Digitally Mediated Occupational Therapy Program to Increase Physical Activity in Urban and Rural Breast Cancer Survivors Who Have Undergone Breast-conserving Surgery or Mastectomy
University of Oklahoma
Summary
We will evaluate a novel 8-week telehealth-delivered occupational therapy (OT) program among breast cancer survivors that seeks to promote engagement in aerobic physical activity (PA) and muscle strengthening exercise (MSE). The telehealth-based delivery of this OT program circumvents some barriers to OT access and participation (e.g., time burden; distance to OT clinic) among breast cancer survivors- particularly important for Oklahoma given that 33% of residents live in rural areas. Additionally, the focus of this program is to promote the preferred aerobic PA and MSE choices of each individual survivor to increase the likelihood of long-term PA engagement. In turn, participants will be more likely to experience the longer-term benefits associated with PA such as improved physical functioning, reduced anxiety, depressive, and pain symptoms, better sleep, and better cardiorespiratory fitness.
Description
Breast cancer (BC) survivors, defined as those ever diagnosed with BC through the end of life, totaled approximately 4 million people in the U.S. in 2022. While the 5-year survival rate across all races for BC is 90%, functional limitations associated with BC treatment often have considerable impacts on BC survivors' physical and mental health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Approximately 90% of women diagnosed with non-metastatic BC undergo breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy. These surgical interventions commonly lead to upper extremity impairment, decreased strength, and limited mobili…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: 1. ≥18 years old. 2. Ability to speak/read English. 3. Ability to provide informed consent. 4. Having ever received a histologically confirmed diagnosis of invasive breast carcinoma. 5. Having undergone breast conserving surgery or mastectomy for BC in the last 12 months. 6. Owning a smartphone and/or computer with internet access. 7. Willing to participate in once-weekly telehealth-delivered OT sessions for eight weeks. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Currently undergoing chemotherapy or radiation as primary cancer treatment. 2. Planning or preparing for surgery as primary treat…
Interventions
- Behavioral8-Week Telehealth-based Occupational Therapy Program
The telehealth-based OT program will be grounded in SDT. The program will be designed to help BC survivors transition from recovery after surgery to achieving levels of aerobic PA and MSE that are recommended according to each participants' specific treatment course and desired outcomes. Participants will engage in eight once-weekly OT sessions with a licensed occupational therapist via Zoom-lasting for up to about an hour. Each session will teach psychoeducational and skill-building techniques that support decreasing functional limitations associated with BC and BC treatment as well as improving behavioral skill sets necessary for maintenance of aerobic PA and MSE. Participants will receive study-provided exercise equipment and a fitness tracker (Fitbit Charge 6) for use engaging in greater amounts of aerobic PA and MSE (keeping these materials post-study)
Location
- University of Oklahoma Health SciencesOklahoma City, Oklahoma