A review of home-based physical activity interventions for breast cancer survivors

(整期优先)网络出版时间:2023-03-15
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A review of home-based physical activity interventions for breast cancer survivors

NIU,Xiangwang

Zhengzhou Central Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine,Zhengzhou Henan 450000,China

AbstractAsbreastcancer relative survival continues to increase, many breast cancer patients face many issues, includingrecurrenceof cancer and cancer-related side effects that impact several aspects of their quality oflife.With breast cancer patients living longer, there is more of a concern for negative breast cancer outcomes. Althoughphysicalactivityisanaffordableandrelatively convenient way to improve breast cancer outcomes, onlyaboutone-thirdofbreast cancer survivors engage in the recommended level of physical activity. This article reviewsarticlespublishedtodatetoexaminewhetherhome-based physical activity interventions are effective inimprovingphysicalactivityandother outcomes among breast cancer survivors who have completed primary therapyforthediseaseThepresentreviewisbased upon bibliographic searches in PubMed and CINAHL andrelevantsearchterms. ArticlespublishedinEnglishfrom1980 through February 28, 2019 were identified. Atotalof 360 article citations were identified in PubMed and non-duplicates in CINAHL. After screening the abstractsorfulltextsof these articles and reviewing the references of previous review articles, 20 studies that met theeligibilitycriteria. Threeofthestudieswerepre-/post-testtrialsand 17were randomized controlled trials. Home-basedexerciseprogramsareeffectiveinimprovingphysical activity among breast cancer survivors who havecompletedprimarytherapyforthedisease. Home-based exercise programs such as walking programs offer aconvenientandaffordableoptionforwomenwhowish to increase their physical activity and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Keywordsbreast cancer survivors, physical activity, women

  Introduction

Theve-yearrelativebreastcancer survival rate in theUScontinues to increase and is now about 91%[1] .Astherate increases, many breast cancer patients face

manyissues, includingrecurrenceof cancer and cancer- related side effects that impact several aspects of their qualityoflife[2] .  To reduce risk of cancer recurrence,theAmericanInstitutefor Cancer Research also recommendsthatcancer survivors meet physical activity guide- lines (AICR)[3].  Of women diagnosed with breast can- cer, 50–96% experience weight gain during treatment[4] . Thisweightgainafterdiagnosisusually ranges between2.5 and 6.2 kg(5.5 to 13.6 lbs)[5] .  Among breast cancersurvivors (BCSs),physical activity improves physi- calfunctioning, cardiovasculartness, emotionalwell- being, and psychological adjustment, while lowering fa- tigue, depression, and anxiety, and helping to maintain a healthybodyweight[6] Inaddition, studiessuggest thattheimmunologicalstatus of breast cancer patients improvesafterphysicalactivity[7].  However, levels of physicalactivityinthispopulationarelow.

Physical  inactivity  and  excessive  weight  gain  that canoccurfollowingbreastcancertreatment increases theriskofbreastcancer recurrence, other chronic dis- eases, andall-causeandbreast cancer-related mortal- ity[8] Physical inactivity increases the risk of obesity, whichincreasescirculatingestrogenlevelsand mortal- ity.Exercise can lower circulating levels of estrogen and potentiallyreducetumorproliferation. Although physi- calactivity is an affordable and relatively convenient way toimprovebreastcancer outcomes, only about one-third ofbreastcancersurvivorsengageinthe recommended levelof physical activity[9] .

Home-basedexerciseprograms,  including  walking programs, offer a convenient and affordable option for womenwhowishtoincrease their physical activity and maintainahealthylifestyle. This manuscript reviews articlespublishedtodatetoexamine whether home-based physicalactivity interventions are effective in increasing physical activity and improving other outcomes among breastcancersurvivorswhohavecompletedprimary therapy for the disease (adjuvant chemotherapy, radia-

tion, orsurgery).

2 Methods

The present  review  is  based  upon  bibliographic searches in PubMed and CINAHL (CummulativeIn- dextoNursingandAllied Health Literature) and rele- vant search terms.  Articles published in English from 1980 through February 28, 2019 were identified using thefollowingMeSH (MedicalSubjectHeading) search termsandBooleanalgebra commands:   home based AND physical activity AND breast cancer. The follow- ing MeSH search terms and Boolean algebra commands were also used: walking intervention AND breast can- cer. Thesearcheswerenot limited to words appearing in thetitleofanarticlenorto studies in a particular country orgeographicregionofthe world. The references of re- viewarticleswerealso reviewed (Bluethman etal. 2015; Paxtonetal. 2019). Informationobtained from biblio- graphicsearches (titleand topic of article, information inabstract, studydesign, and key words) was used to de- termine whether or not to retain each identified article. OnlystudieswritteninEnglish that examined the impact of breast cancer survivorship care plans on health out- comeswereeligible for inclusion.

