The Effects of Exercise on Physical and Psychological Outcomes in Cancer Caregivers: Results from the RECHARGE Randomized Controlled Trial
Abstract
Background Family caregivers to cancer patients are at risk for physical and psychological morbidity as a direct result of being in the caregiver role. Exercise as an intervention to support caregiver health and well-being has been tested in other caregiver populations; however, no randomized controlled trials testing the effects of an aerobic and resistance training program have been conducted where cancer caregivers only have participated. Purpose To examine the effects of a 12-week exercise program on quality of life (Short Form 36 v2), psychological outcomes, physical activity levels, and physical fitness in caregivers to cancer patients. Methods Seventy-seven caregivers were randomized to either an exercise intervention or wait-list control. Two participants in the exercise arm dropped out immediately after their baseline assessment. Outcome data for n = 77 participants were analyzed using intention-to-treat analysis with linear mixed models. Results Significant group by time interaction effects were detected for exercise on the mental health component score of quality of life, self-reported weekly exercise levels, and the six-minute walk test. Small to medium effect sizes were detected on several outcomes including physical health component of quality of life (d = 0.36), mental health component of quality of life (d = 0.74), depression (d = 0.41), anxiety (d = 0.35), physical activity levels (d = 0.80), and the six-minute walk test (d = 0.21). Conclusions The findings s…
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15 studies described caregivers as mostly spouses or daughters/sons of patients with cancer, usually sharing the same home.
“As for family bonds, 15 studies described these caregivers as being mostly spouses or daughters/sons of the patients with cancer, usually sharing the same home [22,23,25,26,27,28,30,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39].”
From Quality of Life in Caregivers of Cancer Patients: A Literature Review (2023) · cites this paper as [34]
26 studies alluded to emotional and psychological problems suffered by caregivers, highlighting anxiety, depression, feelings of grief and distress, and high levels of stress.
“At an emotional level, 26 studies [22,23,25,26,27,28,29,30,33,34,35,36,38,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52] alluded to the emotional and psychological problems suffered by caregivers, highlighting anxiety, depression, feelings of grief and distress, and high levels of stress.”
From Quality of Life in Caregivers of Cancer Patients: A Literature Review (2023) · cites this paper as [34]
Eight studies described that care work implies a greater risk for caregivers of suffering physical morbidity with considerable wear, which increases as care burden continues over time.
“In relation to physical problems, eight studies [25,34,37,40,41,42,43,44] described that care work implies a greater risk for caregivers of suffering physical morbidity with considerable wear, which in fact increases as the care burden continues over time.”
From Quality of Life in Caregivers of Cancer Patients: A Literature Review (2023) · cites this paper as [34]
Most caregivers of adults with cancer are between 45 and 65 years old (around 50).
“most of the studies set the interval between ages 45–65 [32,33,34,35,36,37,38,40,41,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,54,55,56].”
From Quality of Life in Caregivers of Cancer Patients: A Literature Review (2023) · cites this paper as [34]
Care provision by caregivers of adults with cancer causes physical problems, and the risk of physical morbidity increases the longer care activity continues.
“Different review studies have revealed that care provision on the part of caregivers causes physical problems, increasing the risk of suffering physical morbidity the longer the care activity continues [25,34,37,40,41,42,43,44].”
From Quality of Life in Caregivers of Cancer Patients: A Literature Review (2023) · cites this paper as [34]
One study suggested exercising practice to improve perceived health levels on the part of caregivers.
“One study [34] suggested exercising practice to improve the perceived health levels on the part of caregivers.”
From Quality of Life in Caregivers of Cancer Patients: A Literature Review (2023) · cites this paper as [34]
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Quality of Life in Caregivers of Cancer Patients: A Literature Review
Guerra-Martín, M. D., Casado-Espinosa, M. D. R., Gavira-López, Y., Holgado-Castro, C., López-Latorre, I., & Borrallo-Riego, Á. (2023) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph20021570 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
“, 2018 [34] Examine the effects of a 12-week exercise program on the quality of life, psychological outcomes, physical activity levels, and physical fitness in caregivers of patients with cancer.”
Background
- Authors
- Cuthbert, C. A., King-Shier, K. M., Ruether, J. D., Tapp, D. M., Wytsma-Fisher, K., Fung, T. S., & Culos-Reed, S. N.
- Affiliations
- Alberta Health Services (CA)
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- University of Calgary (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Cuthbert, Colleen A
- Venue
- Annals of Behavioral Medicine
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2018-01-25
- Volume
- 52
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 645-661
- ISSN
- 0742-5554 (ISSN-L)
- 0883-6612
- 1532-4796
- OpenAlex
- W2792381007
- Cited by
- 40
- References
- 10
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 1.13
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model (vor)
- Locations
- Annals of Behavioral Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Nursing care and research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Keywords
- cancer caregivers, exercise intervention, concurrent training, quality of life, depression, anxiety, physical activity, physical fitness, 6-minute walk test, caregiver well-being, family caregivers
- MeSH terms
- Exercise Therapy, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasms, Physical Fitness, Quality of Life, Exercise, Caregivers
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