Teresa Corbett1, Tara Cheetham1, Andre Matthias Müller2, Joanna Slodkowska-Barabasz1, Laura Wilde3, Adele Krusche1, Alison Richardson4,5, Claire Foster4, Eila Watson6, Paul Little7, Lucy Yardley1,8, Katherine Bradbury1. 1. School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. 2. Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore. 3. Centre for Innovative Research Across the Life Course, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, UK. 4. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. 5. University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK. 6. School of Nursing and Midwifery Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK. 7. Primary Care, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. 8. Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Physical activity (PA) and a healthy diet can improve the well-being of cancer survivors. However, cancer survivors often do not engage in these behaviours. This study aimed to explore barriers and facilitators to engaging in these behaviours following cancer treatment. METHODS: During the development of a Web-based intervention to enhance health-related quality of life in cancer survivors, 32 people who had completed treatment for breast, colon, or prostate cancer were presented with an intervention for PA and healthy eating. In-depth think-aloud and semi-structured interviewing techniques were used to elicit perceptions of both behaviours. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Some individuals reported implementing positive health behaviour changes to maintain health and prevent recurrence, or to help them to move forward after cancer. However, others reported feeling abandoned, and many did not report an intention to engage in lifestyle changes. Individuals discussed contextual and health-related barriers that were specifically linked to their situation as post-treatment cancer survivors: individuals described uncertainty about how to implement adaptive changes and perceived a lack of support from health care providers. Others viewed behaviour change as unnecessary or undesirable, with some arguing that non-modifiable factors contributed more to their cancer diagnosis than lifestyle-related factors. CONCLUSIONS: For many participants in this study, the period that follows treatment for cancer did not represent a "teachable moment." A variety of complex and heterogeneous factors appeared to impact motivation and may limit cancer survivors from engaging with diet and PA changes.
OBJECTIVE: Physical activity (PA) and a healthy diet can improve the well-being of cancer survivors. However, cancer survivors often do not engage in these behaviours. This study aimed to explore barriers and facilitators to engaging in these behaviours following cancer treatment. METHODS: During the development of a Web-based intervention to enhance health-related quality of life in cancer survivors, 32 people who had completed treatment for breast, colon, or prostate cancer were presented with an intervention for PA and healthy eating. In-depth think-aloud and semi-structured interviewing techniques were used to elicit perceptions of both behaviours. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Some individuals reported implementing positive health behaviour changes to maintain health and prevent recurrence, or to help them to move forward after cancer. However, others reported feeling abandoned, and many did not report an intention to engage in lifestyle changes. Individuals discussed contextual and health-related barriers that were specifically linked to their situation as post-treatment cancer survivors: individuals described uncertainty about how to implement adaptive changes and perceived a lack of support from health care providers. Others viewed behaviour change as unnecessary or undesirable, with some arguing that non-modifiable factors contributed more to their cancer diagnosis than lifestyle-related factors. CONCLUSIONS: For many participants in this study, the period that follows treatment for cancer did not represent a "teachable moment." A variety of complex and heterogeneous factors appeared to impact motivation and may limit cancer survivors from engaging with diet and PA changes.
Keywords:
Web based; diet; health-related quality of life; healthy eating; lifestyle; oncology; physical activity; post-treatment; quality of life; teachable moment
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