Korstjens, I., Mesters, I., van der Peet, E., Gijsen, B., & van den Borne, B. (2006). Quality of life of cancer survivors after physical and psychosocial rehabiliation. European Journal of Cancer Prevention, 15(6), 541–547.

This 12-week physical fitness and psychoeducational rehabilitation program was conducted to enhance quality of life and recovery among cancer survivors of all types of cancer. Its physical fitness component was aimed at improving movement skills, strength, and endurance; helping participants cope with physical complaints (e.g., fatigue); and enhancing feelings of control and stress reduction. Its psychoeducational component was aimed at providing support in coping with cancer and enhancing self-confidence and autonomy.

 The intervention had three components.  

1. A physical fitness program involving two hours of training twice weekly with guidance from two expert physiotherapists. Each session consisted of

• One hour of individual training for endurance and strength or one hour of group sports and games
• 30 minutes of aqua-aerobics in an indoor pool.

2. A psychoeducational program consisting of seven two-hour sessions aimed at providing support in coping with cancer and enhancing self-confidence and autonomy.

3. Information on cancer-related subjects.

Subjective measures were completed prior to the intervention, 6 weeks into the intervention, and at 12 weeks at the intervention's end. 

• The number of enrolled participants was 665. Of the enrolled participants, 658 initiated the program, 634 completed 6 weeks of the program, and 579 completed the program's full 12 weeks. 
• The average age of the participants was 50.6 ± 9.5 years, with a range of 18–75 years.
• 54% of the participants had breast cancer. Other cancers included were lymphoma, digestive tract, gynecologic, and lung cancer.
• 77.8% of the participants were female and 21% were male. Gender was unknown for 1.2% of the participants. 
• The average time since diagnosis was 2.1 years, with a range of 0–25 years.
• The average time since end of treatment was 1.3 years, with a range 0–14 years.

This was a single-site study. 

This was a prospective trial. 

The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) was used to measured global and functional quality of life using 6 subscales (global, physical, role, cognitive, emotional, social functioning) and one symptom scale on fatigue. Scores range from 0–100, with higher scores indicating higher quality of life for the global and functional scales. Higher symptom scores indicate greater fatigue.

The Tampa Kinesophobia Scale was used to measure excessive, irrational and debilitating fear of physical movement and activity resulting from a feeling of vulnerability to painful injury or re-injury. Two subscales were used to measure avoidance of activities (7 items) and pathologic somatic focus (4 items).

As measured by two items on the EORTC QLQ–C30, cognitive function improved at 12 weeks, but not at 6 weeks. There were significant improvements for all quality-of-life domains and fatigue for all cancer patients after 12 weeks (p < 0.05).

The authors suggest that exercise may improve cognitive functioning as well as other quality-of-life domains.

• Although subjective cognitive function improved over 12 weeks, this finding was not confirmed by objective cognitive-specific measures.
• A wide range of ages was included in the sample, but no age breakdown was recorded for the two cohorts; ge-related changes in cognitive function may influence the results between the two cohorts.
• The authors were unable to determine whether changes in quality of life were a result of the exercise versus the psychoeducational intervention or the combination of both.
• There was no control group as a comparison.