A pilot study of activity engagement in the first six months after stem cell transplantation.

UNLABELLED PRPOSE/OBJECTIVES: to describe the natural pace and pattern of activity resumption in the first six months after stem cell transplantation (SCT). DESIGN longitudinal, descriptive survey. SETTING bone marrow transplantation program of a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in the northeastern United States. SAMPLE 18 men and 18 women who underwent either autologous (83%) or allogeneic (17%) transplantation. METHODS participants were surveyed 30 days, 100 days, and six months after SCT. Descriptive statistics were followed by exploratory linear mixed modeling with factors of time, gender, and the interaction between time and gender. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES a modified checklist version of the Activity Card Sort was used to measure activity retention. FINDINGS participants generally were performing 49% of their usual activities 30 days after transplantation, 70% of their premorbid activities 100 days after transplantation, and 77% of their premorbid activities six months after transplantation. Level of activity engagement increased over time, with the greatest changes observed from 30-100 days after SCT. Men retained more of their activities than women in the domains of low physical-demand leisure and social activities. CONCLUSIONS rehabilitation screening may be most helpful in the period from 100 days to six months, when activity levels begin to plateau. Activity recovery may differ for men and women; future research should explore how this could affect rehabilitation needs. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING nurses can use structured surveys to explore and promote patients' satisfaction with and ability to engage in daily activities and ensure appropriate referrals to rehabilitation during recovery from SCT.