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A randomized controlled trial of two mail-based lifestyle interventions for breast cancer survivors

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Abstract

Purpose

Although breast cancer survivors’ lifestyle choices affect their subsequent health, a majority do not engage in healthy behaviors. Because treatment end is a “teachable moment” for potentially altering lifestyle change for breast cancer survivors, we developed and tested two mail-based interventions for women who recently completed primary treatment.

Methods

One hundred seventy-three survivors were randomly assigned to (1) Targeting the Teachable Moment (TTMI, n = 57), (2) Standard Lifestyle Management (SLM, n = 58), or (3) usual care (UC, n = 58) control group. Participants who were assigned to TTMI and SLM received relevant treatment materials biweekly for 4 months. Participants were assessed at baseline (T1, before randomization), post-treatment (T2, 4 months), and follow-up (T3, 7 months). Fruit and vegetable (F/V) intake, fat intake, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were assessed.

Results

Results showed promise for these mail-based interventions for changes in health behaviors: Survivors in TTMI (+.47) and SLM (+.45) reported increased F/V intake, whereas those in UC (−.1) reported decreased F/V intake from T1 to T2. Changes in minutes of MVPA from T1 to T2 were higher in SLM than UC and marginally higher in TTMI than UC. However, these differences were due to decreased MVPA in UC rather than increased MVPA in the intervention groups. There were no group differences regarding fat intake. Survivors reported high satisfaction and preference for mail-based interventions, supporting feasibility.

Conclusions

Mail-based lifestyle interventions for breast cancer survivors may benefit F/V intake and physical activity. Further testing and optimizing of these interventions is warranted.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the National Cancer Institute (5R21CA152129-2).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, 406 Babbidge Rd, Unit 1020, Storrs, CT, 06269-1020, USA

    Crystal L. Park & Dalnim Cho

  2. Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center, Hartford Hospital, 85 Retreat Ave, Hartford, CT, 06106, USA

    Andrew L. Salner & Ellen Dornelas

Authors
  1. Crystal L. Park
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  2. Dalnim Cho
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  4. Ellen Dornelas
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Crystal L. Park.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Conflict of interest

None declared.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Park, C.L., Cho, D., Salner, A.L. et al. A randomized controlled trial of two mail-based lifestyle interventions for breast cancer survivors. Support Care Cancer 24, 3037–3046 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-016-3129-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-016-3129-y

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