. 2021 May 26;16(3):650–658. doi: 10.1007/s11764-021-01058-y

Table 1.

Physical activity intervention studies in gynaecological cancer, with some representation of cervical cancer

Author and country	Population	Key measures	Study design	Findings and evaluation
Yang et al. (2012) Republic of Korea [15]	34 gynaecological cancer survivors (93% cervical cancer) treated with radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection Mean age = 52.4 years	Pelvic floor strength (MEPs); The pelvic floor questionnaire; QOL (EORTC-QLQ-C30; EORTC-QLQ-CX 24)	RCT; intervention (4-week pelvic floor muscle training programme [PFRF]; n = 17) and usual care (Non-PFRF; n = 17)	Completion rate = 86% Sig. improvements in the PFRF group in sexual function from T0-T1 Improvements in physical function, pain, sexual worry, sexual activity and sexual/ vaginal activity from T0 to T1
Donnelly et al. (2009) UK [14]	33 sedentary gynaecological cancer survivors (stage I–III; ≥ 3 years post diagnosis), experiencing treatment-related fatigue (12% cervical cancer) Mean age = 53 years	Fatigue (MFSI-SF; FACIT-F) QOL (FACT-G); depression (BDI-II); affect (PANAS); physical functioning (12-min walk test)	RCT; 12-week moderate-intensity PA intervention (PA; walking; strengthening exercises; weekly consultation; 2-follow-up telephone calls; n = 16) or contact control (CC) group (n = 17)	Recruitment rate (of those eligible) = 25% Sig. decrease in fatigue (P/I; F/U) and increase in QOL (F/U) in PA group compared to CC group Sig. difference in positive and negative affect between groups

Author and country

Population

Key measures

Study design

Findings and evaluation

Yang et al. (2012)

Republic of Korea [15]

34 gynaecological cancer survivors (93% cervical cancer) treated with radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection

Mean age = 52.4 years

Pelvic floor strength (MEPs); The pelvic floor questionnaire; QOL (EORTC-QLQ-C30; EORTC-QLQ-CX 24)

RCT; intervention (4-week pelvic floor muscle training programme [PFRF]; n = 17) and usual care

(Non-PFRF; n = 17)

Completion rate = 86%

Sig. improvements in the PFRF group in sexual function from T0-T1

Improvements in physical function, pain, sexual worry, sexual activity and sexual/ vaginal activity from T0 to T1

Donnelly et al. (2009)

UK [14]

33 sedentary gynaecological cancer survivors (stage I–III; ≥ 3 years post diagnosis), experiencing treatment-related fatigue (12% cervical cancer)

Mean age = 53 years

Fatigue (MFSI-SF; FACIT-F)

QOL (FACT-G); depression (BDI-II); affect (PANAS); physical functioning (12-min walk test)

RCT; 12-week moderate-intensity PA intervention (PA; walking; strengthening exercises; weekly consultation; 2-follow-up telephone calls; n = 16) or contact control (CC) group (n = 17)

Recruitment rate (of those eligible) = 25%

Sig. decrease in fatigue (P/I; F/U) and increase in QOL (F/U) in PA group compared to CC group

Sig. difference in positive and negative affect between groups

KEY: n, number of participants; QOL, quality of life; EORTC, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer; MEPs, motor evoked potentials; MSFI-SF, Multi-dimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory–Short Form; FACT-G/En, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General/endometrial cancer-specific scale; BDI-II, Beck Depression Inventory; PANAS, positive and negative effect; Schedule; RCT, randomised control trial; PA, physical activity; Sig., significant; P/I, post-intervention; F/U, follow-up; T0, baseline; T1,timepoint 1