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. 2016 Mar 15;2016:6186543. doi: 10.1155/2016/6186543

Table 3.

Clinical studies incorporating EAM systems in cancer populations.

Reference Sample, N = number of participants Device Study design Study objective Results relevant to EAM measured PA data
Descriptive and feasibility studies
[33] Breast cancer survivor N = 398, noncancer controls N = 1120 ActiGraph Accelerometer:
survivors, Model GT1M,
controls, Model AM-7164
Case control study Compare level of PA and sedentary behavior between survivors and controls Breast cancer survivors are more sedentary than noncancer controls
[34] Cancer survivor, N = 7,285,825,
noncancer controls, N = 162,502,859
ActiGraph AM-7164 Case control study Compare PA levels among cancer survivors and controls Neither group met the CDC guidelines for physical activity,
survivors, 95.5%
controls, 87.3%
[27] Lung and upper gastrointestinal cancer patients (ECOG PS 0–2)
N = 60
ActivPAL Prospective, observational study Assessment of patient acceptability using compliance based on analysis of movement data EAM device fulfilled the definition of acceptability; 98% wore the EAM ≥80% of the time

Reliability/accuracy of EAM devices
[35] Hematologic malignancy
Patients, N = 23,
healthy controls, N = 30
Step Accelerometer 3 (SAM3) Prospective, case control study Compare reliability of the assessment of PA and compare PA levels between patients and controls Device, good reliability
Cancer patients, significantly less active than healthy subjects (5355 versus 6364 steps, p ≤ 0.05)
[36] Advanced cancer patients (KPS 40–100), N = 56,
healthy volunteers, N = 9
ActivPAL Prospective, observational study EAM measured PA data was validated against video-recorded observations and EE measured by DLW protocol Step count error higher in patients with KPS 40–60% versus KPS 70–100% (33 versus 24%, p = 0.006)

Correlative studies
[37] Breast cancer patients, N = 32,
noncancer control, N = 30
ActiGraph Model GT3X Prospective, case control study Examine the effect of PA level on working memory Greater PA level was positively and significantly associated with better working memory performance across both arms (p = 0.014)
[38] Colon cancer survivors
N = 180
ActiGraph Model GT3X Cross-sectional, observational study Determine the association of EAM measured MVPA with QoL and physical functioning MVPA was significantly associated with better QoL (p = 0.038) and physical function (p = 0.009)
[26] Incurable thoracic cancer patients (ECOG PS 0–2)
N = 84
ActivPAL Retrospective study Determine the correlation between EAM measured PA and ECOG PS Decline in ECOG PS was significantly associated with decline in EAM measured step count (p < 0.05)

Interventional studies
[39] Breast cancer survivors (stages I–IIIA)
N = 377
Pedometer
Digi-Walker SW-200
(home-based; 12 weeks; 30 minutes, 5 days a week, ≥moderate intensity)
RCT
Arm 1: standard public health recommendation
Arm 2: breast cancer specific print materials
Arm 3: pedometer
Arm 4: combination of print materials and pedometer
Determine the effects of breast cancer-specific PA print materials, pedometer, or their combination, on self-reported PA and QoL in breast cancer survivors Significant intervention effect on self-reported physical activity and walking but no intervention effect on daily steps. Effect seen in all interventional arms. Combination arm, significantly improved QoL (p = 0.003)
[40] Breast and prostate cancer patients receiving radiation therapy
N = 38
Pedometer, details not reported
Home-based; 4 weeks; moderate intensity walking (10,000 steps/day); resistance bands daily
RCT
Arm 1: exercise intervention
Arm 2: no exercise intervention
Examine the feasibility and initial efficacy of a home-based aerobic and progressive resistance exercise intervention for aerobic capacity, strength, muscle mass, CRF, and QoL Significantly greater increase in daily steps, higher QoL, and lower CRF in intervention group after intervention and at 3-month follow-up.

EE: energy expenditure, DLW: doubly labeled water, EAM: electronic activity monitor, MVPA: moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity, QoL: quality of life, PA: physical activity, RCT: randomized controlled trial, and CRF: cancer-related fatigue.