RHYTHM: Restoring Health in You (and Your Partner) Through Movement

描述(申请人提供)：促进癌症幸存者的健康和福祉是一项重要的公共卫生目标。相对较少的生存研究涉及妇科癌症幸存者。仍有机会确定有效改善这一人群生活质量的生活方式干预措施。此外，研究表明，癌症幸存者的配偶/伴侣的生活质量也会受到影响。相对不为人所知的是，如何设计和提供干预措施，促进癌症幸存者及其配偶/伴侣的健康和福祉。在拟议的研究中，我们有以下目标：(1)在妇科癌症幸存者和他们的配偶/伴侣之间建立基于夫妇的舞蹈干预(节奏)的可行性和可接受性；(2)量化对以下终点的潜在影响(和变化)：健康相关的生活质量(HRQOL)、关系调整、体力活动和功能；(3)确定干预与结果之间关系的理论构思；以及(4)确定干预对参与者的成本。方法：我们将使用等待名单对照设计，从肿瘤诊所和阿拉巴马州癌症登记中心招募50名妇科癌症幸存者及其配偶/伴侣。幸存者将完成他们的主要癌症治疗。干预组的参与者将接受由弗雷德·阿斯泰尔舞蹈工作室提供的为期12周的舞蹈课(以情侣为基础的舞蹈)。HRQOL(即SF36)、关系调整、身体活动和身体机能(即6分钟步行试验)、 将在基线、干预后立即和干预后6个月进行评估。结果将在癌症幸存者和他们的伴侣中进行衡量。意义：在整个癌症过程中提供高质量的癌症护理是国家的优先事项。我们以伴侣为基础的舞蹈干预是一种提高妇科癌症幸存者及其伴侣的生活质量、改善关系结果和促进健康生活方式的新方法。这项探索性研究的结果将为寻求维护癌症幸存者及其亲人的健康和福祉的倡议提供参考。公共健康影响：与医学研究所的目标一致，即提供癌症护理，促进健康的生活方式，提高癌症幸存者的生活质量，我们的新研究将探索干预(基于夫妇的舞蹈)的潜力，以改善癌症幸存者及其伴侣的这些结果。在这一独特的方法中，我们测试了许多社区中已经存在的干预措施的有效性。如果舞蹈干预被认为是有效的，类似节目广泛传播的潜力是很大的。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Promoting the health and well-being of cancer survivors is an important public health goal. Relatively little survivorship research has engaged gynecological cancer survivors. Opportunities remain to identify lifestyle interventions efficacious in improving quality of life in this population. Moreover, research suggests that quality of life is also compromised in the spouses/partners of cancer survivors. Relatively unknown is how to design and deliver interventions that promote the health and well-being of both the cancer survivor and their spouse/partner. In the proposed study, we have the following Aims: (1) Establish the feasibility and acceptability of a couples-based dance intervention (RHYTHM) among gynecological cancer survivors and their spouses/partners; (2) Quantify potential effects (and variation) on the following endpoints: health-related quality of life (HRQOL), relationship adjustment, physical activity and functioning; (3) Identify theoretical constructs that mediate the relationship between the intervention and outcomes; and (4) Determine the cost of the intervention to participants. Methods: We will use a wait-list control design and enroll 50 gynecological cancer survivors and their spouses/partners recruited from oncology clinics and the Alabama State Cancer Registry. Survivors will have completed their primary cancer treatment. Participants in the intervention arm will receive dance lessons over a 12-week period (couples-based dance) provided by Fred Astaire Dance studios. HRQOL (i.e., SF36), relationship adjustment, physical activity and physical function (i.e., 6-minute walk test), will be assessed at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and 6 months post- intervention. Outcomes will be measured in both cancer survivors and their partners. Significance: Delivering quality cancer care across the cancer continuum is a national priority. Our partner-based dance intervention is a novel approach to enhancing quality of life, enhancing relationship outcomes, and promoting a healthy lifestyle in gynecologic cancer survivors and their partners. Results of this exploratory study will inform initiatives that seek to maintain the health and well-being of cancer survivors and those they love. Public Health Impact: Consistent with the Institute of Medicine's goal to deliver cancer care that promotes a healthy lifestyle and improves quality of life of cancer survivors, our novel study will explore the potential of an intervention (couple-based dance) on improving these outcomes for both cancer survivors and their partners. In this unique approach, we test the efficacy of an intervention already available in many communities. If dance interventions are deemed efficacious, the potential for broad based dissemination of similar programs is great.