3   Results

Atotalof 360  article  citations  were  identified  inPubMed and non-duplicates in CINAHL (Figure 1). Af-ter screening the abstracts or full texts ofthesearticlesandreviewingthereferencesofprevious review articles,wewereleftwith 20 studiesthat met the eligibility crite-ria. Three of the studies were pre-/post-test trials, and 17were randomizedcontrolledtrials.

Pintoetal.[10conducteda 12-weekrandomizedcon- trolled trial of physical activity counseling deliveredvia telephone, combined with weekly exercise tip sheets (Ta- ble1).   Eighty-sixwomenwhohadcompletedther- apyforstage 0-IIbreastcancerwereenrolledinthe trialThe physical activity group reported significantly moretotalminutesof physical activity and more minutes of moderate-intensityphysicalactivitythanthecontrol group (p= 0.001).

Figure1.Flowchartof record selection process

Inaneight-weekpre/post-testtrial of a community

intervention that combined the use of pedometers with scheduling,goal setting, and self-assessment, Wilson et al.[11]   found that the intervention led to significant in-creasesinstepswalkedper day and improved attitude towardexercise, aswell as significant decreases in body mass index and other anthropometric measures. Twenty-fourAfricanAmericanbreast cancer survivors were enrolledinthetrial.

Vallance etal.[12]   conducted a 12-week randomized controlled trial with four arms: i) standard public healthrecommendation for physical activity; ii) breastcancer- specicphysicalactivityprintmaterialsiii) useofa step pedometer; or iv) a combination of print materials anduseofasteppedometer. Physicalactivityincreased by threeminutes/weekinthestandardrecommendation groupcomparedwith 70 minutes/weekin the print mate- rialgroup (p = 0. 117), 89 minutes/week in the pedome- tergroup (p = 0.017), and 87 minutes/week in the com- binedgroup (p = 0.022). For brisk walking, all three in- terventiongroupsreportedsignicantly greater increases thanthe standard recommendation group. The combined groupalsoreportedsignicantlyimprovedquality-of- life(p = 0.003) and reduced fatigue (p = 0.052).

In a 12-week randomizedcontrolledtrialofahome- basedwalkingintervention, Matthewsetal.[13]   found that  intervention  participants  reportedasignicantly greaterincreaseinwalkingforexercisethanthecontrols (p= 0.01). In a 12-week randomized controlled trial of two home-based exercise programs (aerobic exercise, re- sistancetraining), YuenandSword[14] found a significant reductionin fatigue among participants in the aerobic ex- ercise group compared with the resistance exercise group (p = 0.006). In addition, there was a significant improve- mentinthedistancewalkedduringa 6-minute walk test intheresistanceexercisegroup (p = 0.009).

Payneetal.[15]    conducted a randomized controlled trialof a home-based walking program among 20 womenreceivinghormonaltherapy for breast cancer. There wasasignicant improvement in sleep scores in the inter-

vention group comparedwiththecontrolgroup (p = 0.007). Serotonin levels were also significantly differentbetweengroups (p= 0.009).

Table1.Studiesofhome-basedphysical activity interventions for breast cancer survivors

12-weekrandomizedcontrolledtrialofphysical

activitycounselingdelivered via telephone,

combinedwithweeklyexercisetipsheets

Wilsonetal.,

2005

8-weekpre-/ post-test trial of a community        interventionusingpedometerswith scheduling, goalsetting, andself-assessment

Stepswalkedperday, body massindex, and attitudes

24 AfricanAmericanbreast cancersurvivors

Significantincreasesinstepswalkedperday and attitude toward exercise    werereported, as well as significant decreases in body mass index and other anthropometricmeasures

Vallanceetal.,

2007

12-weekrandomizedcontrolledtrialwith 4 arms: standardpublichealthrecommendationfor           physicalactivity; breastcancer-specific physical  activity print materials; a step pedometer; or a      combinationofprintmaterials and step                 pedometers

Self-reported

moderate/vigorousphysical activityminutesperweek.   Secondaryoutcomeswere   quality-of-life, fatigue, self- reportedbrisk walking, and objectivestepcounts

377 women who had               completedtherapyforstageI- IIIabreastcancer

Physicalactivityincreased by 3- minutes/week in the standard                    recommendationgroupcomparedwith70 minutes/week in the print          materialgroup (p=0. 117, 89 minutes/weekinthepedometergroup             (p=0.017), and 87 minutes/weekinthe combined group (p=0.022).  For    briskwalking, allthree intervention groups reported significantly greater   increasesthanthestandardrecommendationgroupThe combined group  alsoreportedsignificantlyimprovedquality-of-life (p=0.003) and reduced fatigue(p=0.052).

