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Communication and socializing are very important factors in one's life. Several studies have found that having a good social life contributes to better mental health. Other studies have also found that interactions with people in general, regardless of whether or not they are family and friends or strangers, can be rewarding. In a new study, researchers looked at the effects of social interactions on patients who were a part of a telephone program. The researchers found that a phone call did improve colorectal or bowel survivors' lives.

In this study, the team headed by associate professor, Anna Hawkes from the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation at QUT examined the effects of a telephone delivered program titled, CanChange. CanChange was created to help improve people's health outcomes after being diagnosed with bowel cancer. The program focuses on helping people with developing healthy behaviors, such as exercise level, weight management and diet. These behaviors have been tied to improving quality of life as well as helping with physical functioning and fatigue associated with bowel cancer.

"After 12 months we found a significant and positive difference in the physical activity of people who participated in the CanChange program," Hawkes said according to Medical Xpress. "CanChange participants also maintained their body mass index (BMI) whereas those who didn't take part in the trial significantly increased their BMI. Participants also reduced their fat intake and increased their vegetable intake."

The study's findings suggest that programs like CanChange could really make a difference in the lives of cancer survivors. This program could potentially be modified to help survivors of other types of cancer.

"Telephone-delivered programs are acceptable to cancer survivors as they are convenient, flexible and can be delivered across the country. They are also relatively low cost," Hawkes added. "The CanChange program would be immediately translatable through existing telephone helplines which are widely used for patients with cancer in Australia and other countries."

The study was done at the Cancer Council Queensland. The Australian government and Cancer Australia helped fund the study. "Effects of a Telephone-Delivered Multiple Health Behavior Chance intervention (CanChange) on Health and Behavioral Outcomes in Survivors of Colorectal Cancer: a Randomized Controlled Trial" was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.