Outcomes of Walking Intervention in Children with Cancer: A Longitudinal Pilot Study

• Main Authors: Hsiu-Lan Su, 蘇秀蘭
• Other Authors: Li-Min Wu
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2017
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/56751826490729219103

碩士 === 高雄醫學大學 === 護理學系碩士班 === 105 === Introduction: Chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy are the main treatments for children with cancer, and its treatment have considerable impact on a child’s physical and mental wellbeing, such as physical fitness, fatigue, sleep quality and quality of life. Physical exercise in adult cancer patients has been reported positive effects on physical fitness and psychosocial health. Purpose: To explore the impacts of an exercise intervention on physiological index, fatigue, sleep quality, and quality of life in Children and adolescents with cancer. Methods: A longitudinal design was used in this study from January 2, 2016 to June 30, 2016. Participants were recruited from the homological and oncological ward and clinics of the southern medical center. 18 participants were included and completed a six-week walking exercise consisting of 5 times per weektime and intensity for daily exercise was according to participants’ tolerance. Instruments included 6-minute walking test (assess the tolerance of exercise), physiological indices(respiration, heart rate, BP, and O2 saturation), fatigue, sleep quality, and quality of Life, repeating measurements for 7 times(baselines, 1st 2nd, 3 rd, 4th,5 th, 6th week). Results: The exercise implementation rate was 55.5%. There were no significant differences in the physiological indicators (heart rate, respiratory, blood pressure, SPO2) between completing exercise and resting for one minute after exercise. No significant difference in quality of sleep was found, but exercise tolerance significantly increased. Fatigue level significantly reduced since third week. The quality of life at 5th week was significantly improved. Conclusions: Walking exercise is a positive, feasible, tolerable and safe exercise for pediatric cancer patients. Walking exercise can be promoted in the hospitalization and at home for over three years old pediatric cancer patients.