Investigating the relationships between quality of life,fatigue and leisure time physical activity in prostate cancer patients

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the parameters of fatigue, quality of life and leisure time physical activity in prostate cancer (PCa) patients. This is the first study in the literature to report interaction between these parameters from the perspective of physiotherapy and rehabilitation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Fifty-eight out-patients were enrolled in this study. In an oncologic rehabilitation unit, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue Questionnaire (FACIT-F), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate Questionnaire (FACT-P) and Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ) were utilized to evaluate fatigue, quality of life and physical activity, respectively. Frequencies and the relationships between the results of the parameters were analyzed.

RESULTS:

The average age of patients was 67.68 $\pm$ 7.54 years. Mean scores of FACIT-F [42.94 $\pm$ 8.25] and FACT-P [118.81 $\pm$ 13.39] were determined. The median score of GLTEQ was 14 (0–70). There were positive correlations between FACIT-F and FACT-P ( $r=$ 0.633, $p<$ 0.001); GLTEQ and FACT-P ( $r=$ 0.275, $p<$ 0.05) and; FACIT-F and GLTEQ ( $r=$ 0.297, $p<$ 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

Increased fatigue and decreased leisure time physical activity level may affect quality of life negatively. Moreover, it was observed that decreasing leisure time physical activity level affects fatigue negatively. Accordingly, physiotherapists with PCa patients may focus on developing physical activity levels in various ways to address the multidimensional problems of fatigue and quality of life.