Exercise interest and preferences among patients diagnosed with primary brain cancer

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the interest and exercise preferences of an institution-based sample of brain tumor patients. Secondary aims were to examine potential differences in participant’s interest and preferences by exercise behavior and select demographic/medical variables.

Using a cross-sectional design, 106 brain tumor patients (age range, 32 to 83 years) who received treatment at the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center (BTC) at Duke completed a questionnaire that assessed self-reported exercise behavior, exercise interest and preferences during active and off-treatment periods.

For exercise program preferences, participants were significantly more interested and felt more capable of participating in an exercise program following compared to during adjuvant therapy. Approximately equal proportions of brain tumor patients preferred to exercise at home with their spouse or other family members. These preferences were consistent across both cancer treatment-related time periods. For exercise information preferences, a higher proportion of respondents preferred receiving information via technologically based approaches (i.e., Internet, CD-ROM, and mailed correspondence) compared with more traditional methods (i.e., mail or face-to-face counseling). Chi-square analyses revealed that a small number of exercise program and information preferences were modified by exercise, medical, and demographic variables.

Brain tumor patients may have unique and varied preferences compared with other cancer populations. Incorporating patient’s preferences into rehabilitation programs and clinical exercise investigations may optimize the potential benefits of this modality for patients with neurologic malignancies.