Connecting People with Cancer to Physical Activity and Exercise Programs: A Pathway to Create Accessibility and Engagement

Abstract

Recent guidelines concerning exercise for people with cancer provide evidence-based direction for exercise assessment and prescription for clinicians and their patients. Although the guidelines promote exercise integration into clinical care for people with cancer, they do not support strategies for bridging the guidelines with related resources or programs. Exercise program accessibility remains a challenge in implementing the guidelines, but that challenge might be mitigated with conceptual frameworks ("pathways") that connect patients with exercise-related resources. In the present paper, we describe a pathway model and related resources that were developed by an expert panel of practitioners and researchers in the field of exercise and rehabilitation in oncology and that support the transition from health care practitioner to exercise programs or services for people with cancer. The model acknowledges the nuanced distinctions between research and exercise programming, as well as physical activity promotion, that, depending on the available programming in the local community or region, might influence practitioner use. Furthermore, the pathway identifies and provides examples of processes for referral, screening, medical clearance, and programming for people after a cancer diagnosis. The pathway supports the implementation of exercise guidelines and should serve as a model of enhanced care delivery to increase the health and well-being of people with cancer.

Two-year follow-up of the OptiTrain randomised controlled exercise trial

“…Strategies are needed to create pathways and support patients to exercise independently throughout the cancer continuum. Suggested approaches may include, but not be limited to, ensuring optimal symptom management [ 24 ], not only creating awareness of the value of exercise but, crucially, providing both patients and health professionals exercise resources and access to a qualified exercise specialist [ 24 , 25 ], encouraging policy makers to fund exercise referral schemes for people with cancer where sufficient evidence for the benefits of exercise exists [ 26 ], and finally, individualising exercise prescriptions and behaviour change strategies to the needs and goals of the individual [ 26 ].…”

Sport activities and exercise as part of routine cancer care in children and adolescents

“…Findings from exercise studies support the promotion of physical activity and use of exercise science principles to gain and maintain physiological, functional, and quality of life benefits during and after treatment for cancer . During treatment, the proposed benefits include improved physical functioning, body composition, immune and cardiorespiratory systems, sleep, energy, and health‐related quality of life .…”

“…Research continues to add evidence to the specificity of screening, precautions, and adaptations for safe exercise in adults with cancer . Based on the current evidence, every child should be encouraged to participate in physical activity; however, cancer‐specific evidence‐based risk assessment for contraindications to exercise training and testing is not available for children.…”

“…At the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, the Survivorship Exercise Program (SEP) represents one oncology institution's example of bridging the gap between cancer exercise research and clinical practice in oncology, by making exercise assessment, prescription, and education a part of standard care . SEP is available to all patients with cancer, and consists of educational seminars and individual exercise counseling, exercise demonstrations, group‐based exercise classes, home‐based exercise prescriptions, baseline and follow‐up exercise testing, and health‐related educational materials (books, manuals, and DVDs).…”

Akselerasi Mencapai Open Defecation Free (Studi Kasus di Desa Kaliasri, Kalipare, Malang)

“…APPSANI dan YDSF Malang juga dapat dikategorikan sebagai lembaga filantropi, yang mana lembaga tersebut mempunyai ketertarikan pada isu sosial kemasyarakatan. Dengan menghubungkan (connecting) sumber yang peduli kesehatan dengan isu kesehatan yang ada, maka permasalahan yang ada di Desa Kaliasri tersebut dapat tertanggulangi dan dapat berdampak positif di masyarakat (Eichas, Ferrer-Wreder, & Olsson, 2019) (Mina et al, 2019).…”