Pancreatic cancer survivors’ preferences, barriers, and facilitators related to physical activity and diet interventions

Abstract

Purpose To conduct a telephone survey establishing pancreatic cancer survivors’ level of interest in, preferences for and perceived barriers and facilitators to participating in exercise and diet intervention programming. These data will inform the development of such interventions for newly-diagnosed patients. Methods Seventy-one survivors treated for resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma from October 2011 – August 2014 were identified through an institutional cancer registry and contacted via telephone. A telephone survey was conducted to query survivors’ level of interest in, preferences for, and perceived barriers and facilitators to participating in an exercise and dietary intervention program shortly after disease diagnosis. Acceptability of a technology-based visual communication (e.g. Skype™, FaceTime®) intervention was also assessed. Results Fifty participants completed the survey (response rate 71.8%). Over two-thirds of participants reported interest in exercise and diet intervention programming. Over half reported comfort with a technology-delivered visual communication intervention. Barriers to participation included older age and physical, personal and emotional problems. The most common facilitator was program awareness. Outcomes for future research important to participants were supportive care and quality of life. Conclusions Most pancreatic cancer patients are interested in exercise and diet interventions shortly after diagnosis; however, some barriers to program participation exist. Implications for Cancer Survivors Future research and intervention planning for pancreatic cancer survivors should focus on developing messaging and strategies that provide support for survivorship outcomes, increase survivor awareness, address lack of familiarity with technology, reduce fears about potential barriers and help survivors overcome these barriers. In so doing, survivorship needs can be better met and quality of life improved in this understudied population.

Physical activity programming and counseling preferences among cancer survivors: a systematic review

“…Twenty quantitative studies and two qualitative studies assessed whether participants preferred unsupervised/self-paced PA versus supervised/instructed PA [ 36 , 49 , 54 – 57 , 59 , 61 – 63 , 66 , 69 , 72 – 77 , 79 , 82 , 84 , 85 ]. Most quantitative studies ( n = 13) found participants to prefer unsupervised PA [ 36 , 54 , 56 , 57 , 59 , 69 , 72 – 75 , 77 , 79 , 82 ], while less than half ( n = 6) preferred supervised PA [ 49 , 61 – 63 , 76 , 85 ]. Among high quality studies assessing this variable, only two studies found participants to prefer supervised PA [ 61 , 63 ] while the remaining four found participants to prefer a unsupervised PA over supervised format [ 69 , 72 , 74 , 77 ].…”

Integrative medicine in cancer survivors

“…Many of these patients voiced an opinion that exercise would be better facilitated if they were aware of and educated about such programs shortly after diagnosis [10]. …”

Cancer survivors’ experiences of a community-based cancer-specific exercise programme: results of an exploratory survey

“…Research also suggests exercise interventions for cancer survivors could be delivered through the use of technology [10,44,45]. A quarter of our respondents used exercise technology tools and that of the remaining non-users half had an interest in exploring such technology in the future.…”

“…Nevertheless, few cancer patients actually comply with these recommendations [7]. PA levels are reported to drop after a cancer diagnosis [8] and influencing factors include: older age, previous comorbidities, cancer stage, and treatment side-effects [9][10][11][12][13]. Lack of confidence or knowledge regarding appropriate exercise levels, and limited access to targeted programmes and/or facilities where patients can exercise with others in the same situation are also common barriers [11,14].…”