Can a Nurse-Led Intervention Benefit Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer?

A team of researchers is conducting a randomized clinical study of a nurse-led intervention to increase physical activity in patients undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Researchers from Greece presented the study protocol during the European Society of Medical Oncology 2024 Congress in Barcelona, Spain. It was important to evaluate the protocol because patients with breast cancer “often experience fatigue, depression, and anxiety” during chemotherapy and physical activity “can play a vital role” in managing cancer, the researchers explained. However, patients often report “they are not encouraged to exercise during their active treatment,” according to the study investigators.

This led the researchers to design a randomized study protocol to assess if a nurse-led educational intervention for enhancing physical activity could modify quality of life, fatigue, depression, anxiety, stress, and physical activity among women with breast cancer.

“Nurses have a vital role in educating breast cancer patients in various ways in order to improve their quality of life,” the researchers explained.

The study investigators will randomize patients to receive a nurse-led educational intervention or usual care. The group receiving the intervention will receive an educational brochure and communication via phone calls to strengthen physical activity and encourage regular walking exercise. The usual care group will receive standard care.

The researchers will measure the outcomes at baseline, 8 weeks, and at the end of chemotherapy using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the EORTC QLF-30-BR-23 questionnaire, the Depression Anxious Stress Scale -21, and the Brief Fatigue Inventory.

“The results of this study will provide more information about the effectiveness of nurse-led intervention on improving physical activity during chemotherapy,” the researchers concluded, noting that the study will investigate several quality-of-life domains that can be affected during active therapy.

Reference

Lavdaniti M, Throuvala E, and Kourlaba G. A nurse-led physical activity educational intervention to improve quality of life in breast cancer women undergoing chemotherapy: A study protocol. Abstract CN56.  Presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology 2024 Congress; Barcelona, Spain