Outdoor adventure therapy to increase physical activity in young adult cancer survivors

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Despite the health benefits of physical activity (PA), limited research has examined PA interventions in young adult cancer survivors (YACS). This study used a two-group parallel design to examine the effects of a 7-day outdoor adventure camp vs. waitlist control on PA levels among YACS. Secondary aims examined effects on sedentary behavior and PA correlates. Methods: 50 camp and 66 control participants were assessed at baseline, end of camp, and 3 months. Results: Intent-to-treat analyses indicated that, relative to baseline, camp participants had significantly (p = 0.0001) greater increases in PA than controls during camp (+577 vs. +9 minutes/week) and 3 months post-camp (+133 vs. –75 minutes/week, p = 0.001). Camp participants also reported significantly greater improvements in TV viewing (p = 0.001), hours sitting (p = 0.001), PA variety (p = 0.0001), barriers to PA (p = 0.007), and enjoyment of structured activities (p = 0.04) during camp but not 3 months post-camp. Conclusion: A week-long outdoor adventure therapy camp increased PA levels during camp and 3 months after camp termination, although effects were attenuated over time. Implications for Cancer Survivors: Outdoor adventure therapy camps may increase PA and its correlates in YACS, but future research should explore methods to promote sustained PA after camp termination.

KEYWORDS:

• young adult cancer survivors
• physical activity
• outdoor adventure therapy
• correlates of physical activity
• intervention
• physical activity intervention
• cancer survivors

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the young adult cancer survivors who participated in this study and the organization First Descents for providing access to participants for this study.

Funding

This research was supported through a 2013 California State University Agricultural Research Institute grant as well as a Shur Farms grant.