A Theory and Evidence-Informed e-Cycling Intervention for Individuals Diagnosed With Cancer: Development Study (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND Physical activity engagement following a cancer diagnosis is positively associated with survival, reduced risk of disease recurrence and reduced cancer specific and all-cause mortality. However, rates of physical activity engagement are low among individuals diagnosed and being treated for breast cancer and prostate cancer. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to describe the systematic process of developing an e-cycling intervention aimed at increasing physical activity among individuals living with prostate cancer or breast cancer and outline the key components to be implemented. METHODS The Medical Research Council guidance for developing complex interventions and the Behaviour Change Wheel were used to guide intervention development. Information was gathered from the literature and through discussions with end-users to understand factors influencing e-cycling. These factors were mapped onto the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to identify potential mechanisms of action. Behaviour change techniques (BCTs) were selected from theory and evidence to develop intervention content. Stakeholders, including cycling instructors, end-users and behaviour change experts, reviewed and refined the intervention. RESULTS Factors influencing e-cycling were mapped onto eleven of the fourteen TDF domains. Twenty-three BCTs were selected to target these constructs over four one-to-one e-cycling sessions delivered by trained cycling instructors in the community. Cycling instructors were given training on delivering the intervention, with practice sessions conducted and feedback provided. The outcome of this work was an intervention package ready for implementation and evaluation. CONCLUSIONS Transparent intervention development and reporting of content is important for comprehensively examining intervention implementation. The implementation of this intervention package is currently being evaluated in a pilot randomised controlled trial. If the intervention is found to be effective and the content and delivery is acceptable, this intervention will form a basis for the development of e-cycling interventions in other cancer survivors. CLINICALTRIAL CRANK-B: [ISRCTN39112034]. CRANK-P [ISRCTN42852156].