Associations Between Decisional Balance and Health Behaviors Among Adult Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Interventions directed at health behavior change are increasingly being developed for cancer survivors. This study validates decisional balance measures for physical activity and fruit and vegetable (F/V) consumption among adult survivorship population. Participants were N = 86 patients who previously completed primary treatment for breast or prostate cancer for at least 5 years and were enrolled in an e-health intervention that aimed to improve physical activity and nutrition behaviors. Decisional balance, stage of change, F/V consumption, and physical activity were assessed at baseline and 3 months. Factor analysis was used to assess the structure of the decisional balance measures. The relationship between decisional balance, stage, and behavioral outcomes was assessed with mixed model analyses. The two factor structures of each measure were supported. Pros and cons differed across stages of change for both behaviors (p's < .0001). Total Metabolic Equivalent of Task units (METs) were related to decisional balance pros (p = .012) and cons (p = .003). F/V consumption was significantly associated with decisional balance pros (p = .0003), but not cons (p = .112). Overall, findings provide validation for these decisional balance measures as indicators of health behaviors and support the value of using these measures in further research to aid in understanding of behavior change in this population.

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