Boeke S, Hauth F, Fischer S, Lautenbacher H, Bizu V, Zips D, Gani C. Acceptance of physical activity monitoring in cancer patients during radiotherapy, the GIROfit phase 2 pilot trial.
Tech Innov Patient Support Radiat Oncol 2022;
22:16-21. [PMID:
35402741 PMCID:
PMC8991372 DOI:
10.1016/j.tipsro.2022.03.004]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Activity trackers were well accepted and regularly worn by cancer patients during treatment.
In some patients a decrease in step counts correlated with the onset of side effects or quality of life impairments.
Activity trackers may be a useful tool to remotely identify patients who are in need of supportive care.
Background
In radiotherapy the timely identification of patients needing intervention and supportive care due to side effects is an important task especially in the outpatient setting. Activity trackers as an increasingly used lifestyle device may enable physicians to monitor patient’s physical activity (PA) and to intervene early during the course of radiotherapy.
Objective
The primary aim of this trial was to assess patient acceptance of PA monitoring in an outpatient setting and to correlate changes in PA with toxicity and changes in quality of life.
Methods
Patients undergoing radio(chemo-)therapy with a curative intent were eligible to participate in this prospective pilot phase II trial. Patients were instructed to wear a commercially available activity tracker during the course of radiotherapy and four weeks afterwards. Quality of life (QoL) and fatigue was scored using the Functional assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy questionnaire. A linear regression was performed to determine baseline activity and changes in step counts during radiotherapy.
Results
We included 23 patients in this trial. Two withdrew consent before the start of treatment, two patients were excluded after prophylactic feeding tube placement and prolonged recovery. Compliance in the remaining 19 patients was high, with availability of step-counts on 92% of the days. Baseline step counts were 6274 for breast cancer patients and 3621 for patients with other entities. Decreasing activity during radiotherapy coincided with the development of side effects and declines in quality of life.
Conclusions
Activity trackers as tool to monitor PA during and after radiotherapy were accepted by a majority of the patients included in the current trial. Observed changes in PA correlated with patient reported side effects and QoL in some of the patients.
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