Aim. To explore the information needs, messaging strategies and resource requirements people with cancer need to adopt exercise in their care plan.
Methods. Online questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were administered to people with any type of cancer within three-years of starting treatment. Questionnaire explored factors relating to information, approaches and resources required to influence exercise behaviour. Interviews probed key themes. Quantitative data were analysed using standard descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were analysed using interpretive description.
Results. Participants included 453 people with cancer who were 58±13years, 63% female, 66% currently receiving treatment, 25% met exercise guidelines. Top ranked way to receive exercise information was via discussion with doctor, which was significantly preferred over written or online resources (p<0.001). The majority of participants responded that their thoughts on exercising would be influenced ‘very much’ by their doctors (67%) and nurses’ (62%) recommendation, with only 1% ‘not at all’ influenced. Most people (70%) preferred to receive information before/at the start of treatment, 24% regularly, and only 6% during/after treatment (p=0.001). Over 75% of people identified 18 different types of messages about exercise, that would help convince them to exercise. Qualitative data indicated individualised messaging would be most convincing. Resources ranked as most helpful were: referral by the care team to cancer-specific exercise services (87%); written exercise recommendations from doctor/nurse (73%); and a list of exercise benefits for people with cancer (70%).
Conclusions. People with cancer would be more likely to consider exercise as part of their cancer care plan if their doctor/nurse discussed exercise early in the care continuum using messaging that was individualised and supported by referral to cancer-specific exercise services. These data are informing the development of co-designed strategies and tools to support health professionals discuss exercise in a way that prompts people with cancer to view exercise as adjunct therapy.