The breast cancer screening and diagnostic period is associated with heightened symptoms of anxiety and depression. Physical exercise has been found to effectively decrease these symptoms in healthy and diseased populations. This study aims to determine if a pre treatment exercise intervention can minimize symptoms of anxiety and depression in women undergoing screening for breast cancer.
The breast cancer diagnostic process is associated with anxiety and depression. Physical exercise has emerged as an attractive non-pharmacologic approach to mitigating the psychological and physical sequelae of breast cancer and its treatments, however pre treatment interventions are not integrated into current practice. This study aims to determine the effectiveness and feasibility of a pre treatment exercise intervention in attenuating levels of anxiety and depression following breast biopsy and throughout the diagnostic period.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
7
6 weeks of moderate intensity exercise training (50 - 75% of heart rate reserve). Sessions are facility and home based and include cardiovascular warm-up, cardiovascular training, muscular conditioning, and flexibility exercises.
In addition to the 6 week exercise program (refer to Exercise Treatment Group), participants randomly assigned to the Self Management Group will learn strategies for the self management of exercise.
Exercise and Health Psychology Laboratory, Western University
London, Ontario, Canada
Symptoms of anxiety will be assessed using patient reported anxiety inventory
Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - State Form (STAI; Spielberger, Gorsuch, \& Lushene, 1970).
Time frame: Change in baseline (within 1 week of breast biopsy) at Week 3 and at Week 6
Symptoms of subclinical depression will be assessed using a patient reported inventory
Centre for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D; Radloff, 1977).
Time frame: Within 1 week of breast biopsy, Week 3, Week 6
Exercise behaviour will be assessed using a patient reported inventory
Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (Godin \& Shephard, 1985)
Time frame: Within 1 week of breast biopsy, Week 3, Week 6
Body composition: Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry scan (GE Lunar iDXA)
Time frame: Baseline (within 1 week of breast biopsy), Week 6
Self Efficacy: patient reported inventory assessing efficacy for self management of exercise
Time frame: 1 week post breast biopsy, Week 3, Week 6
Optimism: patient reported inventory assessing dispositional optimism
Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R; Scheier, Carver, \& Bridges, 1994).
Time frame: Baseline (within 1 week of core breast biopsy)
Symptoms of dispositional anxiety will be assessed using patient reported anxiety inventory
STAI - Trait Form
Time frame: Within 1 week of breast biopsy
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