Conclusions : The available literature suggests that African American breast cancer survivors adhere to interventions of various modalities and are capable of making modest to significant changes .
Background : African American breast cancer survivors have a higher incidence of estrogen receptor negative and basal-like ( e.g. , triple negative ) tumors , placing them at greater risk for poorer survival when compared to women of other racial and ethnic groups .
While access to equitable care , late disease stage at diagnosis , tumor biology , and sociodemographic characteristics contribute to health disparities , poor lifestyle characteristics ( i.e. , inactivity , obesity , and poor diet ) contribute equally to these disparities .
Lifestyle interventions hold promise in shielding African American survivors from second cancers , comorbidities , and premature mortality , but they are often underrepresented in studies promoting positive behaviors .
This review examined the available literature to document health behaviors and lifestyle intervention ( i.e. , obesity , physical activity , and sedentary behavior ) studies in African American breast cancer survivors .
Study design and methods for the ACTIVity And TEchnology (ACTIVATE) trial.
BACKGROUND Physical activity is positively associated with survival and quality of life among breast cancer survivors . Despite these benefits , the majority of breast cancer survivors are insufficiently active . The potential health benefits of reducing sedentary behaviour ( sitting time ) in this population have not been extensively investigated . The ACTIVATE Trial will evaluate the efficacy of an intervention that combines wearable technology ( the Garmin Vivofit2 ® ) with traditional behavioural change approaches to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour performed by breast cancer survivors . METHODS / DESIGN This r and omised controlled trial includes inactive , postmenopausal women diagnosed with stage I-III breast cancer who have completed their primary treatment . Participants are r and omly assigned to the primary intervention group ( Garmin Vivofit2 ® ; behavioural feedback and goal setting session ; and , five telephone-delivered health coaching sessions ) or to the wait-list control group . The primary intervention is delivered over a 12-week period . The second 12-week period comprises a maintenance phase for the primary intervention group , and an abridged intervention ( Garmin Vivofit2 ® only ) for the wait-list control group . Moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity ( MVPA ) and sedentary behaviour are assessed by accelerometry at baseline ( T1 ) , end of intervention ( T2 ) , and end of maintenance phase ( T3 ) . DISCUSSION The ACTIVATE Trial is one of the first studies to incorporate wearable technology into an intervention for cancer survivors . If the use of wearable technology ( in combination with behaviour change strategies , or alone ) proves efficacious , it may become an inexpensive and sustainable addition to the health promotion strategies available to health care providers in the cancer survivorship context . TRIAL REGISTRATION ACTRN12616000175471
Conclusions : The available literature suggests that African American breast cancer survivors adhere to interventions of various modalities and are capable of making modest to significant changes .
Background : African American breast cancer survivors have a higher incidence of estrogen receptor negative and basal-like ( e.g. , triple negative ) tumors , placing them at greater risk for poorer survival when compared to women of other racial and ethnic groups .
While access to equitable care , late disease stage at diagnosis , tumor biology , and sociodemographic characteristics contribute to health disparities , poor lifestyle characteristics ( i.e. , inactivity , obesity , and poor diet ) contribute equally to these disparities .
Lifestyle interventions hold promise in shielding African American survivors from second cancers , comorbidities , and premature mortality , but they are often underrepresented in studies promoting positive behaviors .
This review examined the available literature to document health behaviors and lifestyle intervention ( i.e. , obesity , physical activity , and sedentary behavior ) studies in African American breast cancer survivors .