Effects of Targeted Print Materials on Physical Activity and Quality of Life in Young Adult Cancer Survivors During and After Treatment: An Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose: To explore the effects of targeted physical activity (PA) print material on PA and quality of life (QOL) in young adult cancer survivors (YACS) aged 18-39 either on or off treatment. Methods: YACS (N=212) recruited from a cancer registry were randomly assigned to a Targeted Physical Activity Guidebook (TPAG) or the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines (CPAG). An online or mailed survey assessed the primary outcome of self-reported PA minutes and secondary QOL outcomes. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months for PA and at baseline and 3 months for QOL. Results: At 3 months, analyses of covariance showed no differences between the groups for the primary outcome of PA minutes/week (adjusted mean group difference= +8 minutes; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -60 to +77; p = 0.81). The TPAG was superior to the CPAG for the mental component of QOL (adjusted mean group difference= +3.1; 95% CI: +0.1 to +7.3; p = 0.043). In an exploratory analysis of YACS reporting <= 300 PA minutes/week at baseline (N = 108), the TPAG group was superior to the CPAG group at 3 months for PA minutes/week (adjusted mean group difference= +90; 95% CI: +10 to +170; p = 0.028). Conclusion: Targeted PA print material did not increase PA compared to generic PA print material in a highly active sample of YACS. In YACS reporting <= 300 PA minutes/week at baseline-the group of interest from a PA behavior change perspective-the targeted PA print material was effective in increasing PA.