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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2016 Jan:46:106-113.
doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2015.12.005. Epub 2015 Dec 4.

The feasibility and acceptability of a diet and exercise trial in overweight and obese black breast cancer survivors: The Stepping STONE study

Vanessa B Sheppard  1 , Jennifer Hicks  2 , Kepher Makambi  3 , Alejandra Hurtado-de-Mendoza  4 , Wendy Demark-Wahnefried  5 , Lucile Adams-Campbell  2
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

The feasibility and acceptability of a diet and exercise trial in overweight and obese black breast cancer survivors: The Stepping STONE study

Vanessa B Sheppard et al. Contemp Clin Trials. 2016 Jan.

Abstract

Purpose: Black breast cancer survivors have high rates of obesity and low physical activity levels. Little is known about the acceptability and feasibility of interventions in this population.

Objective: A two-arm RCT was launched to assess the efficacy of a culturally targeted 12-week multimodal lifestyle intervention in overweight and obese black survivors.

Methods: Intervention components included nutrition education, exercise groups, and survivor-led motivational interviewing phone sessions. The analytic sample included women who completed the trial (intervention n=10; control n=12). Anthropometric measures, physical activity, and VO2max were assessed at baseline and follow-up. Change scores (intervention vs. control) were assessed with Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. A process evaluation assessed intervention acceptability.

Results: Overall adherence was 70% and overall satisfaction was high (86%). Despite the 5% weight loss target, the intervention group lost 0.8% but BMI improved. Total physical activity levels increased in the intervention vs. control arm (+3501METmin/week vs. +965METmin/week, respectively). VO2max improved in the intervention group (+0.10±1.03kg/L/min). Intervention participants reduced energy intake (-207.3±31.5kcals) and showed improvements in fat intake (-15.5±3.8g), fiber (+3.2±1.2g) and % energy from fat (-4.8±3.1%). Survivors suggested providing diet/exercise information within a cancer context.

Conclusions: Group and individualized intervention strategies are acceptable to black survivors. Observed differences between self-report and objective outcomes may suggest reporting bias or changes in body composition. Increasing supervised intervention components and assessment of body composition will be important for future trials.

Keywords: African American; Black; Breast cancer; Physical activity; Survivors.

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Conflict of interest statement

Vanessa B. Sheppard, Ph.D., Jennifer Hicks, MS, Kepher Makambi, Ph.D., Alejandra Hurtado-de-Mendoza, Ph.D., Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, Ph.D., R.D., and Lucile Adams-Campbell, Ph.D. declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Consort diagram.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Mean satisfaction ratings scores of study interventionists.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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