Matthewsetal.,

2007

12-weekrandomizedcontrolledtrialofa home- basedwalking intervention

Self-reportedphysicalactivity

36 breast cancer survivors

Intervention participants reported a significantly greater increase in walking forexercise (p=0.01)

Yuen& Sword,

2007

12-weekrandomizedcontrolledtrialoftwohome- basedexerciseprograms(aerobic exercise,             resistancetraining)

Fatigue, functional capacity (6-minutewalktest)

Therewas a significant reduction in fatigue among participants in the        aerobic exercise group (p=0.006).  There was a significant improvement in thedistanceof the 6-minute walk test in the resistance exercise group         (p=0.009)

Fatigue, sleep disturbances,

Payneet al., 2008

Randomizedcontroltrial of a home-based walkingprogram

depressivesymptoms, and biomarkers (cortisol,         serotonin,interleukin-6,

20 women receiving hormonal therapyfor breast cancer

Therewasasignificant improvement in sleep scores in the intervention    groupcomparedwiththecontrolgroup (p=0.007).  Serotonin levels were alsosignificantly different between groups (p=0.009)

bilirubin)

Yangetal., 2010

12-weekrandomizedcontrolledtrialofahome- based walking program

Symptom severityscoreand mooddisturbance

40 breast cancer patients  (stageI-IIIa) receivingan aromataseinhibitor

Womenintheexercisegroupreportedsignificantlylower symptom severity scores (p<0.01) andmooddisturbance(p=0.02)  compared with those in the controlgroup

Kimet al. 2011

12-weekrandomizedcontrolledtrialofahome- basedstage-matched exercise and diet                intervention (telephonecounselinganda            workbook

Stage ofmotivational          readinessforexercise and   diet, physical activity, diet  quality, quality-of-life,        fatigue, anxiety, depression

45 breast cancer survivors, stage 0-III

Theinterventiongroupshowedsignificantly greater improvement in            motivationalreadinessforexercise (p<0.006) and diet (p<0.001), emotional functioning (p=004), fatigue (p=0.001), and depression (p=0.035)

Hatchettetal.,

2013

12-weekrandomizedcontrolledtrialofanemail physicalactivityintervention

Self-reportedphysicalactivity

74 breast cancer survivors

Significantdifferencesinlevelsofphysicalactivitywereobservedbetween groupsat 6 (p=0.001) and 12 weeks (p<0.001)

Spectoret al.,

2014

Pre-/post-testtrial of a home-based aerobic and   resistance training exercise intervention               (motivationalinterviewing and weekly telephone calls)

Self-reportedandobjectively assessedphysicalactivity,     quality-of-life, andfatigue

17 African Americanwomen whohadcompleted therapy   forstage 0-IIIa breast cancer, whowerecurrently sedentary

Therewasasignificantincreaseintotalminutesofweeklyphysicalactivity (p=0.001).  Total quality-of-life and fatigue scores improved, but neither     wassignificant.

Denysschenetal.,

2014

8-weekpre-/ post-test trial of a home-based       exerciseprogram (resistanceexercisesandself- selectedaerobicexercise)

Anthropometry and functional performanceand                      cardiovascularendurance(3-  minute step test)

26 breast cancer patients

receivinganaromatase

inhibitor

Participantsreportedasignificantlylowernumberof painful joints, and       improvedquality-of-life (p<0.05).  Significant improvements in grip             strength (p<0.01), bicepscurl (p<0.01), and sit-to-stand were also observed. Therewerenosignificantdifferencesinanthropometricmeasuresor            cardiovascularendurance.

