Abstract
PurposeLymphoma survivors experience persisting needs as a consequence of disease and treatment, which have an impact on quality of life (QoL). There is evidence supporting the use of relaxation and exercise to improve QoL, but there is no agreement on which is more beneficial. This study aims to compare a relaxation intervention versus an exercise intervention to determine which has a greater impact on QoL post-chemotherapy.MethodsEligible participants (n = 46) were randomised to a relaxation or exercise intervention for 12 weeks. QoL was assessed at baseline, 6 weeks and post-intervention using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) questionnaire, which is a valid and reliable tool. The summary score and all EORTC domains were assessed.ResultsThere was a significant difference in QoL post-intervention between groups (p = 0.029) while adjusting for baseline QoL, with the exercise group demonstrating a larger improvement. Within-group QoL significantly improved pre- to post-intervention in both the relaxation (p = 0.036) and exercise (p = 0.004) groups.ConclusionsA self-management intervention of either exercise or relaxation can help significantly improve QoL in lymphoma survivors following chemotherapy. While exercise is preferred, a relaxation intervention would also have a beneficial impact on QoL.Implications for Cancer SurvivorsLymphoma survivors should be routinely screened and those with decreased QoL referred for an exercise programme, or relaxation for survivors who are unable to exercise or choose not to. A home-based programme can have a significant positive impact on QoL and is a feasible and effective method in the current climate.Trial registration numberClinical Trials ID NCT02272751
Highlights
It is well recognised that a large number of haematological cancer survivors continue to experience physical and psychological unmet needs following treatment, resulting in a decreased quality of life (QoL) [1,2,3]
Some studies support the use of exercise such as aerobic and/or resistance training [7, 8], while others recommend the use of relaxation techniques including mindfulness-based stress reduction, progressive muscle relaxation and guided imagery [9, 10]
Both interventions appear to have a positive effect on QoL, but there is no consensus on which is more effective, and no standardised pathways following chemotherapy, despite the fact that cancer survivors report a need for further support during this transition phase [11]
Summary
It is well recognised that a large number of haematological cancer survivors continue to experience physical and psychological unmet needs following treatment, resulting in a decreased quality of life (QoL) [1,2,3]. Some studies support the use of exercise such as aerobic and/or resistance training [7, 8], while others recommend the use of relaxation techniques including mindfulness-based stress reduction, progressive muscle relaxation and guided imagery [9, 10]. Both interventions appear to have a positive effect on QoL, but there is no consensus on which is more effective, and no standardised pathways following chemotherapy, despite the fact that cancer survivors report a need for further support during this transition phase [11]. In the majority of these studies, the relaxation or exercise interventions have been compared with a control group, and there has been a call for future studies to rule out potential placebo effects and compare with active control or other empirically supported interventions [12, 13], for instance relaxation to exercise
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