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Background: This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of two self-report physical activity (PA) questionnaires - the AQuAA (Activity Questionnaire for Adults and Adolescents) and PASE (Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly) - in cancer patients. Methods: Test-retest reliability was determined by administering the questionnaires twice within 5 days. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM) and smallest detectable difference (SDD) were calculated. Construct validity was determined by comparing the questionnaire results with ActiGraph accelerometer scores using Spearman correlation coefficients (rs) and ICCs. Content validity was examined using the Three-Step Test-Interview (TSTI). Results: Reliability for the AQuAA scores were fair to excellent (ICC = 0.57 to 0.78). Reliability for the PASE scores ranged from good to excellent (ICC = 0.67 to 0.90). Correlations between the ActiGraph and the AQuAA and the PASE were low (rs = 0.05 and 0.16 respectively, and ICC = -0.001 to 0.44). The TSTI showed that participants experienced difficulties with the examples provided with the questions, the perceptions of intensity level of PA, and with recalling the time spent on PA. Conclusions: Both questionnaires showed good to excellent test-retest reliability for most scores. Construct validity of both questionnaires was low, as indicated by the low correlations with the ActiGraph. Except for a few difficulties that participants perceived when filling out the questionnaires, the content validity of both questionnaires was good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To summarize and define the methodological quality of primary research findings obtained in exercise interventions, aimed at improving physical function or psychological well-being in patients treated for haematological malignancies., Methods: Relevant trials were identified through a computerized Mesh-search in MEDLINE and PubMed up to September 2007. Two reviewers independently screened the trials for eligibility, rated their quality, and extracted data., Results: Ten studies published between 1996 and 2007 were included in this review. Two were performed in children and eight in adults. Only three studies were randomised controlled trials, one a controlled trial and the remaining six were single-group studies. Four trials were performed during treatment for cancer. The remainder was performed post-treatment. A wide variety of exercise protocols were applied, differing in exercise type, frequency, duration and intensity. Even though the trials were of poor methodological quality, encouraging results were obtained for a diverse set of outcomes, such as physical fitness, health-related quality of life and psychological well-being., Conclusion: Although none of the trials presented in this review are of high methodological quality, the findings suggest that it is feasible to conduct exercise interventions in this particular population of cancer patients. Future interventions should include larger study populations, use appropriate control groups, and a standard collection of valid outcome measures to improve comparability between studies.