Baruthetal.,

2015

12-weekrandomizedcontrolledtrialofahome- based walking program

Self-reportedfatigue, quality- of-life, andwalking

32 womenwhowereearly    stagebreastcancersurvivors

Participantsintheinterventiongrouphadimprovementsinfatigueand qualityoflifeoutcomes. Changes in fatigue and quality of life were    associatedwithchangesin walking behavior

Total, leisure and vigorous physical activity significantly increased in the

Physicalactivity (primary

interventiongroupcomparedtousualcaregroup (p= 0.24, p=0.01, and

Lahart et al., 2016

6-month randomized controlled trial of a physical activityintervention (face-to-face and telephone   physical activity counseling)

outcome) andbodymass,      bodymassindex, body fat ,   health-related quality-of-life,

80 post-adjuvant therapy

breastcancer patients

p=0.007, respectively).  Both body mass and body mass index decreased   significantlyintheintervention group compared to usual care group          (p=0.04 and p=0.02, respectively).  Total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol

insulinresistance, and lipids

decreasedsignificantlyinthe intervention group compared to usual care

group (p=0.001 andp=0.23, respectively).

Knobfetal., 2016

12-monthrandomizedcontrolledtrial of a             aerobic-resistance exercise intervention compared toa home-based physical activity intervention

Bonemineraldensity and     biomarkersofboneturnover

154 early postmenopausal breast cancer survivors

Nosignificant difference in bone mineral density was observed between the two groups

Nyropetal., 2017

6-week randomized controlled trial of a home- based walking program

Self-reportedjointsymptoms and psychosocialmeasures

62 post-menopausal women   diagnosedwith stage 0-III      breastcancer, with aromatase inhibitor-associatedarthralgia

Interventiongroupparticipantsreported significantly increased walking   minutesperweek, reducedstiffness, less difficulty with activities of daily living, and less perceived helplessness in managing joint symptoms

3-arm, 6-month randomized controlled trial of a

Valleetal., 2017

physicalactivityintervention(activity tracker and tailored feedback based on objective weight;

Changeinweight

35 AfricanAmericanbreast  cancersurvivors, stageI-IIIa

Medianweightchangewas -0.9 intheintervention group that included activity trackers vs. 0.2% gain in the control group

tailoredfeedbackalone; or control)

48-week multi-center randomized controlled trial

Westphaletal.,

2018

ofcounselingand unsupervised exercise training vs. supervised physical training (24 weeks)         followedbyunsupervisedtraining (additional24 weeks). The supervised training was comprised  of 45 minutes of stationary cycling and 30

Maximumpower output on a cycleergometerafter 24        weeksofexercise

42 early-stage breast cancer patientsreceiving aromatase inhibitortreatment

After 24 weeks, the supervised arm achieved a significantly higher               maximumoutputinwatt (mean 132 +/- SD 34, 95% CI 117- 147) compared tobaseline 107  +/-25, 95% CI 97- 117, p=0.012) with a higher output than theunsupervised arm (115 +/- 25, 95% CI 105- 125, P=0.059).

minutesofresistancetraining twice a week.

Randomizedcontrolledtrial of a home-based

Hirscheyetal.,

2018

physicalactivityintervention (a booklet about    physicalactivityfor breast cancer survivors, that included narrative messages and writing and

Multidimensionalexercise outcomemeasure

60 breast cancer survivors, stage Ia-IIb

Subjectiveexercise (weeklyminutes) increased 2 minutes, and objective exerciseincreasedby 970 steps, every 4 weeks in the intervention group comparedtothecontrolgroup (p=0.2676 and p=0.0283, respectively)

thinkingexercises)

Vegetableconsumption,

Bailetal., 2018

12-monthrandomizedcontrolledtrialof a home- basedmentoredvegetablegardening intervention

physicalactivity, performance andfunction,                           anthropometrics, biomarkers,

82 breastcancersurvivors, stage 0-III

Comparedwiththecontrols, interventionparticipants reported significantly greaterimprovementsinmoderatephysicalactivityanddemonstrated          improvementsinthe 2-minutesteptestandarm curl (p-values<0.05).

quality-of-life

Lahart et al., 2018

6-month randomized controlled trial of a home- basedphysical activity intervention

Cardiorespiratoryfitnessand physicalactivity

32 breast cancer survivors     whohadcompleted adjuvant therapy

Magnitude-basedinferenceanalysesrevealedatleastsmallbeneficialeffects onabsoluteandrelativeV̇O2 max (cardiorespiratoryfitness), andtotaland   moderatephysicalactivityin the intervention compared to the usual care      group.

Yang etal.[16conducted a 12-week randomized con-trolled trial of a home-based walking program among 40breastcancerpatientswho were receiving an aromatase inhibitor.   Womenintheexercisegroupreportedsig- nificantly lower symptom severityscores (p<0.01) and mooddisturbance (p = 0.02) compared with those in thecontrolgroup.

