Home exercise adherence after breast cancer surgery: incidence and risk factors

Abstract

Introduction: Functional limitations in women undergoing breast cancer treatment are common and have negative impacts during patient treatment. Physical exercise after breast cancer surgery has been shown to be safe and beneficial, as well as necessary during all stages in order to minimize the negative impact of complications that compromise functionality. This study aims to assess adherence to home exercises and associated factors in women undergoing breast cancer surgery. Methods: A prospective cohort study with an inclusion of women with indication for curative breast cancer surgery and an axillary approach. During the postoperative period, patients were instructed to perform home exercises and received a home guide that should be completed daily for 30 days. Patient adherence and perception about exercise difficulty and discomfort, and the presence of pain, insecurity and fear were assessed. A descriptive analysis of socio-demographic and clinical variables was performed, and a simple logistic regression was carried out to identify whether symptoms interfered with exercise adherence. Results: A total of 465 women were included, of which 43.6% fully adhered to the exercises, 31.6% partially adhered, and 24.7% either did not deliver the home guide, delivered it blank or containing illegible information. Arm discomfort was the most frequent subjective symptom (63.1%), followed by pain (51.6%). No variables were associated to exercise adherence. Conclusions: Patients undergoing breast cancer surgery presented total (43.6%) or partial (31.6%) exercise adherence in the first thirty postoperative days. Subjective symptoms and patient perception did not interfere in exercise adherence rates.