Purpose: To examine the relationship between cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and physical activity in daily living in premenopausal disease-free cervical and endometrial cancer survivors. Methods: A physical activity monitor was used to collect objective data on daily physical activity. CRF and related variables were measured using self-report scales in a cross-sectional manner. Results: The average age was 44.9 years among 64 women. The higher CRF group comprised 22 women (34%), 10% of whom had severe fatigue. The participants had higher physical activity levels compared with the findings in previous studies, and reported an average of 40 min/day of moderate to vigorous activity. Moderate to vigorous levels of physical activity were derived from essential social activities rather than leisure time exercise. There were no significant differences in physical activity levels between the lower and higher CRF groups. Conclusion: Our study results suggested that the higher level of physical activity in daily living itself had no relationship with decreasing CRF among premenopausal cervical and endometrial cancer survivors. It would be better to focus on cognitive and psychological factors before introducing physical activity programs and be careful of the characteristics of the participants’ physical activity among this population in daily basis.

View full abstract

The “Guidelines for Obstetrical Practice in Japan” are the first consensus-based guidelines in the field of obstetrics and were published in 2008 owing to an obstetric medical care crisis in Japan. The Guidelines describe appropriate methods for obstetric care and were based on consensus among obstetricians in Japan. Originally, the Guidelines were not intended to be a rulebook to limit physician discretion; however, from a medical care litigation standpoint, medical practices that conform to the Guidelines are following the “medical standard”. The present study aimed to investigate obstetricians’ perceptions of the Guidelines, to assess the degree of compliance, and to consider the implication of physician discretion in medical litigation. A questionnaire exploring the perception of the Guidelines was completed by 341 obstetricians was conducted from February 2009 until May 2009; questionnaires were evaluated using simple aggregation, correlation analysis, and principal component analysis. Although more than 80% of physicians responded that content of the Guidelines was appropriate, only 34.7% complied with recommendation level A. Our findings suggest that the rate of compliance to the Guidelines should be improved, reasons for noncompliance should be clarified, and Guidelines that are easier for patients to understand should be drafted.

View full abstract