[Physical activity in head and neck cancer patients : Exploring subjective attitudes, symptoms and accelerometry data].

BACKGROUND

Physical activity (PA) supports physical and psychosocial rehabilitation after cancer. However, motivating patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) to become more active remains challenging. This study investigated the association of the self-rated importance of increasing PA with current activity levels as well as sociodemographic and clinical factors.

METHODS

In this prospective cross-sectional study, outpatient HNC patients (≥ 18 years) were included. Sociodemographic data, symptom burden (e.g., fatigue, pain) using visual analog scales (VAS; 0-10), dyspnea (modified Medical Research Council scale, mMRC), and the perceived importance of becoming more active (VAS 0-10) were recorded. Current PA was assessed via 7‑day accelerometry (valid if ≥ 10 h/day on ≥ 4 days). Analyses were conducted using univariate, bivariate, and multivariate methods.

RESULTS

A total of 51 patients (82% male; mean age 67 ± 19 years) were included; 39 provided valid accelerometry data. Increasing PA was rated as important or very important by 68% of participants. On average, participants were physically active for 179 ± 89 min per day. The perceived importance of becoming more active was higher among those living alone (p = 0.033) and tended to be higher in participants with greater dyspnea (p = 0.056) or more severe pain (p = 0.068).

CONCLUSION

The average activity level in this sample was low, with around 3 h of movement per day. For the majority of participants, increasing activity was important. Further research is needed to clarify why higher symptom burden and social factors are associated with a greater perceived importance of becoming more active.