Feasibility and effect of a physical activity counselling session with or without provision of an activity tracker on maintenance of physical activity in women with breast cancer — A randomised controlled trial

Abstract

ObjectivesThe SAFE-Maintain study sought to evaluate the effect and acceptability of a physical activity counselling (PAC) session, versus a PAC session plus provision of a Fitbit (Charge HR®; PAC+F), on maintenance of physical activity levels 12 weeks following participation in a supervised exercise intervention. DesignFifty-two women with stage II+breast cancer who had recently (within the previous 7 days) completed a 12-week supervised exercise program were randomised to the PAC or PAC+F group. MethodsPhysical activity levels, including weekly minutes of total physical activity (min/week), daily step count (steps/day), and weekly minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA, min/week), were assessed using the Active Australia survey and Actigraph® GT3X+ accelerometers. Self-reported outcomes were assessed at baseline and 12-week follow-up, while objectively-measured outcomes were only available at 12-week follow-up. ResultsCompared with the PAC group, the PAC+F group had higher self-reported MVPA and self-reported total activity (between-group mean difference: 78.2 [95% CI=−8.3, 164.9] min/week, p<0.01, and 171.9 [95% CI=46.1, 297.8] min/week, p<0.01, respectively) at 12-week follow-up. Higher objectively-assessed MVPA (p=0.03) and steps/day (p=0.07) at 12-week follow-up was also observed in the PAC+F group compared with the PAC group. Most (>80%) of the PAC+F group reported high levels of Fitbit use and considered the device to be beneficial for physical activity maintenance. ConclusionsFindings suggest that activity trackers show promise as an effective, feasible and acceptable approach to support physical activity maintenance following completion of a supervised exercise intervention. Trial registrationProspectively registered on the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR, Trial registration number: ACTRN12616000954426).