Co-Investigator - Dr Helena Harder
Co-Investigator - Prof Dame Lesley Fallowfield
CU FITTER
Backround A predicted >3% annual rise of cancer survivors in the UK could mean there will be over five million , mostly older people, by 2040. However, many people treated for cancer experience ongoing poor health and mental well-being and reduced quality of life (QoL). Exercise or physical activity (PA) is proven to be beneficial for those with cancer and increasingly evidence shows it can be safely performed during and after treatment, provided that individual limitations are considered and monitored. PA can preserve or improve physical function and psychological well-being, decrease the impact of treatment side-effects, reduce the risk of recurrence, and increase survival. Nevertheless, few cancer patients actually comply with recommendations to keep active. PA levels are reported to drop after a cancer diagnosis and influencing factors include: older age, previous comorbidities, cancer stage, and treatment side-effects. Lack of confidence or knowledge regarding appropriate exercise levels, and limited access to targeted programmes and/or facilities where patients can exercise with others in the same situation are also common barriers.
Aim To explore the experiences of people with cancer who attend a tailored community-based exercise programme (CU Fitter™) from diagnosis onwards as preliminary work for future comparative longitudinal research with exercise interventions.
Methods A non-experimental design was used. A convenience sample of people participating in CU Fitter™ classes were invited to complete a one-off anonymous paper survey about their past and present exercise habits and experiences. It was conducted July to October 2016. The survey comprised multiple-choice and open-ended questions divided across four sections covering: 1) demographic and clinical characteristics, 2) PA and exercise habits before the cancer diagnosis, 3) PA and exercise experiences (including barriers and facilitators) since attending the exercise programme, and 4) future life style intentions. The Godin-Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire (GSLTPAQ) was embedded within the survey to measure self-reported leisure-time PA. Findings The study concluded this community-based cancer-specific exercise approach engaged people with cancer and showed physical, psychological, and social benefits. The implications for cancer survivors are that: community grown exercise initiatives bring cancer survivors together creating their own supportive environment. Combining this with instructors familiar with the population and providing an open-ended service may prove particularly motivating and beneficial. Further work is required to provide evidence for this.Current Stage:
Archived
Publication
Cancer survivors' experiences of a community-based cancer-specific exercise programme: results of an exploratory survey https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-018-4179-0Poster
Exercise levels and experiences of those attending CUFITTER a tailored exercise programme for people incancer recovery posters/CUFITTER BPOS poster 2017 V3.pdf Presented at British Psychosocial Oncology Society Conference 2017Poster
How to keep active with cancer? Cancer survivors' experiences of a tailored exercise programme CUFITTERTM: results of an explorative survey posters/BPS AC2017 Poster7660_HHarder.pdf Presented at British Psychological Society Conference 2017