Phone support for home exercise may have helped breast cancer survivors get more active

The study

1. 01

   Who took part

   86 women who were not active and had finished treatment for early breast cancer. Their average age was about 53, and they lived in Providence, Rhode Island.

2. 02

   What they did

   One group got 12 weeks of help to exercise at home, with a weekly phone call and feedback letters. They aimed for 30 minutes of brisk walking or similar on at least 5 days a week. The other group had a weekly phone call and the same tip sheets, but no help to exercise.

3. 03

   What happened

   After 12 weeks, the exercise group reported about 200 minutes of exercise a week, against about 78 in the other group. A sensor they wore showed no difference between the groups. The exercise group also rated themselves as having more energy and less tiredness, and walked a mile faster.

What the study found

1. HelpedGoals

   Home exercise help by phone got people to exercise more than weekly calls and tip sheets did.

   • Action: Set a specific goaltested
   • Action: Track your progresstested
   • Rule: Get feedback on your progresstested
   • Rule: Check in once a weektested

   Small randomised trial of 86 women who finished breast cancer treatment · vs weekly calls and tip sheets, with no help · they rated themselves · ⚠ summary claims more than the results show

2. HelpedMotivation

   Help fitted to readiness moved more people up a stage toward exercise than weekly calls did.

   • Action: Set a specific goaltested
   • Rule: Use the method that fits youtested

   Small randomised trial of 86 women who finished breast cancer treatment · vs weekly calls and tip sheets, with no help · they rated themselves · ⚠ summary claims more than the results show

3. HelpedOther outcomes

   Home exercise help by phone left people with more energy and less tiredness than weekly calls and tip sheets did.

   • Action: Set a specific goaltested
   • Action: Track your progresstested
   • Rule: Get feedback on your progresstested
   • Rule: Check in once a weektested

   Small randomised trial of 86 women who finished breast cancer treatment · vs weekly calls and tip sheets, with no help · they rated themselves · ⚠ summary claims more than the results show

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