Components of Physical Activity and Their Relationships with Quality of Life and Cancer-Related Fatigue in Breast Cancer Survivors in Malaysia

Abstract

Background: The main aim of the study was to determine the relationships between components of physical activity level with quality of life (QoL) and cancer-related fatigue (CRF) among breast cancer survivors in Malaysia. Methods: Eighty-three female breast cancer survivors with mean age 52.8 (8.7) years old participated in this study. The participants were asked to answer Short Form International Physical Activity Questionnaire (SF IPAQ) to identify physical activity level, Breast Cancer Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT-B) questionnaire to determine the QoL, and Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) scale questionnaire to assess CRF. Descriptive statistic and Pearson correlation were performed for statistical analysis. Results: There was a significant positive correlation between time spent for moderate to vigorous physical activity (mins/week MVPA) and functional well-being, a component of QoL (r = 0.217, P = 0.049). There was a significant negative correlation between the days spent for moderate physical activity (days/week MPA) and the severity of fatigue, a component of CRF (r = –0.234, P = 0.033). A negative correlation between total CRF score and total QoL score (r = –0.298, P = 0.01) was also observed. Conclusion: Participation in physical activity might improve QoL and reduce the severity of CRF in Malaysian breast cancer survivors.