Association of Self-Leadership and Planning with Performing an Exercise in Patients with Colorectal Cancer: Cross-Sectional Study

Background A healthy lifestyle that includes physical activity is an essential component of the care plans for cancer survivors. However, many cancer survivors remain inactive, even if they feel motivated to exercise. Based on the Chronic Care Model, self-leadership and planning may improve cancer survivors' self-management of their own care. Objective The aim of this study was to examine whether self-leadership skills and planning are associated with performance and maintenance of an exercise program in patients with colorectal cancer. Methods This cross-sectional study enrolled 251 consecutive patients with colorectal cancer who received primary curative surgery and were undergoing or had completed other therapy at the National University Hospitals from 2 regions in South Korea. Demographic data and measures of self-leadership and planning were obtained from questionnaires and clinical data from hospital databases. Self-leadership was measured using the validated Abbreviated Self-Leadership Questionnaire, and another validated psychometric assessment instrument was used to measure "action planning" and "coping planning." Results Performing and maintaining an exercise program at a level recommended by an American Cancer Society panel correlated with greater self-leadership of behavior awareness and volition, task motivation, and constructive cognition. Greater action planning was associated with performing and maintaining this exercise program for more than 6 months. Conclusions The results of the current study indicate that having self-leadership and action planning are significantly associated with performing and maintaining an exercise program. Implication for Practice We suggest that care providers try to increase self-leadership and action planning of patients with colorectal cancer to improve their self-management during long-term care.