A Web-Based and Print-Based Computer-Tailored Physical Activity Intervention for Prostate and Colorectal Cancer Survivors: A Comparison of User Characteristics and Intervention Use

Abstract

BackgroundPhysical activity (PA) is beneficial in improving negative physical and psychological effects of cancer. The rapidly increasing number of cancer survivors, resulting from aging and improved cancer care, emphasizes the importance to develop and provide low cost, easy accessible PA programs. Such programs could be provided through the Internet, but that could result in the exclusion of cancer survivors not familiar with the Internet. Therefore, we developed a computer-tailored PA intervention for prostate and colorectal cancer survivors in which both Web-based and print materials are provided, and participants can choose their own preferred delivery mode.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess participants’ characteristics related to delivery mode and use of intervention materials.MethodsWe studied characteristics of participants using Web-based and printed intervention materials in a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Prostate and colorectal cancer survivors recruited from hospitals were randomized to OncoActive (computer-tailored PA intervention) or a usual-care control group. OncoActive participants received both Web-based and printed materials. Participants were classified into initial print- or Web-based participants based on their preferred mode of completion of the first questionnaire, which was needed for the computer-tailored PA advice. Intervention material use during the remainder of the intervention was compared for initial print- or Web-based participants. Additionally, participants were classified into those using only print materials and those using Web-based materials. Differences in participant characteristics and intervention material use were studied through analysis of variance (ANOVAs), chi-square tests, and logistic regressions.ResultsThe majority of the participants in the intervention group were classified as initial Web-based participants (170/249, 68.3%), and 84.9% (191/249) used Web-based intervention materials. Dropout was low (15/249, 6.0%) and differed between initial Web-based (4/170, 2.4%) and print-based (11/79, 14%) participants. Participants were less likely to start Web-based with higher age (odds ratio [OR]=0.93), longer time since last treatment (OR=0.87), and higher fatigue (OR=0.96), and more likely with higher education (OR=4.08) and having completed treatments (OR=5.58). Those who were older (OR=0.93) and post treatment for a longer time (OR=0.86) were less likely to use Web-based intervention materials. Initial print-based participants predominantly used print-based materials, whereas initial Web-based participants used both print- and Web-based materials.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is one of the first studies that assessed participant characteristics related to delivery mode in an intervention in which participants had a free choice of delivery modes. Use of print-based materials among the initial Web-based participants was substantial, indicating the importance of print-based materials. According to our findings, it may be important to offer Web- and...

Short-term efficacy of a computer-tailored physical activity intervention for prostate and colorectal cancer patients and survivors: a randomized controlled trial

“…Intervention materials were provided both print- and web-based alongside each other. In a previous study regarding the OncoActive intervention, a lower educational level was associated with a lower probability of using Web-based materials [ 39 ]. Although this previous study also showed that tailored advice was read by most of them, those with a lower education may have had a less comprehensive experience with the intervention as they may not have viewed video incorporated in the web-based tailored PA advice or used other interactive (web-based) components of the intervention.…”

“…Use of the advice was examined through self-report. Percentages of participants reporting not having read any advice ranged from 0.6 to 6.1% time point [ 39 ].…”

“…In addition, perceived relevance can be increased by personalizing PA information through computer-tailoring, resulting in increased efficacy of such interventions [ 37 , 38 ]. Nevertheless, we found that providing interventions only through the internet may exclude vulnerable sub-groups in a cancer population, such as those who are older, less educated, more fatigued or undergoing treatments [ 39 ]. Providing print-based tailored materials in addition to the online materials can be considered a solution to include these subgroups.…”

A Web-Based and Print-Delivered Computer-Tailored Physical Activity Intervention for Older Adults: Pretest-Posttest Intervention Study Comparing Delivery Mode Preference and Attrition

“…Previously, preferences have predominantly been researched by asking participants, hypothetically, what delivery mode they would prefer if they were to join an intervention [19-22]. As far as could be determined, there have been only 2 studies pertaining to delivery mode preference, where participants could choose between participating in a printed and Web-based delivery mode of an intervention [23,24]. In these studies, participants with lower education and older age chose the printed delivery mode.…”

Digital literacy linked to engagement and psychological benefits among breast cancer survivors in Internet‐based peer support groups

“…A national study of cancer survivors aged 65+ found the vast majority rarely or never used the Internet for health reasons (Lee et al, 2018). Among prostate and colorectal cancer survivors participating in a physical activity intervention, older age and lower educational level predicted a preference for print-based over Web-based intervention materials (Golsteijn et al, 2017).…”