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Women's experience of physical activity following breast cancer treatment.

Larsson, Ingalill LU ; Jönsson, Carita ; Olsson, Ann C ; Gard, Gunvor LU and Johansson, Karin LU (2008) In Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences 22. p.422-429
Abstract
Physical activity is of great benefit to women treated for breast cancer and can even be vital. The aim of this qualitative study was to describe how women treated for breast cancer experience physical activity after surgery. Twelve women, strategically selected according to hospital, age and length of time since surgery, took part in a semi-structured interview. A qualitative method with a phenomenographic approach was used. The result indicates that the incentive to remain or return to a normal physical condition is an important motive for physical activity after breast cancer surgery. The experience of physical activity was, from the women's perspective, expressed in (i) compliance to instructions and need for support, (ii) struggle to... (More)
Physical activity is of great benefit to women treated for breast cancer and can even be vital. The aim of this qualitative study was to describe how women treated for breast cancer experience physical activity after surgery. Twelve women, strategically selected according to hospital, age and length of time since surgery, took part in a semi-structured interview. A qualitative method with a phenomenographic approach was used. The result indicates that the incentive to remain or return to a normal physical condition is an important motive for physical activity after breast cancer surgery. The experience of physical activity was, from the women's perspective, expressed in (i) compliance to instructions and need for support, (ii) struggle to get back to normal and fear of negative side-effects, (iii) a wish to stay normal and not allow limitations and (iv) getting control of the situation with new strategies. In conclusion, instructions and motivation are important in starting up and/or continuing physical activity after breast cancer treatment. While in considering the vital benefits of physical activity for breast cancer patients healthcare professionals, and in particular physiotherapists, must be aware of the need for information and the patients' motive for exercise and physical activity to be able to guide and encourage them individually. The professionals must also understand the need for empowerment for these women to take control over their lives and to allow the limitations that eventually occur. (Less)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences
volume
22
pages
422 - 429
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • wos:000258582100013
  • pmid:18466196
  • scopus:49749088773
ISSN
1471-6712
DOI
10.1111/j.1471-6712.2007.00546.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Division of Physiotherapy (Closed 2012) (013042000)
id
79e58eb7-579f-4619-96f8-e4e78323be82 (old id 1154387)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18466196?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 09:20:03
date last changed
2022-01-29 17:22:20
@article{79e58eb7-579f-4619-96f8-e4e78323be82,
  abstract     = {{Physical activity is of great benefit to women treated for breast cancer and can even be vital. The aim of this qualitative study was to describe how women treated for breast cancer experience physical activity after surgery. Twelve women, strategically selected according to hospital, age and length of time since surgery, took part in a semi-structured interview. A qualitative method with a phenomenographic approach was used. The result indicates that the incentive to remain or return to a normal physical condition is an important motive for physical activity after breast cancer surgery. The experience of physical activity was, from the women's perspective, expressed in (i) compliance to instructions and need for support, (ii) struggle to get back to normal and fear of negative side-effects, (iii) a wish to stay normal and not allow limitations and (iv) getting control of the situation with new strategies. In conclusion, instructions and motivation are important in starting up and/or continuing physical activity after breast cancer treatment. While in considering the vital benefits of physical activity for breast cancer patients healthcare professionals, and in particular physiotherapists, must be aware of the need for information and the patients' motive for exercise and physical activity to be able to guide and encourage them individually. The professionals must also understand the need for empowerment for these women to take control over their lives and to allow the limitations that eventually occur.}},
  author       = {{Larsson, Ingalill and Jönsson, Carita and Olsson, Ann C and Gard, Gunvor and Johansson, Karin}},
  issn         = {{1471-6712}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{422--429}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences}},
  title        = {{Women's experience of physical activity following breast cancer treatment.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6712.2007.00546.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1471-6712.2007.00546.x}},
  volume       = {{22}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}