The importance of meaningful activity in people living with acute myeloid leukemia

Purpose: The symptom burden of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and its treatment can accelerate physical de-conditioning and impair mobility and quality of life. In the present study, we explore the subjective experience of functional capacity in people living with AML. Methods: A secondary qualitative analysis was performed on a subset of interviews (n = 21) obtained from an observational cohort study of people with acute leukemia. Conventional content analysis was employed to identify key themes and concepts. Results: Participants valued their physical function to the extent that it was required to pursue personally meaningful activities and interests. We identified Meaningful Activity as an overarching goal of participants. Three interrelated themes captured the obstacles participants reported facing when attempting to realize this goal: Compromised Body, Threatened Identity, and Shrinking World. Adaptation was common across themes, representing the strategies employed to overcome such challenges. Themes were consistent across participants, despite the variability in disease states at the time of the interview. Conclusions: Dynamic interactions between physical, psychological, and environmental factors affect the pursuit and achievement of meaningful activity among people living with AML. It may be important to consider personal incentives when designing interventions for physical rehabilitation in this patient population.