‘Weighing’ Losses and Gains: Evaluation of the Healthy Lifestyle Modification After Breast Cancer Pilot Program
ObjectivesThis pilot study sought to develop and evaluate a novel online group-based intervention (Healthy Lifestyle Modification after Breast Cancer; HLM-ABC) to help breast cancer survivors (BCSs) make healthy lifestyle changes intended to yield not only beneficial physical outcomes (i.e., weight...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.814671/full |
| _version_ | 1818288172096815104 |
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| author | Dana Male Dana Male Karen Fergus Karen Fergus Shira Yufe |
| author_facet | Dana Male Dana Male Karen Fergus Karen Fergus Shira Yufe |
| author_sort | Dana Male |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectivesThis pilot study sought to develop and evaluate a novel online group-based intervention (Healthy Lifestyle Modification after Breast Cancer; HLM-ABC) to help breast cancer survivors (BCSs) make healthy lifestyle changes intended to yield not only beneficial physical outcomes (i.e., weight loss, reduced body mass index) but also greater behavioral (e.g., increased physical activity, healthier eating), and psychosocial well-being (e.g., self-efficacy, motivation, body image).MethodsAn exploratory single-arm, mixed-method triangulation design was employed to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of the HLM-ABC intervention for overweight BCSs. Fourteen women participated in the 10-week intervention and completed quantitative measures of the above-mentioned outcomes at baseline, post-treatment, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up time points. Qualitative data were obtained post-treatment via semi-structured interviews and a treatment satisfaction questionnaire.ResultsParticipants lost an average of 2.83% of their baseline weight (M = 196.65; SD = 38.59) by 1-year follow-up (M = 191.29; SD = 33.91), equal to a small effect size (d = –0.37). Despite achieving only modest weight loss, participants achieved meaningful gains in the form of increased physical activity (d = 0.2), discovery of gratifying movement, more intuitive eating habits (d = 1.12), greater bodily and emotional awareness, and positive shifts in beliefs about being able to make healthy choices regarding food (d = 0.63) and physical activity (d = 0.38). Furthermore, they demonstrated a slight improvement in body image (d = 0.36) and described feeling more self-compassionate, empowered, and acknowledging of variables beyond control (i.e., hormonal therapy, unsatisfactory surgery) that can present barriers to change.ConclusionAfter completing a 10-week online program, participants achieved meaningful and lasting changes on a number of healthful indicators, even when this did not correspond with a significant reduction in weight. Findings highlight the complex, multifaceted nature of “health” and lend support for promotion of healthier lifestyle following cancer treatment that encompasses not only physical weight, but also behavior, psychosocial well-being, and (often unmodifiable) circumstances such as life-preserving hormonal treatments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T01:52:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6a942849555f4b6e98bfa11db1ee64f3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T01:52:09Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-6a942849555f4b6e98bfa11db1ee64f32022-12-22T00:03:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782022-03-011310.3389/fpsyg.2022.814671814671‘Weighing’ Losses and Gains: Evaluation of the Healthy Lifestyle Modification After Breast Cancer Pilot ProgramDana Male0Dana Male1Karen Fergus2Karen Fergus3Shira Yufe4Tom Baker Cancer Centre (TBCC), Department of Psychosocial Oncology, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, CanadaPsychosocial Oncology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, CanadaPsychosocial Oncology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, CanadaOdette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, CanadaPsychosocial Oncology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, CanadaObjectivesThis pilot study sought to develop and evaluate a novel online group-based intervention (Healthy Lifestyle Modification after Breast Cancer; HLM-ABC) to help breast cancer survivors (BCSs) make healthy lifestyle changes intended to yield not only beneficial physical outcomes (i.e., weight loss, reduced body mass index) but also greater behavioral (e.g., increased physical activity, healthier eating), and psychosocial well-being (e.g., self-efficacy, motivation, body image).MethodsAn exploratory single-arm, mixed-method triangulation design was employed to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of the HLM-ABC intervention for overweight BCSs. Fourteen women participated in the 10-week intervention and completed quantitative measures of the above-mentioned outcomes at baseline, post-treatment, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up time points. Qualitative data were obtained post-treatment via semi-structured interviews and a treatment satisfaction questionnaire.ResultsParticipants lost an average of 2.83% of their baseline weight (M = 196.65; SD = 38.59) by 1-year follow-up (M = 191.29; SD = 33.91), equal to a small effect size (d = –0.37). Despite achieving only modest weight loss, participants achieved meaningful gains in the form of increased physical activity (d = 0.2), discovery of gratifying movement, more intuitive eating habits (d = 1.12), greater bodily and emotional awareness, and positive shifts in beliefs about being able to make healthy choices regarding food (d = 0.63) and physical activity (d = 0.38). Furthermore, they demonstrated a slight improvement in body image (d = 0.36) and described feeling more self-compassionate, empowered, and acknowledging of variables beyond control (i.e., hormonal therapy, unsatisfactory surgery) that can present barriers to change.ConclusionAfter completing a 10-week online program, participants achieved meaningful and lasting changes on a number of healthful indicators, even when this did not correspond with a significant reduction in weight. Findings highlight the complex, multifaceted nature of “health” and lend support for promotion of healthier lifestyle following cancer treatment that encompasses not only physical weight, but also behavior, psychosocial well-being, and (often unmodifiable) circumstances such as life-preserving hormonal treatments.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.814671/fullbreast cancersurvivorshiponline interventiongrouphealth behavior changeholistic |
| spellingShingle | Dana Male Dana Male Karen Fergus Karen Fergus Shira Yufe ‘Weighing’ Losses and Gains: Evaluation of the Healthy Lifestyle Modification After Breast Cancer Pilot Program Frontiers in Psychology breast cancer survivorship online intervention group health behavior change holistic |
| title | ‘Weighing’ Losses and Gains: Evaluation of the Healthy Lifestyle Modification After Breast Cancer Pilot Program |
| title_full | ‘Weighing’ Losses and Gains: Evaluation of the Healthy Lifestyle Modification After Breast Cancer Pilot Program |
| title_fullStr | ‘Weighing’ Losses and Gains: Evaluation of the Healthy Lifestyle Modification After Breast Cancer Pilot Program |
| title_full_unstemmed | ‘Weighing’ Losses and Gains: Evaluation of the Healthy Lifestyle Modification After Breast Cancer Pilot Program |
| title_short | ‘Weighing’ Losses and Gains: Evaluation of the Healthy Lifestyle Modification After Breast Cancer Pilot Program |
| title_sort | weighing losses and gains evaluation of the healthy lifestyle modification after breast cancer pilot program |
| topic | breast cancer survivorship online intervention group health behavior change holistic |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.814671/full |
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