Fresh Start: Promoting Health in Prostate Cancer Survivors

OBJECTIVES:

• Compare the effectiveness of a computer-tailored, correspondence course vs standardized materials in promoting changes in diet and physical activity (PA) behaviors in patients with early stage prostate or breast (closed to accrual as of 8/1/03) cancer who currently do not practice goal behavior in at least 2 of the following 3 areas: performance of moderate PA for at least 150 minutes per week; consumption of at least 5 servings of vegetables or fruit daily; or consumption of a diet with less than 30% fat (with less than 10% of kilocalories from either saturates or polyunsaturates).
• Compare the health and quality of life of patients treated with these interventions.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, multicenter study. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

• Arm I: Patients participate in a computer-tailored, correspondence course comprising personalized diet and exercise intervention and other health information over a 10-month period.
• Arm II: Patients receive usual care comprising standardized print materials related to diet, exercise, cancer, and other pertinent health issues over a 10-month period.

In both arms, diet and exercise behavior, quality of life, co-morbidity status, depression, social support, worry, self efficacy, and coping style are assessed during phone interviews conducted at baseline, after completion of 10 months of study intervention, and then at 1 year. Intervention usefulness is assessed after completion of 10 months of study intervention.