A Pilot Study of Tailored Nutrition and Physical Activity Intervention in Cancer Survivors — ASN Events
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A Pilot Study of Tailored Nutrition and Physical Activity Intervention in Cancer Survivors (#280)

Stephanie Zrim 1 , Michelle Miller 2 , Sharon Lawn 1 , Stephanie Leggett 1 , Lynnette Jones 3 , Chris Karapetis 4 , Ganessan Kichenadasse 4 , Shawgi Sukumaran 4 , Amitesh Roy 4 , Bogda Koczwara 1 4
  1. Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
  2. Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
  3. Otago University, Dunedin
  4. Southern Adelaide Health Service, Bedford Park, SA, Australia

Background Exercise and good nutrition have been shown to improve cancer outcomes and many comorbid conditions which are prevalent after cancer but the optimal strategy of ensuring adequate exercise and nutrition in cancer survivors has not yet been determined. Self-management health care delivery framework allows for individual tailoring and may result in superior and sustainable outcomes.
Aim To determine feasibility and preliminary efficacy of novel nutrition and exercise intervention.
Methods Ambulant adult survivors (n=25) during (stratum 1[S1]; n=11) or post (stratum 2 [S2]; n= 14) curative intent chemotherapy for solid tumours, were recruited prospectively from a single study centre. The Flinders Living Well Self-Management Program was utilised to establish patient led nutrition and exercise goals and a tailored 12 week intervention to support survivors was agreed upon. Reviews of progress occurred fortnightly with assessments at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks. Feasibility, anthropometric measures, exercise capacity, and patient reported outcomes were assessed.
Results Retention rate of 84% (S1 = 93%; S2 = 73%) was observed. At baseline S1 had significantly higher hand grip strength (HGS) than S2 and S2 had a greater proportion of participants in the overweight/obese category in comparison to S1; however, this was not significant (NS). Stratum 1 exhibited maintenance for BMI, HGS and QOL. Stratum 2 had a significant reduction in BMI (p=0.003), significant increases in HGS and overall QOL (p=0.024, p=0.023) across the 12 week intervention. Both strata showed positive trends for exercise capacity, fat mass reduction and increasing lean muscle mass; however, this was NS. No serious adverse events occurred.
Conclusion Self-management based nutrition and exercise interventions appears feasible.. Preliminary data suggest improvement in health outcomes, for those post chemotherapy and maintenance of function for those during. Larger randomised control trials are required to further determine the efficacy of such an intervention.