Breast and Colon Cancer Survivors’ Expectations About Physical Activity for Improving Survival

Purpose/Objectives: To compare physical activity outcome expectations related to cancer survival with traditional physical activity outcome expectations in breast and colon cancer survivors.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Setting: Canada and the United States.

Sample: 146 participants.

Methods: Self-reported survey instruments and height and weight measurement. The online survey was completed once by each participant.

Main Research Variables: Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire, Multidimensional Outcome Expectations for Exercise Scale (MOEES), and an item assessing physical activity outcome expectations related to cancer survival.

Findings: Paired sample t tests indicated that the mean score for the physical subscale of the MOEES was significantly higher than the mean score on the physical activity outcome expectations related to cancer survival variable (p < 0.001). Multiple regression analyses indicated that physical activity outcome expectations related to cancer survival explained 4.8% of the variance in physical activity (p = 0.011).

Conclusions: Findings from the current study suggest that, among breast and colon cancer survivors, outcome expectations related to cancer survival may influence physical activity levels and may not be as realized as traditional outcome expectations.

Implications for Nursing: Oncology nurses should familiarize themselves with the guidelines and benefits of physical activity for survivors so they can provide guidance and support to patients.