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Female cancer survivor perspectives on remote intervention components to support physical activity maintenance

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Abstract

Purpose

Physical activity minimizes the side effects of cancer; yet, participation rates among cancer survivors are low. Technological innovations are promoted as efficient means for communication and remote monitoring, but little is known about acceptability among female cancer survivors. The purpose of this study was to examine female cancer survivor perspectives on remote monitoring and communication to support independent, physical activity maintenance after completing a structured, facility-based program.

Methods

Participants were 19 female cancer survivors (mean age 56.3) recruited after completing a 12-week exercise-based oncology rehabilitation program. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants following a 4-week pilot trial of a tailored text message, FitBit®, and health coach intervention to support independent physical activity maintenance. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Transcripts from the interviews were iteratively coded by two team members using a thematic analysis.

Results

Participants reported acceptance and satisfaction with remote monitoring and communication. Emergent themes related to technology-based support for physical activity maintenance included the following: (1) accountability to a remote partner; (2) plan Bs, planning for barriers; (3) the habit cycle; (4) convenience through technology; and (5) reclaiming health ownership following a cancer diagnosis.

Conclusions

Participants attributed physical activity maintenance to accountability enabled by technology. Communication based on remote monitoring was perceived as encouraging and not intrusive, during the transition to a home program.

Implications for cancer survivors

This study highlights the importance of accountability and support for physical activity adherence and the positive role that technology can provide for female cancer survivors to regain control of health management.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Dr. Jeanine Carr, Dr. Michelle Sexton, and Dr. Emily Day for their assistance with this research.

Funding

This work was supported by a REACH grant award from the University of Vermont.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA

    Nancy M. Gell

  2. University of Vermont Cancer Center, Burlington, VT, USA

    Nancy M. Gell, Kristin W. Grover & Kim Dittus

  3. University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT, USA

    Alexandra Tursi

  4. Department of Medicine, University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT, USA

    Kim Dittus

  5. Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA

    Kim Dittus

Authors
  1. Nancy M. Gell
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  2. Alexandra Tursi
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  4. Kim Dittus
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Alexandra Tursi and Nancy Gell performed material preparation, data collection, and analysis. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Alexandra Tursi and Nancy Gell with additional contributions and review by Kristen Grover and Kim Dittus. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nancy M. Gell.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee (University of Vermont Research Protections Office Institutional Review Board, CHRMS 15-405, and the University of Vermont Cancer Center, VCC 1505-1) and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Gell, N.M., Tursi, A., Grover, K.W. et al. Female cancer survivor perspectives on remote intervention components to support physical activity maintenance. Support Care Cancer 28, 2185–2194 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-05038-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-05038-y

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