Long‐term outcomes of the FRESH START trial: exploring the role of self‐efficacy in cancer survivors' maintenance of dietary practices and physical activity. Issue 4 (30th April 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mosher, Catherine E.; Lipkus, Isaac; Sloane, Richard; Snyder, Denise C.; Lobach, David F.; Demark‐Wahnefried, Wendy
• Is Part Of: Psycho-oncology. Volume 22:Issue 4(2013)
• Page Start: 876
• Page End: 885
• Publication Date: 2012-04-30
• Subjects: Cancer -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Neoplasms -- psychology -- Periodicals; 616.9940019
• DOI: 10.1002/pon.3089
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1057-9249

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="pon3089-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>This study examined whether changes in self‐efficacy explain the effects of a mailed print intervention on long‐term dietary practices of breast and prostate cancer survivors. The relationship between change in self‐efficacy and long‐term physical activity (PA) also was examined.</p> </sec> <sec id="pon3089-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Breast and prostate cancer survivors (<italic>N</italic> = 543) from 39 US states and two Canadian provinces participated in the FRESH START intervention trial. Participants were randomly assigned to receive a 10‐month program of mailed print materials on diet and PA available in the public domain or a 10‐month program of tailored materials designed to increase fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake, decrease fat intake, and/or increase PA. Changes in self‐efficacy for F&V intake and fat restriction were analyzed as potential mediators of the intervention's effects on diet at 2‐year follow‐up. Because we previously found that change in self‐efficacy for PA did not vary by group assignment, the relationship between change in self‐efficacy and PA at 2‐year follow‐up was examined across study conditions.</p> </sec> <sec id="pon3089-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Results suggest that change in self‐efficacy for fat restriction partially explained the intervention's effect on fat intake (mean indirect effect = −0.28), and change in self‐efficacy for F&V consumption partially explained the intervention's effect on daily F&V intake (mean indirect effect = .11). Change in self‐efficacy for fat restriction partially accounted for the intervention's impact on overall diet quality among men only (mean indirect effect = 0.60). Finally, change in self‐efficacy for PA predicted PA at 2‐year follow‐up.</p> </sec> <sec id="pon3089-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Findings suggest that self‐efficacy may influence long‐term maintenance of healthy lifestyle practices among cancer survivors. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</p> </sec> </abstract>