TY - JOUR
T1 - Physical Activity across the Cancer Journey
T2 - Experiences and Recommendations from People Living with and beyond Cancer
AU - Cantwell, Mairéad
AU - Furlong, Bróna
AU - Loughney, Lisa
AU - McCaffrey, Noel
AU - Moyna, Niall
AU - Woods, Catherine
AU - Walsh, Deirdre
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 American Physical Therapy Association.
PY - 2020/3/10
Y1 - 2020/3/10
N2 - Background: The majority of individuals living with and beyond cancer are not sufficiently active to achieve health benefits. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore individuals' experiences of physical activity (PA) behavior across the cancer journey and to ask individuals living with and beyond cancer to identify strategies to support habitual PA. Design: An exploratory, descriptive, qualitative design was used. Methods: Purposive sampling methods were used to recruit individuals living with and beyond cancer who had been referred to, and/or participated in, a community-based exercise program or were attending a cancer support center. The focus group discussions were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Results: Seven focus groups were conducted with 41 participants. Many individuals reported that regular PA provided a vehicle for recovery that created a sense of "self-power," defined as taking ownership and control of one's health to increase well-being. Barriers to PA participation included environmental-, patient-, and treatment-related challenges. Recommendations to support long-term adherence to PA included completion of fitness assessments at regular intervals and provision of a home exercise program. Limitations: The benefits and barriers to PA participation for individuals diagnosed with cancers that were not represented may not have been identified. The strategies recommended to support habitual PA may be salient only to individuals whose cancer diagnoses were represented. Conclusions: Exercise is seen as a vehicle for recovery from cancer but long-term adherence for individuals is complex. The findings from this study can inform the development of exercise oncology rehabilitation programs and could support a greater likelihood of program success, thereby optimizing the health, well-being, and quality of life of survivors of cancer.
AB - Background: The majority of individuals living with and beyond cancer are not sufficiently active to achieve health benefits. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore individuals' experiences of physical activity (PA) behavior across the cancer journey and to ask individuals living with and beyond cancer to identify strategies to support habitual PA. Design: An exploratory, descriptive, qualitative design was used. Methods: Purposive sampling methods were used to recruit individuals living with and beyond cancer who had been referred to, and/or participated in, a community-based exercise program or were attending a cancer support center. The focus group discussions were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Results: Seven focus groups were conducted with 41 participants. Many individuals reported that regular PA provided a vehicle for recovery that created a sense of "self-power," defined as taking ownership and control of one's health to increase well-being. Barriers to PA participation included environmental-, patient-, and treatment-related challenges. Recommendations to support long-term adherence to PA included completion of fitness assessments at regular intervals and provision of a home exercise program. Limitations: The benefits and barriers to PA participation for individuals diagnosed with cancers that were not represented may not have been identified. The strategies recommended to support habitual PA may be salient only to individuals whose cancer diagnoses were represented. Conclusions: Exercise is seen as a vehicle for recovery from cancer but long-term adherence for individuals is complex. The findings from this study can inform the development of exercise oncology rehabilitation programs and could support a greater likelihood of program success, thereby optimizing the health, well-being, and quality of life of survivors of cancer.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85081941985&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/ptj/pzz136
DO - 10.1093/ptj/pzz136
M3 - Article
C2 - 31588506
AN - SCOPUS:85081941985
SN - 0031-9023
VL - 100
SP - 575
EP - 585
JO - Physical Therapy
JF - Physical Therapy
IS - 3
ER -