Lifestyle advice to cancer survivors: a qualitative study on the perspectives of health professionals

Koutoukidis, Dimitrios A

doi:10.26226/morressier.5a05ac1fd462b8029238a695

Cited by 14 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 12 publications

(13 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…It is only in recent years that TRs have been recognised as a key healthcare member in delivering health behaviour advice [16] and this may explain why self-reported delivery of healthy lifestyle advice is higher among oncology HCPs in previous studies. Data collected from oncology HCPs have most commonly identified lack of knowledge, confidence, and skills as barriers to the delivery of health behaviour advice [2][3][4], in addition to lack of time, perception that patients lack interest, patient being too frail or ill, and believing they are not the right persons to provide advice [2][3][4]. This study confirmed these barriers among TRs and illustrated from the qualitative comments some TRs felt that lifestyle advice provided within their role should only be in relation to the management of radiotherapy treatment-related side effects.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, whilst research shows that some oncology healthcare professionals (HCPs) offer guidance to oncology patients on healthy lifestyle changes, provision remains suboptimal [2][3][4][5][6]. In the UK, a qualitative study among ten oncology HCPs and sixteen prostate cancer patients found that HCPs do not routinely provide advice on diet and PA to men diagnosed with prostate cancer, with some patients unable to recall receiving any advice on diet or PA from their healthcare team [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the UK, a qualitative study among ten oncology HCPs and sixteen prostate cancer patients found that HCPs do not routinely provide advice on diet and PA to men diagnosed with prostate cancer, with some patients unable to recall receiving any advice on diet or PA from their healthcare team [3]. Reported barriers among oncology HCPs in delivering advice on health behaviours include believing that giving advice is not part of their role, lack of support and time, lack of guidelines, lack of knowledge of the evidence base, and concerns around seeming to blame the patient [2][3][4][5][6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

A Survey of Therapeutic Radiographers’ Knowledge, Practices, and Barriers in Delivering Health Behaviour Advice to Cancer Patients

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Therapeutic radiographers (TRs) are well-placed to deliver advice to cancer patients; however, limited research exists on their practices in providing advice on healthy lifestyle behaviours. Through an online survey, this study aimed to explore TRs’ current practices, barriers, and facilitators around delivering healthy behaviour advice to cancer patients. An online survey was sent to 72 radiotherapy departments in the UK and 583 TRs responded to the survey. Findings showed that levels of enquiry and provision of advice on healthy behaviours were low, with less than 25% advising patients on physical activity, healthy eating, weight management, smoking cessation, and reducing alcohol intake as standard practice. Lack of knowledge, resources, and training were identified as barriers, in addition to perceived lack of patient interest and lack of time. TRs reported a strong desire to undergo training to enable them to deliver health behaviour advice to patients, with an identified preference for online training. Cancer patients look to healthcare professionals for advice on health behaviours, and TRs are well-placed to deliver this advice. The findings of this study provide insight into the areas that need addressing to enable TRs to support positive health behaviours among cancer patients.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A Survey of Therapeutic Radiographers’ Knowledge, Practices, and Barriers in Delivering Health Behaviour Advice to Cancer Patients

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The need for more cancer healthcare professionals to develop skills in the provision of evidence-based lifestyle advice is exemplified by the lack of interventions for managing the adverse effects of ADT [48]. Surveys in the UK suggest that few cancer survivors are provided with such advice when diagnosed [79] or during and after cancer therapy [80,81]. Recent studies show that very few cancer patients exercise at the recommended level, despite international guidelines recommending its provision as part of routine follow-up care [82][83][84].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of a computer-based algorithm for supporting community pharmacists in providing personalised lifestyle interventions for men with prostate cancer (Preprint)

