Effectiveness of exercises on physical activity and fatigue among patients with cancer in Erode Cancer Centre at Erode

Cancer has become a global burden. It is anticipated that 84 million people may die of cancer within 2015. The disease itself causes fatigue and decreased physical activity which is often accompanied with its treatment. Recently, many research studies suggest exercise is effective in reducing the fatigue and improve physical activity. This study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of exercises on physical activity and fatigue among patients with cancer in Erode Cancer Centre at Erode. The research approach used for the study was evaluative approach. The Quasi experimental non equivalent pre test post test control group only design was used. The conceptual frame work of the study was based on the modified “Widenbach’s Helping Art of Clinical Theory (1964)”. Non probability purposive sampling technique was used to select 60 samples for the study, 30 in experimental group and 30 in control group. The tool used for the study was Groningen’s Activity Restriction Scale for physical activity and Fatigue Symptom Inventory scale for fatigue. Structured interview schedule was used to collect the data. Pre test was done on the first day. Exercises were taught to the patients in experimental group and practiced under supervision for 30 minutes once a day for 15 days. On the 15th day post test was conducted using the same scale. In control group pre test and post test were done on the 1st day and 15th day respectively using the same scale. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The mean post test score of physical activity 14.6(SD±4.23) was significantly improved than the mean pre test score of physical activity 30.73 (SD±8.99) in the experimental group. The mean post test score of fatigue 29.1(SD±14.82) was significantly lower than the mean pre test score of fatigue 80.96 (SD±12.56) in the experimental group. The paired ‘t’ value for physical activity was 11.64 which was significant at P<0.05 level of significance. The paired‘t’ value for fatigue was 49.42 which was significant at P<0.05 level of significance. The mean post test scores of physical activity in the experimental group 14.60 (SD± 4.23) was improved than the mean post test scores 30.13 (SD±9.67) of physical activity in the control group. The independent ‘t’ value was 8.07 which was significant at P<0.05 level of significance. The mean post test scores of fatigue in the experimental group is 29.1 (SD±14.82) was lower than the mean post test score 71.96 (±23.97) of fatigue in the control group.The independent‘t’ value was 7.93 which were significant at P