Activity Tracker to Prescribe Various Exercise Intensities in Breast Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Purpose: To prescribe different physical activity (PA) intensities using activity trackers to increase PA, reduce sedentary time, and improve health outcomes among breast cancer survivors. The maintenance effect of the interventions on study outcomes was also assessed. Methods: The Breast Cancer and Physical Activity Level pilot trial randomized 45 breast cancer survivors to a home-based, 12-wk lower (300 min•wk−1 at 40%-59% of HR reserve) or higherintensity PA (150 min•wk−1 at 60%-80% of HR reserve), or no PA intervention/control. Both intervention groups received Polar A360® activity trackers. Study outcomes assessed at baseline, 12 and 24 wk included PA and sedentary time (ActiGraph GT3X+), health-related fitness (e.g., body composition, cardiopulmonary fitness/VO2max), and patient-reported outcomes (e.g., quality of life). Intention-to-treat analyses were conducted using linear mixed models and adjusted for baseline outcomes. Results: Increases in moderate-vigorous intensity PA (least squares adjusted group difference [LSAGD], 0.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.1-1.0) and decreases in sedentary time (LSAGD, −1.2; 95% CI, −2.2 to −0.2) were significantly greater in the lowerintensity PA group versus control at 12 wk. Increases in VO2max at 12 wk in both interventions groups were significantly greater than changes in the control group (lower-intensity PA group LSAGD, 4.2; 95% CI, 0.5-8.0 mL•kg−1•min−1; higher-intensity PA group LSAGD, 5.4; 95% CI, 1.7-9.1mL•kg−1•min−1). Changes in PA and VO2max remained at 24wk, but differences between the intervention and control groups were no longer statistically significant. Conclusions: Increases in PA time and cardiopulmonary fitness/VO2max can be achieved with both lower-and higher-intensity PA interventions in breast cancer survivors. Reductions in sedentary time were also noted in the lower-intensity PA group.

Effects of the ACTIVity And TEchnology (ACTIVATE) intervention on health‐related quality of life and fatigue outcomes in breast cancer survivors

“…No statistically significant effects on HRQoL (using the FACT scales) were observed at either 12‐ or 24‐week follow‐up. Finally, McNeil and colleagues randomized 45 breast cancer survivors to a home‐based exercise program that included a Polar A360(R) activity tracker combined with goal‐setting and follow‐up phone calls . Similar to our results, participants reported increases in MVPA and reduced sedentary time, but no changes in both generic (SF‐12) or disease‐specific (using the FACT scales) HRQoL.…”

“…Few randomized controlled trials examining distance‐based approaches to promoting physical activity in cancer survivors have used wearable activity trackers . Only a few studies testing wearables have reported patient reported outcomes such as HRQoL and fatigue . For example, in one randomized trial of African American breast cancer survivors (N = 35), survivors were randomized to either a FitBit device combined with access to a web‐based health platform (SparkPeople) group, or a waitlist control group.…”

“…Interventions with cancer survivors using wearable technology have focused on behavior change outcomes, yet few have reported mobile health (mHealth) interventions effects on cancer‐related outcomes. The primary aim of this paper was to report the ACTIVATE Trial effects on patient‐reported outcomes including HRQoL and fatigue.…”

Opportunities of Wearable Technology to Increase Physical Activity in Individuals with Chronic Disease: An Editorial

“…Current research suggests that fitness watches can increase PA and could, theoretically, be used in combination with other medical recommendations to improve health parameters in those with chronic disease. For example, activity monitors (or fitness watches), in combination with other lifestyle interventions, appear to be successful at increasing PA in obese men and women [11], depressed and alcohol-dependent women [12], and breast cancer survivors [13]. In one study, authors examined the ability of a fitness watch to increase moderate to vigorous PA in overweight/obese adults over six weeks, while also examining if the addition of encouraging/reminder text messages (SMS) to a participant’s cell phone would further influence PA.…”

Reply to a letter to the editor referencing “Breast cancer survivors’ perspectives on a home-based physical activity intervention utilizing wearable technology”

“…Kajiwara et al [1] highlight the importance of assessing participant acceptance of wearable technology. In the Breast Cancer and Physical Activity Level (BC-PAL) pilot trial, acceptance or wear time of the activity tracker was not directly assessed [2]. However, the participants' perspectives of wearable technology were expressed in the semi-structured interviews, as presented by Kokts-Porietis et al [3].…”