The diet, activity and lifestyle (DIAL) study: Risk perception and physical activity in breast cancer survivors

Background: There is growing evidence for physical activity (PA) participation as a risk reducing behavior after breast cancer diagnosis. Accordingly, the American Cancer Society (ACS) has published cancer prevention guidelines that include PA recommendations. It is not known how ACS guidelines factor into PA of breast cancer survivors.;Objectives: To describe 1) type and amount of PA, knowledge of ACS guidelines and 2) relationships of PA amount and knowledge with comparative risk perception for cancer recurrence in a convenience group of breast cancer survivors.;Subject Sample: 46 female breast cancer survivors at least 21 years of age who were not currently undergoing major treatment (chemotherapy or radiation).;Methods: Participants completed a 45-item, self-administered online questionnaire about demographics, personal and family medical history, knowledge, risk perception and PA using the DiAL Yale Physical Activity Questionnaire.;Results: Mean age of the sample was 51.1 years (SD=14.8) and majority were non-Hispanic white (85%). A total of mean 166.6 (SD=70.2) MET-hr/wk was reported for the group; greatest proportion by domain of 70% from work activities, 24% exercise and 6% recreation. A majority of participants (54%) correctly identified the ACS guidelines for physical activity however of those, 17% were meeting the recommendation for recreation activity and 39% for exercise activity. No differences were found in MET-hr/wk based on correct knowledge of ACS guidelines, reporting increased PA as a result of diagnosis or by comparative risk perception. Women who consider themselves to be at higher risk for recurrence compared to other women perceive absolute risk for recurrence as likely or very likely (p<0.0001).;Summary: Based on this sample, knowledge of ACS guidelines and comparative risk perception do not mediate physical activity behavior of breast cancer survivors. A large proportion of time is spent in work related activities unlike activity reported in HEAL, WHEL and LACE breast cancer survivorship studies.