Compliance To Multiple Daily Assessments Of Cancer Related Fatigue During An Outpatient Cancer Rehabilitation Program

PURPOSE: Within-day fluctuations in cancer-related fatigue (CRF) are poorly understood, as are the immediate effects of exercise. The feasibility of assessing this fluctuation across multiple timepoints is also unknown This study examined compliance to daily CRF assessments on exercise and non-exercise days during the first six-weeks of a rehabilitation program. Methods: This was an observational, longitudinal cohort study of participants enrolled in an existing outpatient cancer rehabilitation program. Exercise classes were held twice per week, and participants were assigned to a set day and time. CRF was assessed using a visual analog scale (0 = no fatigue–10 = worst fatigue), before, and immediately after exercise on a tablet at clinic. In addition, 1, 4, & 7 hours following one exercise class per week and at the same times the following day on one non-exercise day per week via a phone application, ExpiWell. Average response rate for completing the CRF assessment was calculated for exercise and non-exercise days, at each time point and in week one and week six. RESULTS: Participants (N = 13) were M = 64 years old, 76% female, and diagnosed with pancreatic (n = 3), colon (n = 2) lung (n = 2) or other (n = 6) cancer. Median CRF on exercise days was 2.5 (range 0-6) at pre, 2 (range 0-6) at post-exercise, 2 (range 0-6) at 1-hour, 2 (range 0-8) at 4-hour and 2 (range 0-8) at the 7-hour post-exercise timepoints. Median CRF on non-exercise days was 2.5 (range 0-5) at 1-hour, 2.7 (range 0-5) at 4-hour and 2.5 (range 0-7) at the 7-hour timepoint. Response rate for pre/post exercise class was 100%. Average response rates were 34.8% (30.5% in week one, 42.3% in week six) for exercise days and 42.2% (33.2% in week one, & 57.5% in week six) for non-exercise days. On exercise days, response rates were 34.6%, 37.2%, and 32.7% at 1, 4, and 7-hours. On non-exercise days response rates were 40.4%, 44.9%, and 41.6% at 1, 4 and 7-hours. CONCLUSION: Participants completed between one-third and one-half of the CRF assessments with trends for a better response rate on non-exercise days. CRF median scores were similar across all timepoints on both days, with little fluctuation across timepoints. Data collection is ongoing, thus additional efforts to enhance compliance will be considered. Supported by: University of Colorado's Cancer Center Support Grant (P30CA046934), Rocky Mountain ACSM Doctoral Grant