Assessing physical activity, sitting time, and sleep among childhood cancer survivors with accelerometers
Each year, around 350 children and adolescents in Switzerland are diagnosed with childhood cancer. Fortunately, most children and adolescents nowadays can be cured. But cancer treatment is intensive and can lead to late effects, such as heart problems, and challenges in everyday life, such as feeling fatigued. To mitigate late effects, healthy 24-hour physical behaviors, including sufficient physical activity and sleep, and limited sitting time, are very important. To measure those behaviors, researchers use accelerometers. These are small, wearable sensors that measure acceleration. The data obtained from the accelerometers is processed to obtain information about 24-hour physical behaviors.
Thanks to the Berne University Research Foundation, we could purchase 30 activPAL accelerometers and start the Swiss Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (SCCSS)-Activity (https://www.swiss-ccss.ch/en/research-projects/). In this study, childhood cancer survivors wear an accelerometer attached to their thigh continuously for one week, while engaging in their everyday life as usual.
To date, more than 80 survivors have already participated in our study, and we are still in the data collection process. Most participants wore the accelerometer continuously for the whole week, reported that it was barely noticeable, and were highly reliable in returning the accelerometer. Participants were excited to receive an individual summary report showing time spent in each of the 24-hour physical behaviors, allowing them to identify in which areas they are already doing well and where they could improve.
Once data collection has been completed, we can find out which survivors are especially prone to unhealthy 24-hour physical behaviors. This will allow us to inform and develop targeted interventions to promote physical activity and sleep, and reduce sitting time.
Dr. Carina Nigg
Prof. Dr. med. Claudia Kuehni
Childhood Cancer Research Group
Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM)
