ASPO Abstracts
Association Between Quality of Life and Physical Functioning in a Gardening Intervention for Cancer Survivors
Category: Survivorship & Health Outcomes/Comparative Effectiveness Research
Conference Year: 2022
Abstract Body:
Purpose: To examine potential predictors of maintaining or improving self-reported physical function among older cancer survivors participating in a gardening intervention impacted by the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.Methods: Thirty cancer survivors completed a home-based gardening intervention to encourage a healthier diet and a more active lifestyle. Device-based measures of physical activity and surveys to evaluate quality of life (QOL; PROMIS-57 questionnaire) were administered at baseline (prior to COVID-19), and mid- (6 months, during COVID-19), and post-intervention (9 months, during COVID-19). Linear mixed effects models were used to evaluate potential associations between baseline and changes in QOL and trends in physical function during this intervention.Results: The mean age at study enrollment was 68 years (range 50-83), with the following distribution of cancer types: breast (37%), prostate (20%), lung (13%), and other (30%). 53% of cancer survivors maintained or improved their level of physical function during the study. Worse depression, fatigue, and sleep impairment at baseline were significantly associated with worse average physical function score across follow-up (2.3 to 4.9 points lower for every 5-points worse in QOL score; p-values<0.02). Worsening of these QOL domains during the intervention was also associated with an additional 2.1 to 2.9 points decrease in physical function over follow-up (p-values<0.01). Better social participation and physical activity at baseline were significantly associated with better average physical function score during the intervention (2.8 to 5.2 points higher for every 5-points higher in social participation or 30 minutes more of physical activity). Every 5-points higher in pain at baseline, or increase in pain during the intervention, was associated with a decrease of 4.9 and 3.0 points, respectively, in physical function.Conclusions: Worse QOL scores before and during the intervention were significantly associated with worse physical function over follow-up. While it is difficult to estimate the effects of COVID-19 on physical activity and QOL measures, encouraging social participation and physical activity through interventions such as home-based gardening may improve long-term health.
Keywords: physical function; quality of life; gardening; cancer survivors; COVID-19