BackgroundSupervised exercise interventions produce the largest improvements in patient-reported outcomes in cancer survivors but their scalability has been questioned. Telephone counseling has been proposed as a more feasible alternative but its impact on exercise behavior and health outcomes have been modest. Basing telephone counseling exercise (TCE) interventions on the theoretical advances described in the multi-process action control framework (M-PAC) may improve these outcomes.PurposeTo assess the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a M-PAC-based TCE intervention for increasing aerobic exercise behavior in hematologic cancer survivors (HCS).MethodsWe recruited 51 HCS who were randomized to either a weekly TCE group (n?=?26) or a self-directed exercise (SDE) group (n?=?25). Participants completed online measures of self-reported aerobic exercise behavior, quality of life (QoL), fatigue, and program satisfaction at baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks).ResultsAdherence to the TCE intervention was 93% and retention was 100%. Participants receiving TCE increased their weekly aerobic exercise by 218 min compared to 93 min in the SDE group [mean-adjusted between-group difference (MBGDadj)?=?139, 95%CI?=?65 to 213, p?d)?=?2.19]. Clinically meaningful QoL improvements favored the TCE group for mental health (MBGDadj?=?3.7, 95%CI?=???0.4 to 7.9, p?=?.08, d?=?0.42) and mental health component (MBGDadj?=?3.6, 95%CI?=???0.8 to 8.1, p?=?.10, d?=?0.35) subscales.ConclusionsThe 12-week TCE intervention substantially increased exercise behavior and may have meaningfully improved QoL in HCS.Implications for Cancer SurvivorsThough more definitive trials are needed, remote TCE interventions based on the M-PAC may improve exercise behavior and QoL in HCS and perhaps other cancer survivor groups.Trial registration numberClinical Trials ID: NCT03052777 |
