Protocol for Moving On: a randomized controlled trial to increase outcome expectations and exercise among breast cancer survivors

Abstract

AimThe aim of this study was to test the feasibility and fidelity of an intervention, Moving On, aimed to increase outcome expectations OEs (i.e. what one expects to obtain or avoid as a result of a behaviour) and exercise among breast cancer survivors.DesignRandomized controlled trialMethodsIntervention arm participants will be given a theory‐guided booklet that was co‐created by the research team and three physically active breast cancer survivors who exercise to manage late and long‐term treatment effects. Attention control arm participants will be given a similar booklet focused on diet. Participants will have 1 week to complete reading, writing and reflecting activities in the booklets. Study outcomes will be measured through online surveys; exercise will also be measured objectively with a Fitbit®. Four weeks postintervention, participants’ thoughts about the usefulness, strengths and weakness of the intervention booklet will be assessed. OEs and exercise will be measured at baseline, 4‐, 8‐ and 12‐week postintervention.

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

“…Currently, there are an increasing number of methods papers describing randomized controlled trials examining the role of wearable activity trackers in the cancer context that indicate an uptake in research in this area . Future interventions examining wearable activity trackers should report not only behavioral outcomes (eg, physical activity, sedentary time), but clinical (eg, body mass index, cardiorespiratory fitness) and patient reported (eg, HRQoL, fatigue, depression) outcomes as well.…”

A randomized phase II trial of MOVING ON: An intervention to increase exercise outcome expectations among breast cancer survivors

“…The Fitbit® was worn for 2 weeks, prior to receipt of intervention materials, to establish baseline exercise. Participants were mailed a MOVING ON intervention or attention control booklet, 22 and were instructed to complete it within 1 week. A research assistant logged into Fitbit® accounts to retrieve objective exercise data at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 weeks postintervention.…”

“…The intervention is described in detail elsewhere. 22 Briefly, it consisted of a booklet containing narrative messages and writing and thinking activities to increase OE accessibility, certainty, and importance. The booklet provided a global overview of potential positive exercise outcomes for cancer survivors.…”

“…The theoretical framework guiding this study is detailed elsewhere. 22 This framework is based on evidence that exercise increases when breast cancer survivors (1) believe they can perform exercise (ie, have high exercise self-efficacy) and (2) expect desired outcomes will ensue 10,18,19,23 (ie, have high exercise OEs). 10,24 There are several dimensions of OEs including accessibility, certainty, and importance.…”

What Do Breast Cancer Survivors Expect From Exercise?

“…6 OEs refer to what one expects to obtain or avoid by engaging in a behavior. 7 This study is guided by a theoretical framework that details three dimensions of OEs 8 . OE dimensions include certainty (i.e.…”