Abstract | BACKGROUND: Participation in an exercise trial is a major commitment for cancer survivors, but few exercise trials have evaluated patient satisfaction with trial participation. PURPOSE: To examine patient satisfaction with participation in the Healthy Exercise for Lymphoma Patients (HELP) Trial and to explore possible determinants. METHODS: The HELP Trial randomized 122 lymphoma patients to 12 weeks of supervised aerobic exercise training ( AET; n = 60) or to usual care (UC; n = 62), with the option of participating in a 4-week posttrial exercise program. At the 6-month follow-up assessment, participants evaluated their overall trial satisfaction. RESULTS: Personal satisfaction with trial participation was strongly influenced by group assignment with participants randomized to AET reporting participation to be more rewarding (p < 0.001) and personally useful (p < 0.001) than participants randomized to UC. UC participants who completed the optional 4-week posttrial exercise program reported participation to be more rewarding (p = 0.008) and personally useful (p < 0.001) than UC participants who declined the program. LIMITATIONS: The study is limited by the lack of a validated measure of participant satisfaction, and the fact that the offer of participation in the posttrial exercise program to the UC group was not randomized. CONCLUSIONS:
Lymphoma patients randomized to UC viewed it as less rewarding and personally useful despite being offered a 4-week posttrial exercise program. UC participants who completed the 4-week program reported personal satisfaction levels similar to the AET group; however, the causal direction of this association is unknown. Researchers should continue to evaluate participant satisfaction in exercise trials.
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Authors | Kerry S Courneya, Cynthia C Forbes, Linda Trinh, Christopher M Sellar, Christine M Friedenreich, Tony Reiman |
Journal | Clinical trials (London, England)
(Clin Trials)
Vol. 10
Issue 6
Pg. 959-66
( 2013)
ISSN: 1740-7753 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 23918843
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Topics |
- Exercise Therapy
(methods, psychology)
- Female
- Humans
- Lymphoma
(rehabilitation)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Patient Satisfaction
- Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
(psychology)
- Survivors
(psychology)
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