VDH Research Spotlight
The Role of Physical Activity on Quality of Life Among Breast Cancer Survivors in the Black
Women’s Health Study
Authors: Drs. Natasha Renee Burse, Nathaniel Woodard, Erin M. Coffman, Todd A.
Black breast cancer survivors often face greater challenges with quality of life compared to White survivors. While physical activity is known to help cancer survivors feel better overall, few studies have looked closely at how it affects the quality of life of Black breast cancer survivors.
To explore this, researchers studied 904 Black breast cancer survivors who are part of the Black Women's Health Study, one of the largest studies following Black women’s health over time. Participants, who were on average 66 years old, answered questions in 2019 about their physical activity habits and various aspects of their quality of life (e.g., physical health).
The results were encouraging. Women who did more moderate physical activity—such as brisk walking for at least 150 minutes per week—reported better social lives and a stronger ability to handle everyday tasks compared to those with lower activity levels. Women who did more vigorous physical activity, such as running or fast cycling, for at least 60 minutes per week reported even broader benefits, including better physical health, social lives, and financial wellbeing.
These findings suggest that staying active may be especially valuable for Black breast cancer survivors and could be an important part of the supportive care they receive. While more research is needed to confirm cause and effect over time, the study highlights physical activity as a meaningful, accessible way to support quality of life in this group of survivors.
Contact Natasha Renee Burse for additional information.
Research with the Virginia Newborn Screening (NBS) Program: Understanding of Parent’s Experiences with Out-Of-Range NBS Results and Uncertain Prognoses
State NBS programs screen nearly 4 million infants each year for life-threatening inherited disorders in the first days of life. "Out-of-range" NBS results identify infants at increased risk of having an inherited disorder. After children undergo additional evaluation and testing, parents are given confirmation of a diagnosis or are told that the initial NBS result was a false positive result. For some NBS conditions, the diagnosis comes with an uncertain prognosis (late onset form, unknown genotype/phenotype relationship). Examining parents’ experiences with provider communication and the NBS process provides a family-centered values context that helps the NBS community better meet parents’ expectations and needs.
Dr. Beth Tarini, Co-Director of The Center for Health Outcomes Research and Delivery Science at Children’s National Hospital in DC, received two NIH awards to examine the longitudinal scope and magnitude of benefits and harms on parents who receive false positives (R01HD095068) or uncertain prognoses (R01HD106986). The Virginia Newborn Bloodspot Screening Program (supervised by co-investigator Mary Lowe, BSN, RN), has been a valuable state partner for these initiatives; they have recruited parents and shared programmatic experiences and expertise. This collaboration will lead to a better understanding of parents’ experiences with NBS and inform evidence-based policy and programmatic decisions about current and future NBS program operations.
Contact Anne Atkins or Mary Lowe for additional information.
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