The Effects Of Home-based Aerobic Exercise On Breast Cancer Patients With Cancer-related Fatigue In Outpatient Clinic Receiving Chemotherapy

Background: The incidence of cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy is very high, and the cancer-related fatigue influence the quality of life seriously. In the west,research designed to test the effects of home-baed aerobic exercise suggest it is an effective intervention on breasr cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in outpatient clinic. To some degree, home-based aerobic exercise can improve the cancer-related fatigue and quality of life. While, it lack of such researches in China.Purpose: To explore the effects of 8-weeks home-based aerobic exercise on cancer-related fatigue and quality of life in breast caner patients receiving chemotherapy in outpatient clinic.Method: A quasi-experimental study was used in the study. Sixty-four breast caner patients receiving chemotherapy in outpatient clinic were assigned to study group(n=32) or control group(n=32) conveniently. The patients in the study group received regular nursing care plus 8 weeks home-based aerobic exercise intervention, while the patients in the control group only received regualr nursing care. The content of the intervention consists of the knowledge of cancer-related fatigue, the personal home-based aerobic exercise plan, aerobic exercise diary, telephone follow up and consultation in outpatient clinic.Results: Sixty-one patients were followed 8 weeks after intervention. After the first circle of chemotherapy, RPFS score of all the participates was 4.25±1.36, it represents moderate fatigue. FACT-B score was 92.97±10.36. After the 8 weeks intervention, the compliance rate is 70.97% in the study group. The score of RPFS of the study group was significantly lower than control group(P=0.026), but the the differences of FACT-B scores between intervention and control group were nonsignificant(p=0.072). The changes of the RPFS scores(p=0.383) and FACT-B scores(p=0.286) were nonsignificant in the study group, while the score of RPFS (p=0.000)increased significantly and the score of FACT-B(p=0.000) decreased significantly in the control group. control group,the aerobic exercise intervention could relieve the cancer-related fatigue level in the study group, but more researchs are needed to explore the effect of home-based aerobic exercise to quality of life.