Erin F. Gillespie MD, MPH , Sierra Silverwood MD , Kaitlyn Lapen MD , Nicholas P. Verdini MD , Karolina Bryl PhD , Raymond E. Baser PhD , Atif J. Khan MD , Jun J. Mao MD, MSCE
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose
National guidelines recommend fitness and mind-body exercise to reduce cancer-related fatigue, but substantial barriers to implementation exist. Virtual programs offer a scalable approach to address this gap. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a virtual fitness and mind-body exercise program (Integrative Medicine at Home [IM@Home]) in reducing fatigue in patients undergoing radiation therapy (RT) for breast cancer.
Methods and Materials
A prospective randomized controlled patient-reported outcome basket clinical trial was conducted. Patients undergoing breast RT who reported moderate or greater fatigue were randomly assigned 1:1 ratio to either IM@Home, which provided live virtual fitness and mind-body exercise classes, or enhanced usual care (EUC). The primary outcome, fatigue, was measured using the total Brief Fatigue Inventory, a composite score including severity and impact on daily functioning, weekly over 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes included the Insomnia Severity Index, Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale collected every 4 weeks. Statistical analysis included linear mixed models to compare group differences over time using a statistical significance threshold of P < .05.
Results
Among 73 enrolled patients, 35 were randomly assigned to IM@Home and 38 to EUC. At week 12, patients in the IM@Home group had significantly less fatigue compared to those in the EUC group (2.06 vs 2.79, P = .009). Compared to EUC, patients in the IM@Home group showed greater reductions in insomnia (P = .005), symptom distress (P = .013), and depression (P = .04), but not anxiety (P = .14).
Conclusions
The IM@Home program significantly reduced fatigue and comorbid symptoms among women with breast cancer undergoing RT. Future research is needed to confirm these findings, explore mechanisms of the observed benefit, and evaluate scalability as well as barriers and facilitators to implementation.
期刊介绍:
International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics (IJROBP), known in the field as the Red Journal, publishes original laboratory and clinical investigations related to radiation oncology, radiation biology, medical physics, and both education and health policy as it relates to the field.
This journal has a particular interest in original contributions of the following types: prospective clinical trials, outcomes research, and large database interrogation. In addition, it seeks reports of high-impact innovations in single or combined modality treatment, tumor sensitization, normal tissue protection (including both precision avoidance and pharmacologic means), brachytherapy, particle irradiation, and cancer imaging. Technical advances related to dosimetry and conformal radiation treatment planning are of interest, as are basic science studies investigating tumor physiology and the molecular biology underlying cancer and normal tissue radiation response.