Mayo, N.E., Moriello, C., Scott, S.C., Dawes, D., Auais, M., & Chasen, M. (2014). Pedometer-facilitated walking intervention shows promising effectiveness for reducing cancer fatigue: A pilot randomized trial. Clinical Rehabilitation, 28, 1198–1209.
To contribute preliminary evidence for the feasibility and potential effectiveness of a structured walking intervention on reducing cancer-related fatigue in order to plan for a full-scale study of effectiveness
The study consisted of an eight-week program with three intervention groups: one with the STEPS (a walking program using a pedometer) during rehabilitation, one with STEPS after rehabilitation, and one group with only the rehabilitation program for people with advanced cancer and a > 4 fatigue level on a Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
A pilot randomized trial. The STEPS program was based on the participants’ current walking status and progressed according to fatigue level.
Instruments chosen to measure fatigue and symptoms of anxiety and depression included the following.
Results demonstrated that the pedometer-facilitated walking intervention adapted to fatigue levels (STEPS program) showed promise as an intervention to decrease cancer-related fatigue.
Compared to rehabilitation alone, the eight-week adaptive walking intervention reduced fatigue and improved physical function and well-being over a 16-week period and was sustained to six months.
Walking intervention is associated with a trend toward less fatigue; however, this study needs replication in the advanced cancer population. Effectiveness not established.