An exercise-aided NRT smoking cessation program with built-in maintenance components enhances post-intervention cessation rates at week 14 but not at weeks 26 and 56.

These findings demonstrate that an acute bout of exercise provides additional craving relief to the nicotine lozenge in recently quit smokers. We recommend smokers who attempt to quit employ both cessation aids simultaneously to maximize reductions in cravings.

B ackground: Cigarette cravings are one of the most often expressed difficulties related to quitting.The effect of acute exercise on craving and withdrawal symptoms during a pharmacological based smoking cessation intervention is unknown. Methods: Participants included female smokers (n = 178) undertaking the Getting Physical on Cigarettes trial -a 14-week exercise-aided nicotine replacement therapy (NRT, i.e. patch) cessation program. They completed the Shiffman-Jarvik scale immediately before and after the first scheduled exercise session during weeks 5, 11, and 13. The first exercise session (week 5) occurred shortly after participants quit smoking (week 4) and began their 21 mg NRT patch dose. The second and third exercise bout coincided soon after participants stepped down their NRT strength to 14 mg (week 11) and 7 mg (week 13), respectively. Results: Significant reductions in cigarette craving were demonstrated following exercise at all three time points (i.e. week 5, 11, and 13). Significant reductions in psychological and sedation withdrawal symptoms were shown at week 5 and 11, but not at week 13. Significant increases in physical symptoms were found at week 5 and 11, but not week 13. No significant change in appetite was evident at any time point. Conclusions: An acute bout of moderate intensity exercise can alleviate cravings as well as psychological and sedation withdrawal symptoms in quitters during a 14-week exercise-aided NRT smoking cessation program. Promoting exercise among women using NRT is recommended.

Introduction-Smoking during pregnancy is common, and quitting at any point during pregnancy can yield benefits to both the fetus and mother. Smoking cessation is typically followed by withdrawal symptoms and a strong desire to smoke, both of which are likely to contribute to relapse. Research has shown that a bout of exercise minimizes cravings and tobacco withdrawal symptoms (TWS) after temporary abstinence in smokers, but these findings have not been replicated in pregnant smokers. This study examined the effect of 20 min of exercise on cravings (primary outcome) and TWS (secondary outcomes) among temporary abstinent, inactive pregnant smokers.Methods-Thirty female smokers (Mean(M) age = 25.7 years, Standard Deviation(SD) = 5.5; M weeks pregnant = 18.2, SD = 5.3; Fagerstrom Test for Cigarette Dependence = 3.3, SD = 2.2; M 9.3 cigarettes/day, SD = 4.7; M hours abstained = 17.2, SD = 2.8) were randomized to 20 min of mild-to-moderate intensity exercise (EC; n = 14) or passive (PC; n = 16) condition. Cravings and TWS were assessed immediately before, during (at 10 min), immediately post, and at 10, 20, and 30 min post-condition.Results-A 2 (condition) × 6 (time) repeated measures ANOVA revealed that the EC significantly (p < 0.05) reduced cravings (ή 2 = 0.46) compared with the PC, across time. Nonsignificant, but nevertheless, large effects were evident favouring the EC over time for TWS ☆ Editorial board for Addictive Behaviors. *Corresponding author at: University of Western Ontario, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Kinesiology, Thames Hall/3M Centre, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 3K7. Tel.: +1 519 661 2111x80173. hprapave@uwo.ca (H. Prapavessis). Contributors HP, GF, PS, MM, and MU conceived the study. SDJ, AC, TH and LF recruited participants and conducted the study in London, ON. MU recruited participants and collected the study in London, England. HP and SDJ ran the statistical analyses and prepared the first draft of the manuscript, which were jointly interpreted and edited by the authors, respectively. All authors contributed to and approved the final version of the manuscript. Conflict of interestMy coauthors and I do not have any personal or financial conflicts of interest related to the research, nor do the authors have other relationships with other people or organizations within three years of beginning the submitted work that could inappropriately influence, or be perceived to influence, this work. CIHR Author ManuscriptCIHR Author Manuscript CIHR Author Manuscript restlessness (ή 2 = 0.34), stress (ή 2 = 0.24), irritability (ή 2 = 0.21), tension (ή 2 = 0.15), and depression (ή 2 = 0.14).Conclusions-Consistent with previous research, this study reveals that in pregnant smokers, a bout of exercise is associated with a reduction in cravings and similar patterns exist for TWS. Therefore, exercise may have the potential to assist in the initial stages of smoking cessation attempts during pregnancy.

Responding to the location of a target is delayed when the target arises at a position previously occupied by a distractor (ignored-repetition trial), relative to when it occurs at a formerly unoccupied location (control trial) [i.e., the spatial negative priming (SNP) effect]. Speculation has held that recently inhibited (distractor) responses resist future execution (i.e., execution resistance [ER]), and thus cause SNP. Evidence for ER has been reported for identity-based tasks using masked prime distractor events. The purpose of this study was to examine the potential impact of ER on response selection in an SNP task for both nonmasked (traditional) and masked primes. We employed a modified SNP task that included nonmasked and masked target-only and distractor-only visual primes (first trial), along with forced choice and free choice probes (second trial). On free choice trials, a selection bias against the prime-distractor-assigned response was evident (same-hand competition, for both nonmasked and masked primes). This selection avoidance was held to reflect ER operating with inhibited prime distractor responses. Further, inhibitory aftereffect patterns were the same for nonmasked and masked distractor primes, and masking target primes transformed a positive to a negative aftereffect, as predicted by the self-inhibition model of mask function set out by Schlaghecken and Eimer (Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 11, 463-468, 2004).

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PurposeExercise is beneficial to quality of life after cancer treatment, yet few cancer survivors meet exercise guidelines. Our study sought to determine the feasibility of an oncology rehabilitation exercise program embedded within a cardiac rehabilitation program.MethodsPatients who rated their fatigue >4/10 after completion of adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer were screened for eligibility and the outcomes were assessed (Piper Fatigue Scale, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast [FACT-B], Edmonton Symptom Assessment System, body composition, stress test, and physical activity measurement [accelerometer]). Participants received individualized exercise prescription. Following the 16-week program, repeat assessment plus patient acceptance and satisfaction survey was completed. The primary end point was the composite of accrual rate >25%, program adherence >80%, and mean compliance with accelerometer use >80%.ResultsTwenty of 24 screened patients consented to the study and completed the baseline assessment. Adherence was 30.3%. Mean accelerometer use was 3.88/7 days (78%). Fatigue at baseline was rated at 4.82/10, and at 3.59 (p = 0.09) after the intervention. Overall well-being (FACT-B) score changed from 92.7 to 98.3 (p = 0.05). There were no significant changes in body composition (except for bone mineral content), aerobic exercise capacity, or activity patterns.ConclusionAlthough the primary outcome was not met, our study indicates that an oncology exercise rehabilitation program can be incorporated into an existing cardiac rehabilitation program. Based on feedback received, we propose that in order to achieve exercise goals, frequent, encouraging, and tailored feedback and group sessions to foster a sense of community may additionally be needed to strengthen adherence to a prescribed exercise program.

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