Step-Up Intervention for Self-Management of Fatigue in Young Adults Receiving Chemotherapy

Not Applicable

Completed

Brief Summary: The purpose of the study is to determine the impact of a physical activity intervention on the self-management of fatigue in young adults receiving chemotherapy. Half of the participants will receive an intervention which includes education and resources to set physical activity goals and monitor progress toward goals.

Detailed Description: Interventions to increase physical activity have been shown to relieve fatigue in patients receiving chemotherapy, but no studies have tested a physical activity intervention to improve fatigue in young adults receiving chemotherapy. This study will determine the impact of a physical activity intervention on the self-management process variables of self-efficacy and self-regulation and their relationships to physical activity and fatigue severity in young adults receiving chemotherapy.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

have a diagnosis of cancer;
are within the first two months of a chemotherapy regimen that will last at least another 3 months;
are ambulatory without assistance;
have written consent from their physician to participate;
have the ability to understand English;
have access to a computer and the Internet.

Exclusion Criteria

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Step-Up Intervention Group	Step-Up Intervention	Participants assigned to the Step-up intervention group will receive a 12-week physical activity intervention which includes components of education, negotiated collaboration to set individual physical activity goals during chemotherapy cycles, and tools for self-monitoring of physical activity.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Self-regulation of Physical Activity	Completion of post-study measures (average 15 weeks)	Index of Self-Regulation (Yeom et al., 2011) The scale measures self-regulation skills, including processing information, monitoring performance, and taking action to meet goals. Scores range from 1 to 6, with higher scores indicating agreement that the individual has these skills.
Self-efficacy for Physical Activity	Completion of post-study measures (average 15 weeks)	Physical Activity Assessment Inventory (Haas \& Northam, 2010) The scale measures confidence to be physically active under various conditions. Scores range from 0=cannot do at all to 100=certain can do.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Steps Per Day	Completion of post-study measures (average 15 weeks)	Measured by accelerometer
Fatigue Severity	Completion of end-of-study measures (average 15 weeks)	Measured with PROMIS - Fatigue Short Form Fatigue severity is measured over the past 7 days from 1=never to 5=always. The raw scores are converted to T-scores, where 50=average fatigue in the general population. Higher scores indicate greater fatigue severity.