Ina 12-week randomized controlled trial of a home- basedstage-matched,  exercise  and  diet  intervention (telephonecounselingandaworkbook), Kimetal.[17]foundthatthe intervention group showed significantly greaterimprovementinemotionalfunctioning(p = 0.04), andmotivationalreadinessforexercise (p<0.006) and dieting (p<0.001), and reduced fatigue (p = 0.001) and depression (p =0.035) than the controls.

In a 12-week randomized controlled trial of an email physicalactivityinterventionHatchettetal.[18]     ob-served signicantlyhigherlevelsofphysicalactivityin the intervention group at six (p = 0.001) and 12 weeks (p<0.001) comparedto the controls.

Spectoret al.[19]   conducted a pre/post-test trial of a home-basedaerobicandresistancetraining exercise in- tervention. Theinterventionincludedmotivationalinter- viewing and weekly telephone calls. Theyfoundasig- nicantincrease in total minutes of weekly physical ac- tivity (p = 0.001). Total quality-of-life and fatigue scores improved, but neither improvement was statistically sig- nicant.

Denysschen  etal.[20]         conducted  an  eight-week pre/post-testtrialofa  home-based  exercise  program(resistanceexercises and self-selected aerobic exercise)among 26breast cancer patients who were receiving anaromataseinhibitor.  The participants reported a signif- icantlylowernumberofpainfuljointsandsignicantly improvedquality-of-life(p<0.05). Signicantimprove- mentsingripstrength (p<0.01), bicepscurl (p<0.01),and sit-to-stand were also observed. There were no sig-nificant differences in anthropometric measures or car-diovascularendurance.

In a 12-week randomizedcontrolledtrialofahome- based

walking program among 32 early-stage breast can- cer survivors, Baruth etal.[21found that participantsin theinterventiongrouphadreducedfatigueandimprove- ment in other quality of life outcomes.

Lahartetal.[22]       conductedasix-monthrandom- izedcontrolledtrialofaphysicalactivityintervention (face-to-face and telephone physical activity counseling)among 80 breast cancer survivors.  Total, leisure, andvigorousphysicalactivityincreasedintheintervention group compared to the usual care group (p = 0.24, p = 0.01, and p = 0.007, respectively). Both body mass and bodymassindexdecreasedsignicantly in the interven- tiongroupcomparedtotheusualcare group (p = 0.04 and p = 0.02, respectively). In addition, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol decreased significantly in the inter- ventiongroup (p = 0.001) but not in the usual care group(p = 0.23).

Knobfetal.[23] conducted a  12-month randomized controlledtrialofanaerobic-resistanceexerciseinter- ventioncomparedtoahome-basedphysicalactivityin- terventionamong 154 early postmenopausal breast can- cer survivors. Theoutcomesofinterestwerebonemin- eral density and biomarkers ofboneturnoverNosig- nicantdifferenceinbonemineral density was observed between the two groups.

Nyropet al.[24]        conducted  a  six-week  random- ized controlledtrialofahome-basedwalkingprogram among 62 post-menopausalbreastcancerpatientswith aromatase inhibitor-associatedarthralgia.   Intervention groupparticipantsreportedsignicantlyincreasedwalk- ing minutes per week, reducedstiffness, lessdifculty withactivitiesofdailyliving, andlessperceivedhelp- lessness in managing joint symptomscomparedtothe controls.

Valleetal.[25]   conductedatwo-arm, six-monthran- domizedcontrolledtrialofaphysicalactivityinterven- tion (activity tracker and tailored feedback based on ob- jective weight; tailored feedback alone; orcontrol). The outcomeofinterestwaschangeinweightThirty-five AfricanAmericanbreastcancersurvivorsparticipatedin thetrial. Medianweightchangewas -0.9

% in the inter- ventiongroupthatincludedactivitytrackersvs.  0.2% gain in the controlgroup.

Westphaletal.[26]conducted a 48-week, multi-center,randomized controlled trialofcounselingandunsuper- visedexercisetrainingvs.   supervisedphysicaltrain-ing (24 weeks) followedbyunsupervisedtraining (addi-tional 24weeks). The supervised training was comprisedof 45 minutes of stationary cycling and 30 minutes of re-sistancetrainingtwiceaweek. After 24 weeks, thesu-pervised arm achievedasignicantlyhighermaximumoutputinwatt (132 34, 95% CI:117- 147) comparedtobaseline 107 25, 95% CI: 97- 117, p= 0.012).  Inaddition, output washigherinthesupervisedarm (11525, 95% CI: 105- 125, p = 0.059) than in the unsuper-visedarm.

