The Relationship Between Physical Activity and Fatigue in Young Adults with Cancer
Mentor 1
Jeanne Erickson
Location
Union Wisconsin Room
Start Date
27-4-2018 1:00 PM
Description
Abbie Esterline and Dr. Jeanne Erickson (Mentor) College of Nursing
Many young adults who have been diagnosed with cancer deal with the adverse effects of fatigue and one solution to lower fatigue is to increase their physical activity. This study will analyze the relationship between physical activity (steps/day) and fatigue levels in young adults with cancer at the start of chemotherapy. At the beginning of the study, each participant completed the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire to get a baseline of their levels of physical activity before their cancer diagnosis. The levels of physical activity of the participants were measured for 7 days using an accelerometer, and the participants self-reported their fatigue using the PROMIS Fatigue short form. Physical activity and fatigue were both reported by patients recording their steps/day as well as how their fatigue worsened or improved. At present, the study has enrolled 23 participants. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize the data and analyze the relationship between physical activity and fatigue. My hypothesis is that increased physical activity levels will be associated with less severe fatigue. Studying the relationship between fatigue and physical activity is important because fatigue is something that many young adults with cancer deal with, and the lowering of fatigue can also help to lower symptoms of depression making a patient's chemotherapy treatment more manageable.
The Relationship Between Physical Activity and Fatigue in Young Adults with Cancer
Union Wisconsin Room
Abbie Esterline and Dr. Jeanne Erickson (Mentor) College of Nursing
Many young adults who have been diagnosed with cancer deal with the adverse effects of fatigue and one solution to lower fatigue is to increase their physical activity. This study will analyze the relationship between physical activity (steps/day) and fatigue levels in young adults with cancer at the start of chemotherapy. At the beginning of the study, each participant completed the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire to get a baseline of their levels of physical activity before their cancer diagnosis. The levels of physical activity of the participants were measured for 7 days using an accelerometer, and the participants self-reported their fatigue using the PROMIS Fatigue short form. Physical activity and fatigue were both reported by patients recording their steps/day as well as how their fatigue worsened or improved. At present, the study has enrolled 23 participants. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize the data and analyze the relationship between physical activity and fatigue. My hypothesis is that increased physical activity levels will be associated with less severe fatigue. Studying the relationship between fatigue and physical activity is important because fatigue is something that many young adults with cancer deal with, and the lowering of fatigue can also help to lower symptoms of depression making a patient's chemotherapy treatment more manageable.
