Bridging the gap: incorporating exercise evidence into clinical practice in breast cancer care

Research on the influence of yogalates comprehensive rehabilitation training on postoperative recovery of breast cancer patients

BACKGROUND

In the present study, we analyzed the effects of comprehensive yogalates rehabilitation training on side effects caused by postoperative adjuvant treatment and postoperative physical and mental health in breast cancer patients who had undergone radical mastectomy.The purpose of this investigation was to test the hypothesis that 12 weeks of yogalates training would reduce the peripheral diameter of the upper arm, improve flexibility and posture, and improve sleep quality compared with a non-treated control group.

METHODS

36 women with breast cancer who had undergone radical mastectomy in Shanghai were selected and randomly divided into the experimental group (n=20) and the control group (n=16). The patients in the experimental group underwent yogalates comprehensive rehabilitation training, while the control group did not participate in yogalates course. Anthropometric measurements and the "Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)" questionnaire were administered to both the experimental and control groups before and after the training sessions.

RESULTS

The experimental group corrected the hunchback posture through yogalates training. Spine extension increased their height and decreased their BMI. The range of motion of upper arm joints in extension, bending and abduction increased. The peripheral diameter of the upper arm decreased, the grip strength increased, and the sleep quality gradually improved.

CONCLUSION

(1)Prolonging the period of yogalates training stabilized and improve the physical and mental health of patients. (2)In yogalates course, providing proper guidance to patients for diaphragmatic breathing and incorporating yoga relaxation techniques can effectively enhance the sleep quality of patients.(3)Exercise regimens must be designed taking into account individual differences.

Barriers and facilitators to giving prehabilitation advice by clinical nurse specialists and advanced nurse practitioners in oncology patients

PURPOSE

This is the second article in this series on the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) and ANPs (advanced nurse practitioners) regarding prehabilitation advice in oncology patients, exploring the barriers and facilitators to giving prehabilitation advice by CNSs and ANPs in oncology patients.

METHODS

A Cross-sectional online questionnaire opens for 3 months to establish the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of ANPs and CNSs to prehabilitation disseminated through professional organisations and social media.

RESULTS

The questionnaire gained (n = 415) responses. Prehabilitation advice was routinely given by 89% (n = 371) of respondents. Many (60%) identified a lack of guidance and referral processes as a barrier to giving prehabilitation advice; this corresponded between respondents' confidence to give prehabilitation advice and subsequent referrals (< 0.001). Other factors included time (61%), a lack of patient interest (44%) and limited relevance to patients (35%).

CONCLUSION

The implementation of standardised nurse prehabilitation advice resources would enable CNSs and ANPs to provide personalised prehabilitation advice in their consultations.

Harms of exercise training in patients with cancer undergoing systemic treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis of published and unpublished controlled trials

Background

Exercise is recommended for people with cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the harms of exercise in patients with cancer undergoing systemic treatment.

Methods

This systematic review and meta-analysis included published and unpublished controlled trials comparing exercise interventions versus controls in adults with cancer scheduled to undergo systemic treatment. The primary outcomes were adverse events, health-care utilization, and treatment tolerability and response. Eleven electronic databases and trial registries were systematically searched with no date or language restrictions. The latest searches were performed on April 26, 2022. The risk of bias was judged using RoB2 and ROBINS-I, and the certainty of evidence for primary outcomes was assessed using GRADE. Data were statistically synthesised using pre-specified random-effect meta-analyses. The protocol for this study was registered in the PROESPERO database (ID: CRD42021266882).

Findings

129 controlled trials including 12,044 participants were eligible. Primary meta-analyses revealed evidence of a higher risk of some harms, including serious adverse events (risk ratio [95% CI]: 1.87 [1.47-2.39], I2 = 0%, n = 1722, k = 10), thromboses (risk ratio [95% CI]: 1.67 [1.11-2.51], I2 = 0%, n = 934, k = 6), and fractures (risk ratio [95% CI]: 3.07 [3.03-3.11], I2 = 0%, n = 203, k = 2) in intervention versus control. In contrast, we found evidence of a lower risk of fever (risk ratio [95% CI]: 0.69 [0.55-0.87], I2 = 0% n = 1109, k = 7) and a higher relative dose intensity of systemic treatment (difference in means [95% CI]: 1.50% [0.14-2.85], I2 = 0% n = 1110, k = 13) in intervention versus control. For all outcomes, we downgraded the certainty of evidence due to imprecision, risk of bias, and indirectness, resulting in very low certainty of evidence.

Interpretation

The harms of exercise in patients with cancer undergoing systemic treatment are uncertain, and there is currently insufficient data on harms to make evidence-based risk-benefits assessments of the application of structured exercise in this population.

Funding

There was no funding for this study.

Self-managed physical activity in breast cancer survivors: A scoping review

OBJECTIVE

Breast cancer survivors (BCS) experience many issues of rehabilitative concern due to the treatments they have undergone. Given the chronicity of these outcomes, the increasing number of survivors, and the positive results obtained by supervised exercise, professionals should consider offering self-managed physical activity (PA) programs to this population. Our aim was to map the currently available evidence about self-care rehabilitation for BCS.

METHODS

Medline, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases were searched for primary literature. Scoping review methodological frameworks were used to tackle the heterogeneity of the topic. Studies investigating self-managed PA interventions prescribed to adult BCS were included.

