Factors Influencing Physical Activity Behaviors in Colorectal Cancer Survivors

• Published in: American journal of health promotion Vol. 30; no. 2; pp. 85 - 92
• Main Authors: Packel, Lora B., Prehn, Angela Witt, Anderson, Cheryl L., Fisher, Paige L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.11.2015
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Attitude to Health; Behavior; Colorectal Neoplasms - therapy; Cross-Sectional Studies; Exercise; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pennsylvania; Survivors; Young Adult; Strategy: behavior change; Target population circumstances: education/income level, geographic location; Manuscript format: research; Outcome measure: behavioral; Colorectal Cancer; Research purpose: relationship testing; Health focus: fitness/physical activity; Cancer Survivorship; Theory of Planned Behavior; Physical Activity; Prevention Research; Setting: state; Target population age: adults, seniors; Exercise; Planning; Study design: nonexperimental; Cancer Survivorship, Physical Activity, Exercise, Theory of Planned Behavior, Colorectal Cancer, Planning, Prevention Research. Manuscript format: research
• ISSN: 0890-1171; 2168-6602; 2168-6602
• DOI: 10.4278/ajhp.140103-QUAN-7

Purpose. To elucidate factors that impact intention (INT) to be active as well as actual physical activity (PA) behavior in colorectal cancer survivors (CRC-S) using the theory of planned behavior (TpB). Planning for PA was explored as a mediator of the INT-behavior relationship. Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy and fatigue were also explored. Design. A cross-sectional quantitative mailed survey was used. Setting. The study was conducted among community-dwelling adults living in Pennsylvania when diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC). Subjects. Subjects comprised 843 CRC-S diagnosed with CRC in Pennsylvania in 2009. Measures. The survey included questions about planning for PA, TpB constructs, medical and social variables, and PA as measured by a modified Godin Leisure Time Questionnaire. Analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the sample. A mediation analysis was used to determine if planning mediated the relationship between INT and actual PA behavior. A stepwise regression was used to determine predictors of INT and PA. Results. Ninety-six CRC-S responded, with 25% meeting PA recommendations for health promotion, suggesting that CRC-S are insufficiently active. Perceived behavioral control (PBC) and social norm (SN) accounted for 43% of the variance in INT, whereas 30% of the variance in PA was explained by PBC and age. Neuropathy negatively impacted PA behavior (p = .008). Both action and coping planning partially mediated the INT-behavior relationship (β = 20.08, p = .007; β = 22.85, p = .001, respectively). Conclusion. Survivors at risk for inactivity are those with low PBC, low SN, and neuropathy, and those who are older.