Preferences and engagement with physical activity resources among cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed additional barriers to physical activity (PA) in cancer survivors. Adaptations to PA programmes are needed during the pandemic. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate (1) the PA preferences of cancer survivors prior to and during the pandemic and (2) the available resources to engage in PA during the pandemic. Methods Using a cross-sectional study design, cancer survivors were recruited globally to participate in a self-administered survey assessing their PA preferences and available PA resources during the pandemic. Descriptive statistics were used to determine trends in PA preferences and resources. A sub-group analysis was conducted for age, gender, education, and PA levels. Results Cancer survivors ( N = 493) were mainly women (70.4%) diagnosed with breast cancer (29.0%), with a mean age of 48.7 ± 15.8 years, and 87.1 ± 81.9 months since diagnosis. Since the start of the pandemic, cancer survivors were primarily walking (82.6%), and performing PA alone (62.7%) and at home (46.6%). Sub-group analysis revealed education level, PA levels, and age to be associated with significant differences in PA preferences. The most common equipment available to survivors in their homes were exercise mats (40.6%) and free weights (39.8%). Few survivors were made aware of at-home PA resources (19.1%), and approximately half indicated wanting to receive these resources (49.6%). Conclusions Understanding cancer survivors’ preferences and resources for PA during the pandemic is critical to designing effective home-based interventions. Interventions and recommendations should be tailored based on the level of education and PA participation, as well as age.

Physical exercise recommendations for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia based on individual preferences identified in a large international patient survey study of the East German Study Group for Hematology and Oncology (OSHO #97)

“…The preference of CML patients to exercise individually and outdoors may indicate that "walking" is a popular form of exercise, as also described in other patient cohorts (81,82,(94)(95)(96). However, the proportion here varies between 22% in patients with incurable cancer (93) and 83% in cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic (94). Consequently, training preferences differ not only depending on the patient studied cohort, but also, as can be seen in the results of the CML patients, on demographic parameters such as age and gender (82,(92)(93)(94)97), educational level (94,98), clinical parameters such as under therapy vs. time after therapy (74,95), performance status (93), current PA behavior/level (82,94,98) and psychological constructs associated with behavior, such as self-efficacy or perceived behavioral control (96).…”

“…While 80% of patients with incurable cancer prefer to exercise alone and unsupervised (93), other patient cohorts, including head and neck cancer patients (84) and cancer survivors (72) prefer supervised exercise programs. The preference of CML patients to exercise individually and outdoors may indicate that "walking" is a popular form of exercise, as also described in other patient cohorts (81,82,(94)(95)(96). However, the proportion here varies between 22% in patients with incurable cancer (93) and 83% in cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic (94).…”

“…However, the proportion here varies between 22% in patients with incurable cancer ( 93 ) and 83% in cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic ( 94 ). Consequently, training preferences differ not only depending on the patient studied cohort, but also, as can be seen in the results of the CML patients, on demographic parameters such as age and gender ( 82 , 92 – 94 , 97 ), educational level ( 94 , 98 ), clinical parameters such as under therapy vs. time after therapy ( 74 , 95 ), performance status ( 93 ), current PA behavior/level ( 82 , 94 , 98 ) and psychological constructs associated with behavior, such as self-efficacy or perceived behavioral control ( 96 ). According to these findings, CML patients require specific exercise programs taking into account their individual interests and needs.…”

“…Consequently, the proportion of sport-inactive patients with CML might be higher than the data suggest. Second, we conducted the survey during the COVID-19 pandemic, so exercise preferences might be biased in terms of type and ambience (location) ( 94 ). Third, with respect to the overall cohort, patients with MPN, we used the MPN-SAF to assess symptom burden.…”