Management of fatigue in gynaecological cancer: A feasibility study of an app-based exercise and mindfulness intervention

IF 1.3 Q3 OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY

Gynecologic Oncology Reports Pub Date : 2025-07-19 DOI:10.1016/j.gore.2025.101807

Kairen McCloy , Ciara Hughes , Lynn Dunwoody , Joanne Marley , Ian Cleland , Federico Cruciani , Jackie Gracey

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is an issue for many people living with and beyond cancer. Evidence suggests that exercise and mindfulness may help in management of CRF, however, adherence to such interventions remains poor and there is little evidence for combining these interventions or for digital delivery. Few interventions have targeted women who have gynaecological cancer. This study developed and assessed the feasibility of digitally delivering mindfulness and exercise interventions to manage CRF in this population.

Methods

An 8-week feasibility randomised control trial was delivered via a mobile app to two groups (mindfulness only; mindfulness and exercise). Feasibility was assessed through retention, adherence and attrition rates. Participant-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for fatigue, anxiety, depression, sleep and health-related quality of life were collected pre and post intervention and analysed using descriptive statistics (mean, median, inter-quartile ranges and line graphs). Online focus groups explored patient experiences, acceptability and satisfaction with the interventions.

Results

Twenty-five participants (mindfulness only n = 13, mindfulness and exercise n = 12) had overall retention rate of 88 %, adherence was 72.72 % and attrition was 12 %. Both groups demonstrated improvements in fatigue (mindfulness-alone; 7.8, mindfulness and exercise 14.11), anxiety (2.9; 4.87), depression (2.06; 4.26), sleep, (2.8; 2.71), and HRQOL (6.4; 10.4), based on changes in mean scores. Qualitative findings identified three main themes: benefits of participation, barriers to participation and digital delivery of the intervention.

Conclusion

Both groups experienced improvements in CRF, anxiety, depression, sleep and HRQoL. Retention and adherence rates were high with a good level of app engagement. Feasibility was demonstrated through retention, adherence and attrition rates and interventions were deemed acceptable. These findings suggest that a fully powered RCT is warranted. While online recruitment was challenging, the online delivery of interventions enabled broader participant inclusion and scalability.

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妇科癌症患者的疲劳管理：基于应用程序的锻炼和正念干预的可行性研究

癌症相关疲劳（cancer -related fatigue， CRF）是许多癌症患者和非癌症患者面临的一个问题。有证据表明，锻炼和正念可能有助于CRF的管理，然而，坚持这些干预措施仍然很差，并且几乎没有证据表明将这些干预措施结合起来或进行数字化交付。很少有针对患有妇科癌症的妇女的干预措施。本研究开发并评估了以数字方式提供正念和运动干预以管理该人群CRF的可行性。方法通过移动应用程序对两组进行为期8周的可行性随机对照试验(仅正念组；正念和锻炼)。通过保留率、依从率和损耗率来评估可行性。在干预前后收集参与者报告的疲劳、焦虑、抑郁、睡眠和健康相关生活质量的结果测量（PROMs），并使用描述性统计（平均值、中位数、四分位数范围和线形图）进行分析。在线焦点小组探讨了患者的经历、可接受性和对干预措施的满意度。结果25例参与者（仅正念13例，正念加运动12例）的总保留率为88%，坚持率为72.72%，损失率为12%。两组都表现出疲劳感的改善(单是正念；7.8分，正念和锻炼14.11分)，焦虑2.9分；4.87)，抑郁(2.06；4.26)，睡眠，(2.8；2.71), HRQOL (6.4；10.4)，基于平均分数的变化。定性调查结果确定了三个主要主题：参与的好处、参与的障碍和干预措施的数字化交付。结论两组患者的CRF、焦虑、抑郁、睡眠和HRQoL均有改善。留存率和用户粘性都很高，应用粘性也很高。通过保留率、依从性和损耗率证明了可行性，干预措施被认为是可接受的。这些发现表明，一个全功率的随机对照试验是有必要的。虽然在线招聘具有挑战性，但在线提供干预措施可以使更广泛的参与者参与和可扩展性。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Gynecologic Oncology Reports OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY-

CiteScore

2.00

自引率

0.00%

发文量

183

审稿时长

41 days

期刊介绍： Gynecologic Oncology Reports is an online-only, open access journal devoted to the rapid publication of narrative review articles, survey articles, case reports, case series, letters to the editor regarding previously published manuscripts and other short communications in the field of gynecologic oncology. The journal will consider papers that concern tumors of the female reproductive tract, with originality, quality, and clarity the chief criteria of acceptance.