Ashley R Grant1, Bogda Koczwara2,3, Julia N Morris4, Elizabeth Eakin5, Camille E Short6, Lisa Beatty2,3. 1. College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia. gran0280@flinders.edu.au. 2. College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia. 3. Department of Medical Oncology, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, SA, Australia. 4. Cancer Council of SA, Eastwood, SA, Australia. 5. School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia. 6. Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Healthy lifestyles are an important part of cancer survivorship, though survivors often do not adhere to recommended guidelines. As part of the co-design of a new online healthy living intervention, this study aimed to understand cancer survivors', oncology healthcare professionals' (HCP) and cancer non-government organisation (NGO) representatives' preferences regarding intervention content and format. METHODS: Survivors, HCP and NGO representatives participated in focus groups and interviews exploring what healthy living means to survivors, their experience with past healthy living programs and their recommendations for future program content and delivery. Sessions were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. RESULTS: Six focus groups and eight interviews were conducted including a total of 38 participants (21 survivors, 12 HCP, 5 NGO representatives). Two overarching messages emerged: (1) healthy living goes beyond physical health to include mental health and adjustment to a new normal and (2) healthy living programs should incorporate mental health strategies and peer support and offer direction in a flexible format with long-term accessibility. There was a high degree of consensus between participant groups across themes. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the need for integration of physical and mental health interventions with flexibility in delivery. Future healthy living programs should investigate the potential for increased program adherence if mental health interventions and a hybrid of delivery options were included.
PURPOSE: Healthy lifestyles are an important part of cancer survivorship, though survivors often do not adhere to recommended guidelines. As part of the co-design of a new online healthy living intervention, this study aimed to understand cancer survivors', oncology healthcare professionals' (HCP) and cancer non-government organisation (NGO) representatives' preferences regarding intervention content and format. METHODS: Survivors, HCP and NGO representatives participated in focus groups and interviews exploring what healthy living means to survivors, their experience with past healthy living programs and their recommendations for future program content and delivery. Sessions were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. RESULTS: Six focus groups and eight interviews were conducted including a total of 38 participants (21 survivors, 12 HCP, 5 NGO representatives). Two overarching messages emerged: (1) healthy living goes beyond physical health to include mental health and adjustment to a new normal and (2) healthy living programs should incorporate mental health strategies and peer support and offer direction in a flexible format with long-term accessibility. There was a high degree of consensus between participant groups across themes. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the need for integration of physical and mental health interventions with flexibility in delivery. Future healthy living programs should investigate the potential for increased program adherence if mental health interventions and a hybrid of delivery options were included.
Entities:
Keywords:
Cancer survivors; Co-design; Digital interventions; Healthy living; Lifestyle intervention
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Authors: Elizabeth G Eakin; Sandra C Hayes; Marion R Haas; Marina M Reeves; Janette L Vardy; Frances Boyle; Janet E Hiller; Gita D Mishra; Ana D Goode; Michael Jefford; Bogda Koczwara; Christobel M Saunders; Wendy Demark-Wahnefried; Kerry S Courneya; Kathryn H Schmitz; Afaf Girgis; Kate White; Kathy Chapman; Anna G Boltong; Katherine Lane; Sandy McKiernan; Lesley Millar; Lorna O'Brien; Greg Sharplin; Polly Baldwin; Erin L Robson Journal: BMC Cancer Date: 2015-12-21 Impact factor: 4.430