RESULTS

One hundred-eight studies were included, with sample sizes ranging from 6 to 692 patients. Information was systematically collected in tables displaying study design, type of PA, duration and recommended frequency, professional leading the study, type of supervision, initial training, strategies used to help patients integrate self-care into their daily lives, and self-managed PA efficacy. Tables were produced for every oncological side effect that BCS might experience: lymphedema, arthralgia, cancer-related fatigue, a decline in physical parameters, treatment-related cardiotoxicity, peripheral neurotoxicity, and a possible decline in the quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-managed PA has the potential to improve BCS oncological issues. Professionals can adopt many strategies to support patients and empower them with long-lasting self-care competencies. This scoping review provided a comprehensive and easy-to-consult overview of self-managed PA interventions for BCS. We also provided recommendations for future primary studies and secondary synthesis.

Effects of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for breast cancer in health care quality improvements. A second systematic review

Background: Traditionally, EB-CPGs have been believed to mainly improve the quality and consistency of health care, but this claim must be conclusively proven. We used the Donabedian three-dimensional model (structure, process, and patient outcomes) to assess improvements in the quality of medical care derived from implementing EB-CPGs. This study corresponds to the second systematic review carried out as a series of studies on different clinical issues that aim to evaluate the effectiveness of the application of the EB-CPG for improving the quality of care. Methods: We followed the methods described by the Cochrane Handbook and presented a descriptive analysis because of the high heterogeneity found across the included studies. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, and EBSCO Host databases, as well as the grey literature, between 1990 and April 2021. No language restrictions were applied. Only randomised clinical trials (RCTs) were selected. Results: Of the total of 364 interventions included in the eleven RCTs evaluated, 11 (3%) were related to healthcare structure, 51 (14%) to the healthcare delivery process and 302 (83%) to patient outcomes. Regarding the impact of using the EB-CPGs, in 303 interventions (83%), there were no significant differences between the control and experimental groups. In 4 interventions (1%), the result favoured the control and intervention groups in 57 of the interventions (16%). Conclusions: Our study showed that EB-CPGs slightly enhanced the quality of health care in the three dimensions described by Donabedian. Future RCTs should improve their design and methodological rigour by considering the certainty of the evidence supporting the EB-CPGs recommendations. In that context, broader analyses could be performed, having more concise hypotheses for further research. Registration: PROSPERO CRD42020205594.

Evaluation of a novel strategy to implement exercise evidence into clinical practice in breast cancer care: protocol for the NEXT-BRCA randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

The burden of breast cancer in Canada is steadily growing. More women are surviving breast cancer, yet, survivors live with side effects for years after treatments have ended. The benefits of exercise for women with breast cancer are well established and include improvement in treatment-related physical and emotional side effects. Despite these benefits, few survivors meet exercise guidelines. Exercise programmes are needed within the cancer institution in Canada to bridge the current knowledge to practice gap. The purpose of this study is to test the effects of a novel implementation strategy that includes institution-based exercise plus self-management (SM) or SM alone versus usual care in improving exercise level, quality of life, aerobic capacity, muscle strength and use of healthcare services over 12 months for women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Participants: Women with stages I-III breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Intervention: Group 1: institution-based exercise and SM (8 exercise sessions plus 8 SM modules); Group 2: SM alone; Group 3: usual care. Outcomes: The primary effectiveness outcome is minutes per week of moderate to vigorous physical activity. Secondary outcomes include quality of life, aerobic capacity, muscle strength, and use of healthcare services. Randomisation: Participants will be randomised (1:1:1) to one of the three groups by a blinded statistician and will be stratified based on age of participant (<40, 40-60, and >60 years). Statistical analysis: Outcomes will be measured at baseline, post-intervention, 6-month and 12-month follow-up using an analysis of covariance to test changes between groups over time adjusted for age.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study addresses a long-standing need to help women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy become and stay more active by implementing novel rehabilitation strategies into real-world practice. This is vital in order for this population to minimise the lingering side effects of treatment, improve function and quality of life and prevent cancer recurrence.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

The study protocol (v1: July 2020) has been registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04109274).

Feasibility and Effectiveness of Implementing a Novel Exercise and Self-Management Programme during Chemotherapy for Women with Breast Cancer: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing a novel exercise and self-management programme for women with breast cancer during chemotherapy. Method: The study used a pilot implementation design with a randomized controlled trial methodology. The 26 participants were adult breast cancer survivors (Stages 1-3) undergoing chemotherapy treatment. The intervention group received eight sessions of individualized, supervised, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, paired with self-management modules in the cancer institution; the comparison group received usual care. The primary outcome assessed was feasibility of the implementation strategies. The secondary outcomes - level of physical activity, quality of life, exercise knowledge and behaviour, and perception of health status - were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 2- and 4-month follow-up. Descriptive statistics were used to measure the feasibility outcomes (recruitment rate, retention rate, adherence rate, and number of adverse events). A repeated-measures analysis of covariance was used to compare the secondary outcomes between the intervention and control groups at various time points. Results: The recruitment rate was 96%, retention rate was 100%, and adherence rate was 89%. No adverse events occurred. A between-groups difference was found for levels of physical activity post-intervention (mean difference = 25.38 points on the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire; 95% CI: 9.34, 41.42). There were no other significant findings. Conclusions: The implementation strategy was feasible. This programme has the potential to improve women's physical activity level during chemotherapy. Further research is needed to determine strategies to help survivors maintain these results over the long term.