Feasibility and benefits of a combined programme of exercise and play for paediatric cancer survivors: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the feasibility and benefits of a combined programme of exercise and play for childhood cancer survivors on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), post-traumatic growth and physical strength levels.

METHODS: Six childhood cancer survivors participated in the 8-week intervention consisting of supervised play and exercise sessions two times per week. The participants performed joint exercises, independently, at home, on the 5 days that they were unable to participate in group exercises. Participants completed measures assessing HRQOL, post-traumatic growth and physical strength levels at baseline and post-intervention.

RESULTS: Recruitment, retention and attendance rates in the 8-week combined programme were 87.5%, 85.7% and 89.6%, respectively, with no adverse reactions. Statistically significant improvement was observed in post-traumatic growth (z = -2.20, p = 0.03), subscales of HRQOL school functioning (z = -2.06, p = 0.04) and total score (z = -2.0.3, p = 0.04). Moreover, physical strength measurements using the physical activity promotion system showed that, out of the five total categories, muscle strength (z = -2.02, p = 0.04) and total physical strength (z = -2.03, p = 0.04) scores were statistically significantly improved.

CONCLUSION: The 8-week combined programme of exercise and play was feasible and provided preliminary evidence for the benefits of exercise on HRQOL, post-traumatic growth and physical activity levels in childhood cancer survivors.