Breast Cancer Survivors' Supportive Care Needs, Posttraumatic Growth and Satisfaction with Doctors' Interpersonal Skills in Relation to Physical Activity 8 Months after the End of Treatment: A Prospective Exploratory Study

Objective: We assessed whether breast cancer survivors' (BCSs) supportive care needs, posttraumatic growth (positive psychological changes) and satisfaction with doctors' interpersonal skills could be related to physical activity (PA). Methods: A total of 426 BCSs were approached during the last week of treatment. Eight months later, 278 (65%) provided information on their PA levels. Ordinal logistic multiple regressions were performed. Results: PA levels included no PA (n = 68), some PA (n = 83), high PA levels more than twice or more than 2 h per week (n = 127). The multivariate model significantly explained 13% of PA variance (p = 0.001). An increase in posttraumatic growth total scores (proportional OR = 1.310; p < 0.05) and a decrease in physical and daily living supportive care needs subscale scores (proportional OR = 0.980; p < 0.001) and in satisfaction with doctors' interpersonal skill scores (proportional OR = 0.898; p < 0.05) were significantly associated with an increase in the likelihood of performing higher levels of PA. A lower educational level was associated with a decrease in the likelihood of performing PA. Conclusion: The prevalence of PA in BCSs should be improved. Positive psychological changes after a breast cancer experience might contribute to performing PA. Encouraging PA needs to be accompanied by the alleviation of physical symptoms. Keywords: Breast cancer survivors, Physical activity, Posttraumatic growth, Supportive care needs, Satisfaction with care