multicomponent physical activity intervention for the reduction of psychosocial distress in cancer patients

Conditions: Anxiety Disorder; Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Cell Neoplasm; Malignant Solid Neoplasm

Summary: this study adapts and assesses the effect of a multicomponent physical activity intervention in reducing psychosocial distress in cancer patients. this study aims to develop a program to help increase physical activity and reduce stress in cancer survivors who live in rural areas.

primary objectives: i. to adapt a multicomponent intervention (hh+aim) that assesses the perspective of health care provider and cancer survivors about: ia. needs related to psychosocial distress and health behaviors in rural patients with cancer. ib. needs related to implementing interventions within the treatment setting. ic. barriers to intervention delivery/participate. id. preferred means/methods for referring participants and receiving information related to the intervention. secondary objectives: i. to assess time spent sitting in prolonged bouts of 20 consecutive minutes or more (minutes/day). ii. to assess daily number of steps (collected using the activpal over 7 days at week 8, data will be averaging over 7 days to get minutes per day). iii. to assess psychosocial distress measured using the national comprehensive cancer network (nccn) distress thermometer scores. iv. to assess health-related quality of life measured using the sf-36 short form. outline: part i: patients and providers complete a questionnaire and attend an interview over 1 hour. part ii: patients are randomized to 1 of 2 groups. group i: patients attend face-to-face mind-body sessions focused on stretching, breathing, and relaxation twice a week and receive targeted text messages daily on their smartphone for 8 weeks. group ii: patients receive usual care.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * providers: work with cancer survivors (e.g., radiation and medical oncologists, oncology nurses, oncology patient navigators, and clinical research coordinators) * providers: place of engagement falls within a rural county in texas * providers: able to read, speak, and write in english * providers: at least 18 years old * providers: have access to a smartphone, tablet, or computer with internet access and willing to attend virtual sessions * interview survivors: men and women \>= 18 years of age * interview survivors: history of cancer * interview survivors: currently receiving treatment or have recently completed treatment but are still attending appointments at uthealth north campus tyler (=\< 1 year) * interview survivors: able to read, speak, and write in english * interview survivors: have access to a smartphone, tablet, or computer with internet access and willing to attend virtual sessions * intervention survivors: men and women \>= 18 years of age * intervention survivors: received a solid tumor cancer diagnosis stage i-iii * intervention survivors: receiving radiation therapy or planning to receive radiation therapy for a solid tumor diagnosis for at least 4 weeks * intervention survivors: able to engage in moderate intensity physical activity as determined by the physical activity readiness questionnaire (par-q) or by physicians clearance (letter from physician or nurse practitioner) * intervention survivors: physician clearance to participate in the study * intervention survivors: physically inactive (=\< 60 minutes of moderate or greater physical activity \[pa\] per week during the past 6 months) * intervention survivors: live within md anderson's rural catchment area * intervention survivors: have a home address where information can be mailed and a working telephone * intervention survivors: have access to a smartphone, tablet, or computer with internet access and willing to attend virtual sessions * intervention survivors: able to read, speak, and write in english * intervention survivors: able to receive text messages on their smartphone (via cellular data or wireless internet) exclusion criteria: * providers: does not work with cancer survivors * providers: place of work or engagement falls within an urban/metropolitan county in texas * providers: does not read, speak, or write in english * providers: below the age of 18 years * interview survivors: no history of cancer * interview survivors: does not read, speak, or write in english * interview survivors: below the age of 18 * intervention survivors: no history of cancer * intervention survivors: have absolute contraindications to unassisted physical activity (e.g., acute myocardial infarction, severe orthopedic or musculoskeletal limitations) * intervention survivors: currently participating in another intervention to increase physical activity or reduce sedentary behavior * intervention survivors: self-report meeting physical activity recommendations (\>= 60 minutes of moderate or greater pa per week during the past 6 months) * intervention survivors: physical limitations that might be aggravated by participation in moderate-intensity physical activity as measured using the physical activity readiness questionnaire (par-q), and any physical limitation that prevents engaging in moderate intensity exercise * intervention survivors: primary address falls within an urban/metropolitan county in texas * intervention survivors: plan to move from the area or discontinue their treatment at uthealth north campus tyler during the 14-week study period * intervetion survivors: does not read, speak, or write in english * intervention survivors: below the age of 18 * intervention survivors: pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the 14 week study period