Faithfull¹,

Poole²,

Lemańska³

et al. 2019

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BACKGROUND The number of people living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis has increased, however survivors may experience long-term side-effects from treatment that can impact on physical fitness and cardiovascular health. Lifestyle interventions enhance outcomes after cancer treatment but innovations and technology are needed to provide consistency and scalability. Interventions to support exercise and dietary modification in secondary care settings have been limited by the lack of personalisation, clinician time and resources. Community pharmacies are well positioned to provide lifestyle advice for people with cancer and long-term conditions. This study is the first to develop a tailored lifestyle intervention using a computer algorithm to enable community pharmacists to provide personalised advice for cancer patients. OBJECTIVE To create a computer-based algorithm to support community pharmacists to deliver a tailored lifestyle intervention for men during and after treatment for prostate cancer. METHODS An observational study was conducted at two UK centres involving 83 men with prostate cancer who were 3-36 months’ post-diagnosis. Physical fitness, strength and cardiovascular health were assessed. Qualitative interviews were undertaken with 20 participants to understand their interpretation of the assessment and analysed using a framework analysis. These data were used to inform our computer-based algorithm and lifestyle prescriptions. RESULTS Physical fitness varied across participants. Limb strength was categorised with upper body strength low for 40% of men compared to their age (40 out of 83) and lower limb strength (44 of 83) 53% of men were low in comparison to age normative values. The Siconolfi step test provided classification of cardiopulmonary fitness with 26.5% (22 of 83) men unable to complete level 1 with very low physical fitness and 41% (34 of 83) of men moderate completing stage 2 of the test. Cardiovascular risk was categorised as high (>20% QRISK2) in 41% of men contributed to by the number of men who had a high hip to waist ratio 72 of 83 men (86.7%) indicating abdominal fat. Three emergent themes from the qualitative analysis highlighted different perceptions of the physical assessment experience. The algorithm provided a clear pathway for decision making, that it was safe and effective to enable community pharmacists to prescribe tailored lifestyle advice for men with prostate cancer. CONCLUSIONS We have developed a computer algorithm that uses simple, safe and validated assessments to provide tailored lifestyle advice which addresses specific areas of cardiovascular risk, strength and physical fitness in men with prostate cancer. It generates a real-time lifestyle prescription at the point of care and has been integrated into the software platform used by pharmacies in the UK. The algorithm was integrated into the software platform used by pharmacies within the UK. CLINICALTRIAL The study was approved by the UK National Research Ethics Service REC 14/LO/0495 IRAS project ID 148309.

show abstract

“…Among challenges relating to the patient-provider relationship in CRC care are supporting the patients during emotional distress and providing information adjusted to the patient's needs [26]. HPs may also find it difficult to engage in conversation with CRC patients on sexuality [27] and lifestyle advice [28] due to lack of knowledge and access to a consultation system, fearing loss of a good patient-provider relation.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Health professionals’ perceptions of colorectal cancer patients’ treatment burden and their supportive work to ameliorate the burden

Husebø¹,

Karlsen²,

Husebø³

2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background. Support is pivotal for patients in managing colorectal cancer treatment, as they might be overwhelmed by the burden of treatment. There is scarce knowledge regarding health professionals’ perceptions of colorectal cancer patients’ burdens and supportive needs. The study aims to describe health professionals’ perspectives on treatment burden among patients receiving curative surgical treatment for colorectal cancer during the hospital stay and how they support patients to ameliorate the burden.Methods: This study has a descriptive and explorative qualitative design, using semi-structured interviews with nine health professionals recruited from a gastrointestinal-surgery ward at a university hospital in Norway. Data were analysed by using systematic text condensation. Results: Data analysis identified the themes “capturing patients’ burdens of colorectal cancer treatment” and “health professionals’ support to ameliorate the burden”. Patients with colorectal cancer had to face burdens related to a challenging emotional situation, treatment complications and side effects, and an extensive need for information. A trusting patient-carer relationship was therefore perceived as the essence of health professionals’ support. Health professionals focused their support on safeguarding patients, motivating patients to self-manage, and involving family and peers as supporters. Patients’ journey characteristics and illness severity challenged health professionals’ supportive work. Conclusion: Support from health professionals includes providing patients emotional support and relevant treatment-related information and motivating patients for early post-surgical mobilisation. Health professionals should be aware of identifying colorectal cancer patients’ information needs according to the specific treatment stages, which may ameliorate the burden of colorectal cancer treatment and enable patients to self-manage.

show abstract

Lifestyle advice to cancer survivors: a qualitative study on the perspectives of health professionals

Cited by 14 publications

References 12 publications

A Survey of Therapeutic Radiographers’ Knowledge, Practices, and Barriers in Delivering Health Behaviour Advice to Cancer Patients

A Survey of Therapeutic Radiographers’ Knowledge, Practices, and Barriers in Delivering Health Behaviour Advice to Cancer Patients

Development of a computer-based algorithm for supporting community pharmacists in providing personalised lifestyle interventions for men with prostate cancer (Preprint)

Health professionals’ perceptions of colorectal cancer patients’ treatment burden and their supportive work to ameliorate the burden

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About