1. Prophylactic exercises among head and neck cancer patients during and after swallowing sparing intensity modulated radiation: adherence and exercise performance levels of a 12-week guided home-based program.
- Author
-
Cnossen IC, van Uden-Kraan CF, Witte BI, Aalders YJ, de Goede CJ, de Bree R, Doornaert P, Rietveld DH, Buter J, Langendijk JA, Leemans CR, and Verdonck-de Leeuw IM
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Deglutition Disorders etiology, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Home Care Services, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Treatment Outcome, Deglutition Disorders prevention & control, Exercise Therapy methods, Head and Neck Neoplasms radiotherapy, Patient Compliance statistics & numerical data, Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated adverse effects, Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated methods
- Abstract
The background and purpose of this paper is to investigate adherence, exercise performance levels and associated factors in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients participating in a guided home-based prophylactic exercise program during and after treatment [swallowing sparing intensity modulated radiation therapy (SW-IMRT)]. Fifty patients were included in the study. Adherence was defined as the percentage of patients who kept up exercising; exercise performance level was categorized as low: ≤1, moderate: 1-2, and high: ≥2 time(s) per day, on average. Associations between 6- and 12-week exercise performance levels and age, gender, tumour site and stage, treatment, intervention format (online or booklet), number of coaching sessions, and baseline HNC symptoms (EORTC-QLQ-H&N35) were investigated. Adherence rate at 6 weeks was 70% and decreased to 38% at 12 weeks. In addition, exercise performance levels decreased over time (during 6 weeks: 34% moderate and 26% high; during 12 weeks: 28% moderate and 18% high). The addition of chemotherapy to SW-IMRT [(C)SW-IMRT] significantly deteriorated exercise performance level. Adherence to a guided home-based prophylactic exercise program was high during (C)SW-IMRT, but dropped afterwards. Exercise performance level was negatively affected by chemotherapy in combination with SW-IMRT., Competing Interests: We have full control of all primary data, and we are ready to allow the journal to review data if requested. No competing financial interests exist for either author.
- Published
- 2017
- Full Text
- View/download PDF