.

Objective: Our primary aim was to examine the demographic, medical, and social-cognitive correlates of physical activity in palliative cancer patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to advanced cancer patients aged 18 years or older with a clinician-estimated life expectancy of less than 12 months and Palliative Performance Scale >30%, from outpatient palliative care, oncology clinics, and palliative home care.

Results: Fifty participants were recruited. Correlates of total physical activity levels were affective attitude (r = 0.36, P = .011), self-efficacy (r = 0.36, P = .010), and intention (r = 0.30, P = .034). Participants who reported 60 minutes or more of total physical activity daily reported significantly higher affective attitude (M = 0.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.26-1.6, P = .008) and self-efficacy (M = 0.8, 95% CI 0.0-1.5, P = .046). Participants <60 years of age (M = 343, 95% CI -7 to 693, P = .054) and who were normal or underweight (M = 333, 95% CI -14 to 680, P = .059) reported higher weekly minutes of total physical activity.

Limitations: Our small sample may not be representative of the total palliative cancer population.

Conclusions: Affective attitude, self-efficacy, and intention were the strongest correlates of total physical activity levels, and younger and normal/underweight participants did more physical activity.