Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2018 Aug 16;52(9):798-808.
doi: 10.1093/abm/kax055.

Mechanisms of Physical Activity Behavior Change for Prostate Cancer Survivors: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Mechanisms of Physical Activity Behavior Change for Prostate Cancer Survivors: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Melinda J Craike et al. Ann Behav Med. .

Abstract

Background: Exercise is beneficial for prostate cancer survivors. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of physical activity (PA) behavior change is imperative.

Purpose: The ENGAGE study was an exercise intervention for prostate cancer survivors, which improved vigorous physical activity (VPA) at postintervention and follow-up. The purpose of this study was to assess (a) whether the intervention improved social cognitive determinants of behavior and (b) the extent to which social cognitive determinants mediated the effect of the exercise intervention on VPA.

Methods: Overall, 147 men consented to be involved in the study (intervention = 54, usual care = 93). Data from baseline, postintervention (12 weeks) and follow-up (6 months) were used in this analysis. Social cognitive determinants were measured using appropriate measures. VPA was measured using an adapted version of the Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire.

Results: Compared with the control condition, men in the intervention condition had higher task self-efficacy postintervention (+16.23; 95% confidence interval [CI] +9.19 to +23.31; effect size [d] = 0.85, p < .001) and at follow-up (+12.58; 95% CI = +4.45 to +20.71, d = 0.50, p = .002). Task self-efficacy partially mediated the effect of the exercise intervention on VPA (indirect effect: B = 19.90; 95% CI 1.56 to 38.25, p = .033).

Conclusion: The intervention improved the belief among prostate cancer survivors that they could perform challenging exercises for longer periods of time, which partially explained the positive effect of the intervention on VPA.

Australia and new zealand clinical trials registration: ACTRN12610000609055.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Path model testing follow-up task self-efficacy as a mediator of the effects of the exercise intervention on follow-up vigorous physical activity (VPA). Model adjusted for baseline value of task self-efficacy and baseline VPA. Parentheses indicate the path from the exercise intervention to follow-up VPA without task self-efficacy in the model

References

    1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Cancer in Australia: An Overview 2014. Canberra: AIHW; 2014: 1–220.
    1. Vanagas G, Mickeviciene A, Ulys A. Does quality of life of prostate cancer patients differ by stage and treatment?Scand J Public Health. 2013;41(1):58–64. - PubMed
    1. Chipperfield K, Fletcher J, Millar J, et al. . Predictors of depression, anxiety and quality of life in patients with prostate cancer receiving androgen deprivation therapy. Psychooncology. 2013;22(10):2169–2176. - PubMed
    1. Keogh JW, MacLeod RD. Body composition, physical fitness, functional performance, quality of life, and fatigue benefits of exercise for prostate cancer patients: A systematic review. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2012; 43(1):96–110. - PubMed
    1. Baumann FT, Zopf EM, Bloch W. Clinical exercise interventions in prostate cancer patients—a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Support Care Cancer. 2012;20(2):221–233. - PubMed

Publication types