Health-Promoting Lifestyle in Colorectal Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Study on the Experiences and Perspectives of Colorectal Cancer Survivors and Healthcare Providers

Abstract

Objective: Understanding the experiences of survivors and healthcare providers about health-promoting lifestyle (HPL) in colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors is important in planning for coping with the disease, managing treatment side effects, increasing survival, and improving quality of life (QOL). This study was conducted to explore the experiences and perspectives of CRC survivors and healthcare providers about HPL in CRC survivors. Methods: This descriptive qualitative study was performed in 2020 at Omid and Imam Reza Hospitals in Mashhad, Iran. Participants were CRC survivors ( n = 12) and healthcare providers ( n = 33) who were selected by purposive sampling. Data were collected using in-depth semi-structured interview by face to face and then analyzed by Zhang and Wildemuth content analysis method. MaxQDA software was used to organize the data. Results: Following the treatment of cancer, CRC survivors seek to make changes in lifestyle and they choose a HPL that maintains or improves their health. HPL in CRC survivors includes nutrition, activity and rest, health responsibility, interpersonal relations, spiritual growth, and psychological management. The results showed that HPL can lead to motivation, the ability to self-care and improve daily performance, reduce treatment complications, and increase the QOL. Conclusions: CRC survivors can help change their lifestyle patterns with healthy eating, treatment adherence, regular physical activity, and good sleep habits. Furthermore, effective personal and social relationships, spiritual growth, and management of psychological disorders develop health-promoting behaviors in them. CRC survivors also face challenges and limitations in their life after treatment; identifying the components of a HPL in CRC survivors can lead to desirable care, treatment, education, and counseling services.

Application Value of Nutrition Support Team in Chemotherapy Period of Colon Cancer Based on Internet Multidisciplinary Treatment Mode

“…(6) Patients could cooperate with the comprehensive therapeutic strategies in the MDT mode. Exclusion criteria are as follows: (1) patients with metastasis in vitals such as abdominal cavity and liver, (2) patients with dysfunction in vitals, (3) patients with the second primary tumor, (4) patients with the contraindication of chemotherapy, (5) patients with the contraindication of nutrition support, (6) patients with language dysfunction and who could not communicate with others, (7) patients with low immune function before chemotherapy and poor tolerance to chemotherapy, and (8) patients with endocrine system diseases 2.3. General Information.…”

“…Therefore, chemotherapy is recommended as the core treatment measure for patients with colon cancer in the guidelines of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) [ 4 ]. In recent years, the practice has gradually confirmed that adjuvant chemotherapy improves the median survival period of colon cancer patients, and the patients with liver metastasis benefit more especially [ 5 ]. However, patients with colon cancer often have multiple diseases before chemotherapy, and the incidence of malnutrition is about 40.0% [ 6 ].…”

Evaluating the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Healthy Lifestyle Instrument for Breast Cancer Survivors (HLI-BCS)

“…Moreover, for many cancer survivors with high survival rates, weight management, a healthy diet, and an active lifestyle are priorities for preventing the recurrence of primary cancers and other chronic diseases [7]. Improving lifestyle is highly important in the period after a cancer diagnosis because it is the time when survivors perceive the importance of changing their lifestyle and can change their behaviors, complete their primary treatment, including surgery and chemotherapy, and seek a healthy lifestyle to prevent repeated recurrence and promote survival [8,9].…”

Psychometric properties of the persian version of the short-form survivor unmet needs survey (SF-SUNS) among patients with cancer

“… 5 When side effects of early-onset treatments of cancer subside, consequences of cancer and treatment including negative body image and sexuality disorders, fatigue, anxiety, depression and psychological distress, physical and social limitations, and sensorineural dysfunction, which can last for years after the completion of treatment. 6 , 7 , 8 …”