Perceptions of eHealth-Enabled Physical Activity Interventions Among Cancer Survivors: Mixed Methods Study

Background Achieving adequate levels of physical activity (PA) is especially important for cancer survivors to mitigate the side effects of cancer and its treatment as well as for other health benefits. Electronic health (eHealth)-based PA interventions may offer feasible alternatives to traditionally delivered programs and optimize physical recovery after a cancer diagnosis, but perspectives of cancer survivors on this new delivery medium have not been extensively explored. Objective The overall aim was to explore participants’ perspectives of eHealth-enabled PA interventions to inform the design of a future intervention among cancer survivors. Methods The study took place in a designated cancer center in Dublin, Ireland. A preceding questionnaire-based study was conducted primarily to establish interest in participating in subsequent eHealth-based studies. A follow-on focus group study was conducted to explore the concept of eHealth-based PA interventions for cancer survivors. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results The questionnaire-based study (N=102) indicated that participants had a high level of interest in participating in follow-on eHealth-based studies. The focus group study (n=23) indicated that, despite some trepidation, overall positivity was expressed by participants toward the concept of eHealth-based PA interventions. Four themes were generated: (1) Health impact, including PA as a barrier and as a motivating factor, (2) Education needs, which emphasized the need for integrated information about PA and to increase technical literacy, (3) Goal setting, which should be integrated within the technical specification as a motivating factor, and (4) Support needs, as well as the importance of personalized human interaction, in tandem with technology. Conclusions Qualitative research at the pretrial phase adds value to the design of a complex intervention and is especially useful in an area such as eHealth. The findings highlighted an interest in participating in eHealth-focused research as well as barriers, training needs, and key design features that can be applied to optimize the design of future eHealth-based PA interventions in cancer.

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Perceptions of eHealth-Enabled Physical Activity Interventions Among Cancer Survivors: Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.16469 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Ciaran Haberlin ◽

Dearbhaile M O' Donnell ◽

Jonathan Moran ◽

Julie Broderick

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Focus Group ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Technical Specification ◽

Health Impact ◽

Human Interaction ◽

Cancer Center ◽

Focus Group Study ◽

High Level ◽

Motivating Factor

BACKGROUND Achieving adequate levels of physical activity (PA) is especially important for cancer survivors to mitigate the side effects of cancer and its treatment as well as for other health benefits. Electronic health (eHealth)-based PA interventions may offer feasible alternatives to traditionally delivered programs and optimize physical recovery after a cancer diagnosis, but perspectives of cancer survivors on this new delivery medium have not been extensively explored. OBJECTIVE The overall aim was to explore participants’ perspectives of eHealth-enabled PA interventions to inform the design of a future intervention among cancer survivors. METHODS The study took place in a designated cancer center in Dublin, Ireland. A preceding questionnaire-based study was conducted primarily to establish interest in participating in subsequent eHealth-based studies. A follow-on focus group study was conducted to explore the concept of eHealth-based PA interventions for cancer survivors. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS The questionnaire-based study (N=102) indicated that participants had a high level of interest in participating in follow-on eHealth-based studies. The focus group study (n=23) indicated that, despite some trepidation, overall positivity was expressed by participants toward the concept of eHealth-based PA interventions. Four themes were generated: (1) Health impact, including PA as a barrier and as a motivating factor, (2) Education needs, which emphasized the need for integrated information about PA and to increase technical literacy, (3) Goal setting, which should be integrated within the technical specification as a motivating factor, and (4) Support needs, as well as the importance of personalized human interaction, in tandem with technology. CONCLUSIONS Qualitative research at the pretrial phase adds value to the design of a complex intervention and is especially useful in an area such as eHealth. The findings highlighted an interest in participating in eHealth-focused research as well as barriers, training needs, and key design features that can be applied to optimize the design of future eHealth-based PA interventions in cancer.

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A focus group study exploring gynecological cancer survivors’ experiences and perceptions of participating in a RCT testing the efficacy of a home-based physical activity intervention

Supportive Care in Cancer ◽

10.1007/s00520-012-1716-0 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 21 (6) ◽

pp. 1697-1708 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

C. M. Donnelly ◽

A. Lowe-Strong ◽

J. P. Rankin ◽

A. Campbell ◽

J. M. Blaney ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Focus Group ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Physical Activity Intervention ◽

Gynecological Cancer ◽

Focus Group Study ◽

Home Based ◽

Gynecological Cancer Survivors

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Increasing physical activity in cancer survivors using eHealth: A focus group study.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2018.36.7_suppl.107 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 36 (7_suppl) ◽

pp. 107-107 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ciaran Haberlin ◽

Jonathan Moran ◽

Julie M Broderick ◽

Dearbhaile M. O'Donnell

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Focus Group ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Feasibility Study ◽

Support Network ◽

Focus Group Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Technological Support ◽

Ehealth Intervention

107 Background: Physical activity (PA) is beneficial in reducing disease and treatment related side‐effects of cancer. However, insufficient PA levels are common among cancer survivors. eHealth may offer an innovative delivery platform to support cancer survivors to increase PA. Few qualitative studies have explored the views of cancer survivors towards eHealth based PA interventions. Our aim was to use cancer survivors’ input to inform the design of a feasibility study of eHealth for PA promotion. Methods: A ten-item scoping questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was administered to 102 cancer survivors. It evaluated their knowledge of PA guidelines, their access to smartphones and interest in eHealth interventions designed to increase PA levels. Questions were refined and evaluated in a follow-up focus group study (7 groups, n=23). Focus groups were audio recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were coded using NVivo software and themes identified by thematic content analysis. Results: In the questionnaire study, only 17.6% (n=18) of participants correctly identified PA guidelines. Sixty-two (60.8%) participants reported having access to a smartphone. Interest in participating in an eHealth intervention was expressed by 56.9% of all participants (n=58) and by 75.8% (n=47) of those with access to a smartphone. Emergent themes from the focus groups included: the physical barriers to PA, the need for PA goals, the importance of both information from healthcare professionals about PA and of a support network (e.g. peer support), the need for technological support and a motivation to improve general health. Conclusions: Very few cancer survivors were aware of the correct PA guidelines. However, over half of our sample was interested in participating in an eHealth intervention for PA, demonstrating that the cancer survivor population is responsive to a PA program delivered using technology. The focus groups have given us insights about the key elements of an effective PA intervention for cancer survivors using eHealth. We are conducting a feasibility study (The IMPETUS study; NCT03036436) of an eHealth intervention targeting PA in cancer survivors; its design was informed by those insights.

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