ASPO Abstracts
Integrated Symptom Management and Lifestyle Behavior Intervention for Latina Cancer Survivors and Caregivers
Category: Lifestyles Behavior, Energy Balance & Chemoprevention
Conference Year: 2019
Abstract Body:
Purpose. Symptoms lingering after completion of active treatment may be barriers to the adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviors associated with preventing cancer recurrence. Here we report the results from a pilot randomized trial of an intervention designed to improve adherence to the American Cancer Society Guidelines (ACS) on Nutrition and Physical Activity through integrated symptom management in Latinas with solid tumor cancers and their Informal caregivers. Method. Survivor-caregiver dyads were randomized 2:1 to either intervention or attention control. Twelve weekly intervention sessions included telephone based lifestyle coaching in either English or Spanish, with suggestions to use Symptom Management and Survivorship Handbook. Adherence to ACS guidelines was measured using the National Cancer Institute Diet Screener Questionnaire and the Women’s Health Initiative Physical Activity Questionnaire. Distress from 15 symptoms was assessed using the General Symptom Distress Scale. General linear models were used to compare symptoms and adherence to ACS guidelines post-intervention while adjusting for baseline values. Adjusted effect sizes were estimated as Cohen’s d, differences between the adjusted means of trial arms divided by the square root of the mean squared error. Qualitative analysis of exit interviews was used to evaluate satisfaction with the intervention.Results. A total of 39 dyads consented and were randomized to intervention (N=24) or attention control (N=15). Mean (SD) survivor age was 62±10 y and caregiver age was 54±18 y. At baseline, less than 20% of survivors and 55% of caregivers met the ACS guidelines. Post-intervention, symptoms were reduced in the intervention arm compared to attention control by ½ of the standard deviation (effect size d=0.5). Over 40% of survivors and caregivers in the intervention arm met the ACS guidelines on physical activity, and 60% met the ACS guidelines on nutrition. Satisfaction with intervention was high.Conclusions. Culturally relevant interventions such as the one pilot-tested in this study are needed and can improve adherence to healthy lifestyle behaviors while managing symptoms in the post-treatment period for both cancer survivors and their caregivers.
Keywords: Symptoms, diet, physical activity, Latinas, caregivers