Profile
International Journal of Nursing & Clinical Practices Volume 4 (2017), Article ID 4:IJNCP-219, 6 pages
https://doi.org/10.15344/2394-4978/2017/219
Research Article
A Prospective Observational Study on Changes in Physical Activity, Quality of Life, and Self-efficacy in Perioperative Patients with Gastric Cancer

Masako Shomura1*, Haruka Okabe1, Satoshi Iwamoto1, Emi Nakagawa2, Kenji Nakamura3, Kazuhito Nabeshima3, Atsuko Otsuka4, Asako Murakoshi5, Yukiko Dozono4 and Noriko Sakaguchi6

1Department of Nursing, Tokai University School of Health Sciences, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara City, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan
2Department of Nursing, Tokai University Oiso Hospital, 21-1 Gakkyo, Naka District, Oiso City, Kanagawa 259-0198, Japan
3Department of Surgery, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara City, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan
4Department of Nursing, Tokai University Hospital, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara City, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan
5Home Care Agency Kaedenokaze, 6-18-1 Asamizodai, Minami District, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa 252-0328, Japan
6Graduate School of Health Sciences, Tokai University, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara City, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan
Dr. Masako Shomura, RN, PhD, Department of Nursing, Tokai University School of Health Sciences, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara City, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan; E-mail: s-masako@tokai-u.jp
24 December 2016; 24 January 2017; 27 January 2017
Shomura M, Okabe H, Iwamoto S, Nakagawa E, Nakamura K, et al. (2017) A Prospective Observational Study on Changes in Physical Activity, Quality of Life, and Self-efficacy in Perioperative Patients with Gastric Cancer. Int J Nurs Clin Pract 4: 219. doi: https://doi.org/10.15344/2394-4978/2017/219
This study was funded by a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) 25463445 which have been received by M. Shomura from 2012 to 2016.

Abstract

Background: Patients undergoing major surgery often experience “post-operative dysfunction”, which may affect their physical strength and mental activity for a significant period post-operatively. We aimed to clarify the post-operative changes in physical activity, quality of life, and self-efficacy in patients with gastric cancer.
Methods: Physical activity, health-related quality of life, and self-efficacy were assessed in subjects using self-administered questionnaires before surgery, at discharge, and 1, 3, and 6 months after discharge. Post-operative parameters were compared to baseline data using the Friedman test with Bonferroni correction, as well as the Wilcoxon two-sample test.
Results: Seventeen subjects were included. Dietary intake and number of steps walked significantly decreased for up to 1 month after discharge, whereas physical activity of ≥3 metabolic equivalents of task and exercise-expended energy were lowest at discharge. These differences were all statistically significant. Importantly, the patients did subsequently improve. Body mass index did not differ significantly at discharge, but showed a gradual, significant decrease at 1 and 3 months after discharge. With respect to health-related quality of life, the physical, role, and social functions decreased significantly for a month after surgery, whereas symptoms of fatigue, anorexia, and diarrhea were significantly severe during the first month after discharge. Self-efficacy in terms of symptoms, activities of daily living, and disease status significantly decreased at discharge, but subsequently improved.
Conclusions: Patients with gastric cancer showed lower dietary intake and body mass index up to 1 and 3 months after discharge, respectively. Physical activity and self-efficacy were lowest at discharge but improved subsequently. It is necessary, both preoperatively and in the first month following discharge, to provide patients with support that encourages self-management of physical changes and symptoms, and a return to normal levels of physical activity.