Hirscheyetal.[27conductedarandomizedcontrolled trialofahome-basedphysicalactivityintervention (a bookletaboutphysicalactivityforbreastcancersur- vivors, thatincludednarrativemessagesand writing andthinking exercises) among 60 breast cancer survivors. Subjective exercise (weekly minutes) increased by two minutes, andobjectiveexercise increased by 970 steps every four weeksintheinterventiongroupcomparedto thecontrolgroup (p = 0.2676 andp = 0.0283, respec- tively).

Bailetal.[28conducted a 12-month randomized con- trolledtrialofahome-basedmentoredvegetablegar-dening intervention among 82 breastcancersurvivors.Compared with the controls, intervention participants re-ported significantly greater improvementsinmoderate physicalactivityanddemonstratedimprovementsinthetwo-minutesteptestandarmcurl (p< 0.05).

Lahartetal.[29]       conductedasix-monthrandom- izedcontrolledtrialofahome-basedphysicalactiv- ityinterventioninvolving 32 breastcancersurvivors. Magnitude-based  inference  analyses revealed  at  least smallbenecialeffectsonabsoluteandrelativeVO˙2 max  (cardiorespiratorytness),  andtotalandmoder- atephysicalactivityintheinterventioncomparedto the usualcare group.

4    Discussion

Theresultsofthissystematicliteraturereview indicate thathome-basedexerciseprograms are effective in im-

provingphysicalactivityamong breast cancer survivors whohavecompletedprimarytherapyfor the disease. A varietyofoutcomeswereassessedin the trials, including self-reportedminutesofphysicalactivity, stepswalked perday, functional capacity, cardiovascular endurance, bodymassindex, weight, sleep scores, quality-of-life, andattitudestowardphysicalactivity.In the one trial that assessedbonemineraldensity as an outcome[6] , no sig- nicant difference was observed between the two groups. Avarietyofinterventionstrategieshavebeentestedin trialsofhome-based exercise programs, including aero- bicandresistanceexercisetraining, walkingprograms, printmaterials,telephone counseling, and gardening. A majorityofthe outcomes measured in the trials using one ormoreoftheintervention strategies demonstrated posi- tivechangein the intervention groups compared to the controls.   Thesestudiesyieldedencouraginginforma- tionandreectedthe acceptance of innovative methods ofphysicalactivityinterventionsby breast cancer sur- vivors.

Threestudiesof the effectiveness of home-based exer- ciseprogramsfocusedon African American breast can- cersurvivors[11,19,25] .  The results of these studies indi- catedthathome-based exercise programs are effective in increasingphysical activity and reducing weight amongAfricanAmericanbreastcancersurvivors.

Fourstudiesof the effectiveness of home-based exer- ciseprogramsfocused on women receiving aromatase inhibitortherapyforbreastcancer[20,24,26] .  The results ofthesestudiesindicatedthathome-based exercise pro- gramsareeffective in reducing joint pain and increasing mobilityamongwomenreceiving this therapy.

TwoRCTs focused on using an email physical activity interventionamongbreastcancer survivors[17,18] .  Both studieswereeffectiveusingemail,showing improve- mentwithmotivationreadiness for exercise, diet, emo- tionalfunctioning,depression and significant differences inphysicalactivity.

Fourstudiesonthe effectiveness of home-based walk- inginterventionsfocusedonbreast cancer survivors,

withoneofthe groups in each study receiving hormonal therapy[1315,21] . These studies demonstrated that home- basedwalkinginterventionsare effective in increasing walking for exercise, reducing fatigue, and improving quality of life.  Those receiving hormonal therapyre- portedimprovementinsleep scores and increased sero- toninlevels.

With respect to limitations,  outcomes,  intervention strategies, and tests varied among the studies.  Caution isthereforerequiredin comparing results across studies. Inaddition, our literature review may not have captured allrelevantstudies.

Insummary, home-based exercise programs are effec- tivein improving physical activity among breast cancer survivorswho have completed primary therapy for the disease.  This includes women who are receiving aro- mataseinhibitortherapyforbreast cancer. Home-based exercise programs,  such as walking programs offera convenientandaffordableoptionforwomen who wish toincreasetheirphysicalactivityandmaintaina healthy lifestyle.

Conflictofinterest

The authors declare they have no conflicts of interest.

Ethicalapproval

Thisarticledoesnotcontainany studies with human participantsperformed by any of the authors.

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