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Published on: October 17, 2018
Exercise and quality of life outcomes in patients with cancer
M Tish Knobf1, Rita Musanti, Jennifer Dorward
1Yale University School of Nursing, 100 Church St South, New Haven, CT 06536-0740, USA. tish.knobf@yale.edu
Objective:
To review the evidence of the effects of exercise interventions in patients with cancer in each of four quality-of-life domains: physical, psychological, social, and spiritual.
Data Sources:
Research articles, abstracts, literature review.
Conclusion:
There is strong evidence to support positive effects of exercise on physical and psychological well-being. Exercise improves physical function, muscle strength, emotional well-being, self esteem, decreases fatigue, anxiety, and depression, and helps maintain weight. Data suggest exercise fosters social functioning and more research is needed on the relationship of exercise and spiritual well-being.
Implications For Nursing Practice:
There is sufficient evidence to support exercise as an intervention to enhance a cancer patient's physical functioning and psychological well-being. Nurses should be encouraged to integrate physical activity recommendations into practice, tailored to the individual's health condition and mutual goal setting.
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