Research on the applicability of an exercise rehabilitation app aiming to improve the mental and physical health of breast cancer patients in the post-operative period

Purpose

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant cancers in women, seriously endangering the physical and mental health of patients. In this study, we developed an app for breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy or chemotherapy with a focus on exercise interventions, supplemented by nutritional and psychological interventions, to verify the applicability of the app for these patients and its impact on their quality of life, sleep, and psychological state. We also investigated the patients' experience and perceptions of the app.

Methods

A total of 17 participants, aged 42-58 years, were recruited for this study using a mixed-methods design, including quantitative group pre-and post-test scores and qualitative interview results. The participants used the app for 8-18 weeks depending on their radiotherapy or chemotherapy cycle. During the radiotherapy or chemotherapy period, the participants used the "Yun Dong Ru Kang" exercise rehabilitation app to perform aerobic exercises twice a week, as well as rehabilitation exercises appropriate to their radiotherapy or chemotherapy stage, and used the app on their own the rest of the time. The primary results included their scores on the PSSUQ overall assessment usability questionnaire, the users' use of the app, and the results of the interviews; the secondary indicators were quality of life, sleep status, and anxiety and depression status.

Results

An overall score of 6.2 (out of 7 points) on the PSSUQ questionnaire indicates the high usability; the average use time per subject per week was 97.69 ± 11.82 min, which exceeds the minimum use time, but the average use time tended to decrease as the use time was postponed. Promoted articles on nutritional diets received the most hits. The results of the interviews were consistent with the questionnaire scores, with the majority of participants believing that the means of exercise should be enriched and the interface optimized, while the reduction in the length of use was related to the participants' own state of learning about calisthenics. In the results of the Breast Cancer-Specific Scale FACT-B, there was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the Emotional Status dimension score and a significant decrease (p < 0.05) on the Additional Concerns dimension score. In the results of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory PSQI, there was a non-significant improvement in all items except for a significant increase (p < 0.05) for the Hypnotic Medication item. In the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), there was no significant improvement in any of the anxiety and depression factors.

Conclusions

The "Yun Dong Ru Kang "app has certain applicability, and the use of the exercise rehabilitation app may effectively reduce the negative impact of chemotherapy side effects on the quality of life, sleep and depression of breast cancer patients in the chemotherapy or radiotherapy phase. Before it is put into use in the future, the app should be enriched with exercise tools, the interface should be optimized, and articles on nutrition and diet should be promoted.

Factors related to the adoption and adherence of physical activity mobile applications by older people: a scoping review protocol

INTRODUCTION

Ageing is a natural process marked by physiological changes and declines in functional capacity. One strategy to encourage healthy habits in older people is the use of applications on mobile devices to promote physical activity (PA). An immediate challenge is for these applications to be accessible to older people themselves, while a second challenge is to retain their interest and engagement in connection with PA itself. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to map the factors related to the adoption and adherence of PA mobile applications by older people.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Five databases will be searched where articles and reviews, available between 2010 and present, in English, Portuguese or Spanish, at full text, will be included. In addition, two additional strategies will be performed, including grey literature. The search terms adoption, adherence, factors, mobile application, PA, older people and other terms related to them will be used in the search strategy. This review will include studies that identify factors related to the adoption and adherence to PA mobile applications by people over 60 years. The selection of studies will be carried out by two reviewers in five stages: identification of studies and duplicate removal; pilot test; selection by reading abstracts; inclusion by reading the full text and search in additional sources. Disagreements will be resolved by a third reviewer. Data will be extracted using a data extraction tool. Quantitative data will be described in a narrative manner and qualitative data will be categorised through inductive thematic analysis.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval is not required for this scoping review. Plans for the dissemination of the review include the presentation of the results at relevant scientific conferences and the submission and publication in significant journals.

Examining adherence to activity monitoring devices to improve physical activity in adults with cardiovascular disease: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Activity monitoring devices are currently being used to facilitate and monitor physical activity. No prior review has examined adherence to the use of activity monitoring devices amongst adults with cardiovascular disease.

METHODS

Literature from June 2012 to October 2017 was evaluated to examine the extent of adherence to any activity monitoring device used to collect objective physical activity data. Randomized control trials comparing usual care against the use of an activity monitoring device, in a community intervention for adults from any cardiovascular diagnostic group, were included. A systematic search of databases and clinical trials registers was conducted using Joanna Briggs Institute methodology.

RESULTS

Of 10 eligible studies, two studies reported pedometer use and eight accelerometer use. Six studies addressed the primary outcome. Mean adherence was 59.1% (range 39.6% to 85.7%) at last follow-up. Studies lacked equal representation by gender (28.6% female) and age (range 42 to 82 years).

CONCLUSION

This review indicates that current research on activity monitoring devices may be overstated due to the variability in adherence. Results showed that physical activity tracking in women and in young adults have been understudied.